So You Want to Write? One Author's Perspective

What does it take to get started as an author? Science fiction author David Brin (The Postman, Startide Rising) offers advice to aspiring writers. Storytelling is the only verified form of magic; the ability to form incantations in the listerner's mind, to have them envision imaginary worlds, to feel profound emotions.

Brin tells you the key aspect of the relationship between a writer and the readers -- a sadomasochistic one! You want your readers to be so engaged with the text that they are unable to put the book down...even at the risk of being late for work or missing a class.

The only way to gauge your progress is to seek criticism from readers. This is hard to do, but you must distribute your manuscript widely (beyond friends and family members) to see where people were bored or confused; to find where they found your characters' actions inconsistent or implausible. Getting feedback is the surest way to improve your work.
For more information about David Brin, visit his website: http://www.davidbrin.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DavidBrin1
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Brin/22358129265

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[jcbs]

Thanks! GREAT ADVICE! The person below me doesn't have the storyteller gene. I'm going to write a better story because of this.

[cryptozoologist13]

Dr. Brin, you rock.

Storyteller, scientist, futurist, skeptic, pundit. Even when I disagree with you, it happens with great delight on my part.

[gooyzit]

In "Star by Star" when one character died i was so upset i had to put the book down for a month before i could finish it. Then in "Flowers in the Attic" i had a massive panic attack while reading the last chapter.

[hugoestr]

@ZachClooney Because the actual knowledge of what to do is easy. Everyone can learn it in one afternoon. The tough part is execution.

[SpreadingtheMuse]

"Want the reader to be so engrossed" Yet he rambles on for half the movie before actually getting to a point.

[Spoinkification]

Thanks for the amazing advice, it really gave me the push I needed :D

[Grifiki]

"Comments are a Point Of View given by ther writer, so we do not need other comments telling us what that POV should be, or it is not our's!"

[TowelTroi]

Great advice.

[IronicDude1]

bro u borin as fuck

[Neocutey24]

"Finding out where people are able to put the book down." I like that. You're always looking for the basic things, what people didn't understand, where your story didn't flow. But making your book so good that people jump out of the window after it? I loved it. Especially the part about the sultry voice and the "Humuna, humuna..."

[gdrcitizen]

move the microphone much closer to the sound source, take care not to clip the audio by setting a too high record gain, and maybe use a compressor to create a more consistent sound level