How not to end up like Stephenie Meyer?

Question: How not to end up like Stephenie Meyer!?

I don't want to be a horrible writer so please tell me how not be like her!.
Please and thank you!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Avoid purple prose!. Smeyer's writing is FULL of purple prose!. You want your writing to be clear, concise, and to the point; NO purple prose!. You don't need long descriptions!. Don't describe the same things over and over again; Smeyer has the tendency to describe Edward 42039482903023 times when just once sufficed!.

Use a variety of words!. Smeyer has the tendency to use the same adjectives repeatedly (amber, marble, stone, cold, etc)!. She also uses the word "chagrin" a lot, which is annoying!. Within the first twelve chapters of MS alone, she used "chagrin" fourty two times!. Avoid falling into the habit of using the same words; it makes your writing seem redundant!.

DO NOT MAKE ILLEGAL POINT OF VIEW CHANGES!. If you are planning to write from different character's perspectives in your book, and its going to be a series, start the POV changes in the first book (DON'T randomly introduce them in the third and fourth)!. Your writing looks inconsistent if you introduce POV changes halfway through the series!.

DON'T make your writing passive!. Smeyer's writing is extremely passive; don't let yourself fall into that habit!. Active voice, my friend!.

Write in such a way that your characters' relationships and emotions seem believable!. Smeyer's writing is so amateur that the Bella/Edward relationship isn't believable at all; I still to this day do not understand their attraction and how the heck they fell in love!. Make the characters believable!. If you want to have a happy ending, make sure they go through trials first!. BD was awful because all of the characters got everything they wanted and none of them faced repercussions for the bad decisions they had made!. Happy endings are fine, but they seem cop-outish when the character hasn't had any trials beforehand!. BD was one giant tea party; there was no element of tragedy or sacrifice!. A hint of sacrifice or tragedy connects with the reader on a deeper level and mak

PLAN YOUR BOOK/SERIES BEFORE YOU WRITE IT!. Smeyer didn't do that!. She had basic outlines for every book, but as she would write, she'd change things!. Some people have the ability to write not knowing where the story is going while still managing to pull it all off; most people don't!. Smeyer is one of those people!. Her writing lacks focus and the plots are thin because she didn't plan out her series well enough!. JKR planned out every aspect of HP before she started writing, but Smeyer didn't plan out much!. It shows in their books!.

Avoid Mary Sue characters and cliches!. Smeyer used every cliche known to mankind in Twilight and Bella is the biggest Mary Sue in history!.

Do not have anti-climatic endings!. BD's ending was incredibly anticlimatic; don't do that!. Don't use deux ex machinas; in other words, don't use cop outs!.

As for improving your writing in general!.!.!. practice!. Practice makes perfect!. The more you write, the better off you are!. Read anything and everything you get your hands on; that will give you a good sense of different genres and expose you to different types of writing!. Whenever you read, keep a notebook handy, and write down any words you don't recognize!. Then look up the definitions and write them down!. It's a simple way to increase the size of your vocabulary!.

I'm glad to see you recognize how crummy Smeyer's writing is!. It doesn't matter if she's "rich" or "popular"!. If writing sucks, it sucks!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Each author is different and there will always be people who don't like your work but there will be people who do!. You just have to learn to develop your OWN unique writing style!.
Stephenie Meyer is quite successful, the majority of people think that she isn't horrible!.
An author, and their character, personality, morals and identity are what make up their writing style!.
So just don't say things like "She's a horrible writer" or whatever!.
People may be saying the same about you!.
In the mean time, just focus on YOU!. Don't compare yourself to others!.
Good luck!Www@QuestionHome@Com

I really like this question!. I don't want to end up like Meyer, either!. Wealthy but talentless, stupid, and immature!. Who would want to be like that!? Cyber high-five to you for this question!.

So, what I can tell you is to first trust your instinct!. I know people defend Meyer by saying that that's what she did and everything, but writing (and all forms of art) go beyond instinct!. What really makes sense!? *Really really* makes sense!? When you build up the walls of your world, don't tear them down!. The walls are the rules!. It's find if you have a simple story!. Simple stories aren't that uncommon, but the thing is that you have to really develop it and its characters!. Make sure you know who your characters are outside of each other!. Bella is nothing without Edward!. Nobody would care about Bella if Edward was there!. And Edward is plain cardboard; what is he outside of Bella!?

Every major conflict you create, you need to solve!. Take the Volturi!. In the last three books, they were a major threat!. The Vamps of Forks went haywire over them, did they not!? But instead of some war, they had a lovely tea party!. What great fun!. But it doesn't make sense!. Why would the vicious Volturi just walk away without a care!? There was all this stuff about the Volturi going to whatever lengths possible to recruit powerful vampires!. So why not Bella!? Why just walk away without that!? Aro tricked his own brother without telling him, he killed his lover or something!. He was that bent on power, but walks away from Forks with nothing more than he had in the first place!? Resolve your conflicts!.

So, develop your characters, plots (plan them!), solve major conflicts!. This is mainly what you should do to not be like Stephenie Meyer!. Mainly!. She also had writing issues; she didn't know what synonyms are, she described Edward so much and so badly that I make a face at the word "topaz" (which is unfortunate because that's my birthstone!.!.!.)!. So, make sure the technicalities of writing are all there!. For that, read good books!. Classics will help!. There are also writing books you can look at!. Strunk and White's Elements of Style is considered a classic!. I once took a look at it, and it looked pretty useful!.

Hopefully this will help!. Good luck!

Edit: also, REWRITE!. It might seem like a very evil task, to go through and edit and edit and edit some more, but it will save you and it is the one thing that I'm absolutely sure Meyer failed to do!. also get the opinions of people you trust to give you actual criticism!. Teachers and professors, especially!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

1!. Do not overuse your adjectives= purple prose

2!. Do not use cliches

3!. Do not ever use a deus ex machina, which is purposely avoiding a bad situation, such as you build up so much tension for what would seem like a fight scene, only to have it not happen, or someone's head is on a chopping block and a messenger comes to deliver a message to save that person!.

4!. No Mary Sues, or Gary Stus

5!. Do not over the damsel-in-distress status

6!. Do not overuse said-bookisms, which are basically synonyms for said in any dialogue piece!. Meyer uses a said-bookism in almost every piece of dialogue she has!. Do not have your characters hiss, growl, or laugh their words!. Do not have them ejaculate their words!. If you have to use a said-bookism, make sure it is so boring that it will blend in!. The purpose of boring dialogue tags is so that the dialogue itself stands out more!.

7!. Make sure your tone is appropriate for the audence you are writing for!. Meyer's books are supposed to be for young adults, but the tone of her main character is more middle grade than YA!.

8!. No illegal POV changes!. Your main character cannot say her face is as red as a tomato if she does not have a mirror in front of her!. It does not matter if she knows what a blush looks like!. For all she knows, her face could have gone blue for God knows what reason!.

9!. Your novel should not mimic real life, but it should have some logic behind it!. To me, if the majority of the readers have a question about something, then the author didn't explain it too well in the books to begin with!. Such as the whole Bella getting pregnant thing!. Meyer explained it on her site, but it still didn't make any sense!.

10!. Practice everyday!. Read books on writing!. Meyer never did any of those!. She was an amateur who picked up a pen and decided that what day she would write a fabulous book, even though her writing skills are poor!.

11!. Anyone who thinks Meyer is a great writer is obviously very blind and dim-witted!. They can think she's a great storyteller because that right there is opinion, but a great writer she is not, and that's a fact!. I can argue with anyone Twilighter all day long about this, and I'll easily be able to throw them off the pedestals they put themselves on!.

12!. Avoid passive!. In passive, the subject does not do the action!. Ex: The letter was handed to Alice by the postman!. That is passive!. Active: The poastman handed the letter to Alice!.

13!. Vary your words and avoid qualifiers if possible!. Qualifiers are words like very, really, certainly!.!.!.ect!.!.!.Words that can be changed for a synonym of the word you are trying to emphasize!.

14!. And make sure you have your characters act their age!. Meyer had Bella acting like she was more fourteen than seventeen, which was ridiculous!. I would have thought she was that age, too, if I didn't know she drove!.

15!. Do not have your characters whine so much!. Yes, people whine in real life, but no one wants to read about a character who sits in the corner all day and whines about how tragic life can be!. Give the characters more depth than that!.

16!. Plan what you wrote!. For my novel, I let the story carry me, and it carried me into surprising places, and I was lucky enough to connect every event the way I did!. With this final re-write, I had to go through and really iron out the plot!. It has taken me four years because of the fact that I was still improving and that I didn't thoroughly plan it out!. Now my series is thoroughly planned out!.

17!. Don't write about vampires unless you're a fabulous writer, or unless you're a published author already!.

18!. Make everything for your characters as worse as you possibly can--but don't overload the reader's reading senses!. Meyer never did that!. She gave her characters what she wanted to give them!. Sometimes you can't do that, and a lot of the times it's impossible because deus ex machinas are not okay in writing anymore!. SM is a walking deus ex machina herself!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

lol
No offense, but htat sounds pretty immature!.
For one thing, she's incredibly wealthy!. Why wouldn't you want to be like her!?!.!.and for another, she's not that awful!. She's not great, but I wouldn't call her horrible!.
If you want to avoid being a "horrible writer", just follow your insticts when it comes to writing!. Don't be a sell out and write things for other people's entertainment; write for your own!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I didn't really enjoy the first twilight book either!. But I really loved The host!. I like books about vampires but ones more like the blue bloods series or the Chosen series!. But to be a better writer you need to stay away from being cliche and making the endings work out too well!. Sometimes books shouldn't have a completely happy ending!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Love this question!. I'm going to put this on my watch list so that I can learn better writing technique!

And to the Twilight fans: As a fellow fan who is not obsessive in anyway and can see the flaws; read the classics! Trust me, they are better by far!.

Don't be narrow minded, please read the classics!Www@QuestionHome@Com

1!. develop your writing skills!.
2!. don't dream of something and think you can write a whole entire book on it! I mean come on it was only one dream!
3!. don't get over confindent
4!. don't be a smart butt and think writing is easy
5!. don't copy Stephenie Meyer!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Attend writing workshops
Keep a diary
Keep a notebook nearby all the time (when you get inspiration, just write!)
Ask for friends' and teachers' help
Read, read, read!
Just live life! No worries because your writing skills WILL develop over time!.

Have a nice day!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Stephenie Meyer is beautiful, inside and out!.
Her stories are unique, and straight out amazing!.
Don't you dare call her a bad writer!
She is the complete opposite!.
She is very successful!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Don't base your books on silly, trifle passions!. Make sure the chemistry between your characters is actually believable (unlike that between Edward and Bella)!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

AHAHAHAHA!. Don't steal your ideas/whole scenes from your book from other awesome writers =)
Meyer's over-rated!. Way to fight the power, man!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

LOL!! THANK YOU!!

Yes she is horrible and if you don't want to end up like her then don't write like a twelve-year-old!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

develop better writing skillsWww@QuestionHome@Com

hahaha all the twilight fans are going be so mad at you!!!
haha watch as they insult you and get mad
Www@QuestionHome@Com

Learn how to write properly and use words with more than two syllables!.
~ε?зWww@QuestionHome@Com

go to schoolWww@QuestionHome@Com

Shes a wonderful writer, but to answer your question, READ read anything and everything you get your hands on, its so good for your comprehension skills and can help you find out more creative ways to write!. But i honestly beleive its in your genes, i was writing creative stories since i was 6 and a still do!. But you can teach yourself!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

****You mean being dissed by so called fans!. Do not bother writing for fickle audiences!. They all cannot be Spoiled selfish whiny brats but there seems to be a lot of that this year!. I think people ought to stop catering to your respectful ways!. Shallow, callow and cold!. You are always crying that no one gives you respect because you have done NOTHING to deserve it!. No manners, no Class at all!. Boorish, ugly behavior toward a lady few of you will ever meet!. Why!? Because you did not get YOUR way!. You are too much!. I really hope you learn your lessons early on because if this is what you are going to be like as adults no one is going to want you around!. You will still be working fast food when you are 29 because NO adult employer will put with your attitudes!.
There is a 12 year old out there who has contributed _more_ to the good of society than you ever will!. He revolutioned the way solar cells are made!. http://buzz!.yahoo!.com/article/1:wired:c9!.!.!.

***How do you like being disrepected and called names and being generalized as not good people because someone took it their head (me) to decide I didn't like you just because you are young!.
When in Fact I am trying to show you what you are doing to Ms!. Meyers!. It stinks!.
She may not be the finest writer in the world but neither is Meg Cabot or the author of the Travelling Pants series!. And yeah, she broke rules!. Name one author that is good that does not break rules!.

No one reads any of the old classics, Sir Walter Scott, the British authors of 18/19th C!. are largely ignored except for Jane Austen and kids dis her all the time!. Borinng!.!.Stupid!.!.whine, whine whine!. Charles Dickens is blasted by teens too!. Only the real smart kids like the good Sci-Fi authors like Bradury and Heinlein!. Most don't bother to read, just spark or cliff notes!. and never get it!.
So no I have no real appreciation for teen critics!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Well this is kinda a stupid question!. Each writer has a unique style!.!.!. but alas you of course have to attack Stephenie Meyer!. If you have noticed she is VERY successful!.

But in an case if you do not want to be like her than do not write like her!.!.!. of course!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

What the hell!? u got some issues!.!.!.i think she is a GREAT writer, and i can bet u im not the only one!. and im pretty sure your not asking the quesion to get an answer!.!.!.!.!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

umm!.!.!.!. excuse me! stephanie meyer is a great author! u probably haven't read a single one of her books!.

http://answers!.yahoo!.com/question/index!?!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

EXCUSE ME STEPHANIE MEYER IS THE BEST AUTHOR IN THE WORLD HOW DARE U DISS HER WHY DID YOU EVEN ASK A STUPID QUESTION LIKE THIS SHE IS PROBABLY THE BEST AUTHOR I KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Www@QuestionHome@Com

You need to stop discriminating the twilight sagea those r the best books in the whole worldWww@QuestionHome@Com

who the hell is that lolWww@QuestionHome@Com

HOW CAN YOU HATE STEPHANIE MYER!?!!?!!?!!?!Www@QuestionHome@Com

i'm sorry!?
shouldn't you be saying, how CAN i write like Stephanie Meyer!?!
Www@QuestionHome@Com

that's great!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

:O:O!
I LOVE STEPHANIE MEYER!!!!!!!!!!!
well i can tell you wut WILL happen if ur a writer and u dont rite like her!.!.!.!.NO1 WILL BUY YOUR BOOKS!!!!!
Www@QuestionHome@Com