Writing Tips
I don’t claim to be any kind of expert on writing, but I’ve being doing it almost all my life, and I’ve learned a few things along the way that have helped me out. Hopefully they’ll be helpful to you too!
Read
One of the best ways to get better at writing is by looking at how other authors do it.
Next time you’re reading a book, don’t just pay attention to what the author is saying – have a look at how they’re saying it.
A really good book can give you heaps of great story-writing tips.
(And even a really bad book can be useful, because it can give you tips about what not to do.)
Write what you’d love to read
Can’t decide what to write about?
Finish this sentence: “If I could read a story about anything in the world, I would read about ____________, ___________ and __________.”
Then write a story with those things in it!
Write about whatever you want, just as long as you’re excited about it. Because if you are excited about writing it, chances are other people will be excited about reading it.
Write down your ideas
This is a lesson I’ve learned the hard way.
I have lost plenty of good (at least, I think they were good) story ideas, just because I didn’t bother writing them down… and then I forgot what they were.
When you think up a good story idea, drop what you’re doing and write it down.
Start at the end
Before I even start working on a new book, I always make sure I have the ending of that book planned out.
Knowing the ending gives me a goal to work towards, and it also helps make sure that my story makes sense.
Most importantly, it’s much easier (for me, anyway) to keep going with a story when I know where that story is going.
Draw a picture
Having trouble describing something in your story? Try drawing a picture of it first, and see if that helps.
It doesn’t have to be a good picture – just enough to get the person/place/thing out of your brain and onto the page.
My writing notebooks are filled with scribbles and pictures and maps that I’ve drawn along the way.
Sometimes just seeing whatever I’m trying to write about makes it easier to describe it in words
Keep writing!
Writing stories is like playing a sport or riding a bike – the best way to learn how to do it is by doing it.
Write. And write. And write.
And don’t give up.
The more you practise, the easier (and the more fun!) it will get.
Hi chris it’s me Sophie from Sufm
How you doing
bye
Hey Sophie,
Good to hear from you! I’m doing really well, thanks. How’s life in SWR?
Chris
hay chris im using my new ipod touch to send this message whoooo
im going to download your books as ebooks on it
see you later
life here is awesome
Cool! Was that a birthday present?
Hey I’m using my iPod touch as well cool
hi chris thanks 4 the writing tips
No worries – hope they help!
Hi,
Thanks for sharing the tips. Awesome.
Btw, when checking the Light FM website, I saw that Light FM will broadcast “Open House with Chris Morphew”. So, I am gonna listen to that tonight.
cheers,
Hey thanx for the tips, luv your books, have 3 questions though;…
How many words in Arrival?
How many words in Contact?
How many words in Mutation?
ta Georgia
Hey Georgia,
There are around 50,000 words in each.
Chris
cool ta
hi chris its Jessica from otari shcool can we have a chat?
Hey Jessica,
Thanks for having me at your school! It was great to meet you all.
Chris
hello, my name is ethan you came to our school in regents park on the 9/09/11 and I was extremely happy abouy getting your signature. [i was the boy who kept forgetting my questions!!] thankyou for these writing tips which i will inject into my ultimate narrative: Legend of the Mandarin Star. remember what my classmate said “you have to read rangers apprentice-or else”. thankyou, i was in complete awe of you when you came
love Ethan
Hey Ethan,
Thanks for having me at your school – it was great to meet you all!
Chris
Hey Chris,
First off, I am a BIG FAN of your books! I am writing a personal response on your book Contact, and was wondering what is the main reason you change the characters throughout the books (I have only just finished Contact).
Thanks
Hey Ben,
Changing narrators with each book was a very deliberate storytelling decision. Because so much of the story – more than you probably realise until the second half of the series – hinges on the relationships between Luke, Peter and Jordan, I thought it was really important that we got to understand what was going on in each of their heads. Each of the three main characters views the other two in very different ways, and that has big implications for the story, moving forward.
Chris
Thanx chris the tips will come in handy especially in English but my story is coming along now!
:):)
Thnx for the tips chriss they really helped.
Also I was wondering if you write any other book series then The Phoenix files? Because i love the style that you right in.
Bailey
Hey Bailey,
Before The Phoenix Files, I wrote some of the books in the Zac Power series under the name “H.I. Larry”. You can see which Zac books are mine at http://www.chrismorphew.com/books
That’s all I’ve written so far, but I have a bunch of other ideas for after The Phoenix Files!
Chris
Drawing a picture helped ALOT! Thanks so much, who knew such simple things could help you so much.
You’re welcome! Glad it helped!
Hey Chris,
I just bought Fallout as an eBook for my iPhone and I am currently enjoying it very much! (I’m up to Chapter Three) My best friend Cameron also loves your series and just finished reading Underground.
I really want to be a writer when I’m older because I’m constantly getting ideas in my head! But I’m kind of worried financially.
Like, if I don’t do very well, I won’t be able to support myself and my family. So I wanted to ask you if you had any job before you were a writer?
Thanks a lot, and your books are FANTASTIC!!!
Hey Eric,
I actually still have a second job. As well as being a writer, I work part-time as a K-2 teacher – partly to make sure I’ve got enough money to live on, but mainly because I love teaching too much to leave it behind.
One of the great things about writing is that you can do it alongside other work you enjoy. Very few writers can support themselves fulltime doing just writing… but I wouldn’t let that worry you. If you love writing, keep writing – I’m sure you’ll figure out the details as you go along!
Chris
Thanks a lot, Chris!