If you're set on becoming a writer but never seem to get the opening right, take a look at this article on Bukisa ... BECOMING A WRITER
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Friday, 5 March 2010
Thursday, 25 February 2010
Editing your novel
Tell Me a Story - tips
Okay, so your novel is complete - or is it. The first or even second draft of a novel will rarely be up to publication standard. It might be a brilliant idea, it might have an incredible storyline, but unless it's up to scratch, no one is going to read it. Good novels aren't written, they are rewritten. Take a look at this article 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
next post
Okay, so your novel is complete - or is it. The first or even second draft of a novel will rarely be up to publication standard. It might be a brilliant idea, it might have an incredible storyline, but unless it's up to scratch, no one is going to read it. Good novels aren't written, they are rewritten. Take a look at this article 20 Ways To Write A Story Better
next post
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- 20 Things You Should Know About How To Format A Book
- Writer's Block - Cool Ways Of Overcoming Writing Block
Monday, 22 February 2010
Job Snobs
Tell Me a Story - viewpoint
Have you ever been button-holed by someone who you know full-well is pretending to be in a job they are not? Some people just have to be job-snobs . Take a look at this article on REDGAGE
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Have you ever been button-holed by someone who you know full-well is pretending to be in a job they are not? Some people just have to be job-snobs . Take a look at this article on REDGAGE
next post
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Looking for
Saturday, 20 February 2010
Promotion for new authors
Tell Me a story - advice
If you're a newly published author you're probably still in shock. When you finally climb down off your particular cloud nine you'll realise that your wonderful babe isn't selling quite how you'd hoped. There is no publicity budget and promotion verges on being non-existent.
So what happens next???
Take a look at this take on REDGAGE to see one way of increasing interest in your book.
next post
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If you're a newly published author you're probably still in shock. When you finally climb down off your particular cloud nine you'll realise that your wonderful babe isn't selling quite how you'd hoped. There is no publicity budget and promotion verges on being non-existent.
So what happens next???
Take a look at this take on REDGAGE to see one way of increasing interest in your book.
next post
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Wednesday, 17 February 2010
Easy money on-line
Tell Me a Story - advice
I recently talked about Redgage. At the risk of repeating myself I just want to point out the advantage I've had so far.
I joined just two weeks ago. Already my earnings are just a few cents short of $38, and all I've done is add some of my already published stuff. You can link to blog posts you've done, articles you've written, upload photos, anything you wish and bingo, money comes trickling in. The more posts you have the greater the trickle becomes.
Easy Money
You don't have wait for people to click on advertisements on your site like you do on HubPages, Squidoo or other article sites. You actually get paid by the NUMBER OF VISITS to your article - in fact if you have Squidoo, put a link to it and visitors will clock up cash for you.
If you fancy making easy money from stuff you've already written then take a look at RedGage here
next post
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Creative writing tips, conflict and tension
Book writing, 20 ways to polish that manuscript
I recently talked about Redgage. At the risk of repeating myself I just want to point out the advantage I've had so far.
I joined just two weeks ago. Already my earnings are just a few cents short of $38, and all I've done is add some of my already published stuff. You can link to blog posts you've done, articles you've written, upload photos, anything you wish and bingo, money comes trickling in. The more posts you have the greater the trickle becomes.
Easy Money
You don't have wait for people to click on advertisements on your site like you do on HubPages, Squidoo or other article sites. You actually get paid by the NUMBER OF VISITS to your article - in fact if you have Squidoo, put a link to it and visitors will clock up cash for you.
If you fancy making easy money from stuff you've already written then take a look at RedGage here
next post
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Creative writing tips, conflict and tension
Book writing, 20 ways to polish that manuscript
Monday, 8 February 2010
Injecting emotion into your story
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
Redgage - I'm smitten
Tell Me a Story - tip
Two days ago I joined an article site called REDGAGE. It's rather unique in that you can update your own blog material to it, refer your own articles from elsewhere to it, or link to your external material and photos. Effectively, you GET PAID to write on your own site - good or what?
You can also enter material and articles directly like any other conventional site.
The system of payment is per view rather than whether your reader happens to click on an advert. Some may like this way, some not; my own preference is that I like the method. I'm useless at marketing.
The point is, that not only do you get payment per view, BUT also paid by bonus. If your article is featured, you receive a nice little bonus payment. Now I realise other sites might have upfront payments, but not for writers outside of the USA. REDGAGE allow you to operate wherever you live. They send you a Visa card once you earn in excess of $25, with the card credited to the amount you've earned....
Now, as I said, I've only been on the site a couple of days, but already one of my articles has received a $4:75 bonus - a tidy little start to my article campaign.
Not only, but also
Not only do you get paid per view, and a bonus if your work is decent, you can also be entered into a daily raffle which pays $25. You gain points towards this raffle by either producing good content, by promoting the site, or by recommending a friend.
SO good people. If YOU want to try out this site -and why wouldn't you want to earn money from your blogs - pick up this link to REDGAGE and take a look for yourself.
next post
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Creative writing tips, conflict and tension
Book writing, 20 ways to polish that manuscript
Two days ago I joined an article site called REDGAGE. It's rather unique in that you can update your own blog material to it, refer your own articles from elsewhere to it, or link to your external material and photos. Effectively, you GET PAID to write on your own site - good or what?
You can also enter material and articles directly like any other conventional site.
The system of payment is per view rather than whether your reader happens to click on an advert. Some may like this way, some not; my own preference is that I like the method. I'm useless at marketing.
The point is, that not only do you get payment per view, BUT also paid by bonus. If your article is featured, you receive a nice little bonus payment. Now I realise other sites might have upfront payments, but not for writers outside of the USA. REDGAGE allow you to operate wherever you live. They send you a Visa card once you earn in excess of $25, with the card credited to the amount you've earned....
Now, as I said, I've only been on the site a couple of days, but already one of my articles has received a $4:75 bonus - a tidy little start to my article campaign.
Not only, but also
Not only do you get paid per view, and a bonus if your work is decent, you can also be entered into a daily raffle which pays $25. You gain points towards this raffle by either producing good content, by promoting the site, or by recommending a friend.
SO good people. If YOU want to try out this site -and why wouldn't you want to earn money from your blogs - pick up this link to REDGAGE and take a look for yourself.
next post
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Creative writing tips, conflict and tension
Book writing, 20 ways to polish that manuscript
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
6 sites to Pep Up your Writer's Blog
Tell Me a Story - tips
Okay, as writers we can all do with a little help to pep up our websites and blogs. Writers want to write, not promote, but we all have to get stuck in, even though half the time we haven't a clue what we're doing.
I recently came across a few articles that offer help with traffic and blogs and thought you might find them useful as well.
- Video: How to bring traffic with the help of elertgadget and Google Desktop
- 6 Steps To A Killer Guest Post
- 7 Important Steps for Perfect Blog Promotion
- Faster Web Sites For Happier Visitors And Better Conversion Rates
- Get 10X Traffic by Content Distribution Method
- Promoting Your Blog Without Search Engines
Now we have no excuse for trimming our blogs and driving tons of traffic..... Well we can all live in hope can't we.
- Next post on Tell Me a Story
Creative writing tips, conflict and tension
Book writing, 20 ways to polish that manuscript
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
The vulnerable writer
Tell Me a Story
As a writer, you are vulnerable – especially if you haven’t yet been published.
Plain old shit
Most creative souls are susceptible to people’s comments, to failure, to having the right idea at the wrong time or the wrong place or the other way round…. Or to finding that the market you’re aiming for is simply not ready for your idea…. or horror of horrors, to realising that your idea is just plain old shit.
The important thing is that you do write, and that you write with enthusiasm and pride.
Carry on regardless
Remember, nothing was ever created out of shilly-shallying. We have a special kind of respect for people who fail yet carry on regardless. We know in our hearts that sometime soon they will be triumphant, next time they could pen a best seller.
If you’re in your study struggling to find the right words, the right idea, remember that all successful writers have been there and climbed through the pain barrier. You’re not alone even though it feels that way.
Come on, forget vulnerability let’s write!
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Creative writing tips, conflict and tension
Book writing, 20 ways to polish that manuscript
As a writer, you are vulnerable – especially if you haven’t yet been published.
Plain old shit
Most creative souls are susceptible to people’s comments, to failure, to having the right idea at the wrong time or the wrong place or the other way round…. Or to finding that the market you’re aiming for is simply not ready for your idea…. or horror of horrors, to realising that your idea is just plain old shit.
The important thing is that you do write, and that you write with enthusiasm and pride.
Carry on regardless
Remember, nothing was ever created out of shilly-shallying. We have a special kind of respect for people who fail yet carry on regardless. We know in our hearts that sometime soon they will be triumphant, next time they could pen a best seller.
If you’re in your study struggling to find the right words, the right idea, remember that all successful writers have been there and climbed through the pain barrier. You’re not alone even though it feels that way.
Come on, forget vulnerability let’s write!
- Next post on Tell Me a Story
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Creative writing tips, conflict and tension
Book writing, 20 ways to polish that manuscript
Monday, 11 January 2010
Book Challenge
Tell Me a Story.
I have just read a blog post on The Story Syren that brings a glimmer of hope to new writers. The post encourages the public to read books from debut authors. In this case the object seems to be to introduce readers to Young Adult books - but why not extend the challenge to include ALL debut writers. In fact my own challenge is for everyone to read at least ONE book from an unknown writer - who knows, you might be pleasantly surprised.
Too many books from celebrities
Okay I know I have a biased opinion, but in my view, too many people are reading books from over-paid, over-exposed, semi-literate celebrities. All well and good to read this stuff, but unfortunately, it's at the expense of books from real and talented authors.
No Budget
Each year, on the American market alone, we see something like 150,000 new books published. Steve Weber suggestes that of these 100,00 will sell less than 100 copies - not because they are not good enough, but because no publicity is made available for them, no book promotion because publishers plough their budgets into sure-fire hits from celebrities. The public has no idea which books are available. If this sort of thing continues, if there is no encouragement for new writers, there could be a stage where real novels are no longer available.
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Creative writing tips, conflict and tension
Book writing, 20 ways to polish that manuscript
I have just read a blog post on The Story Syren that brings a glimmer of hope to new writers. The post encourages the public to read books from debut authors. In this case the object seems to be to introduce readers to Young Adult books - but why not extend the challenge to include ALL debut writers. In fact my own challenge is for everyone to read at least ONE book from an unknown writer - who knows, you might be pleasantly surprised.
Too many books from celebrities
Okay I know I have a biased opinion, but in my view, too many people are reading books from over-paid, over-exposed, semi-literate celebrities. All well and good to read this stuff, but unfortunately, it's at the expense of books from real and talented authors.
No Budget
Each year, on the American market alone, we see something like 150,000 new books published. Steve Weber suggestes that of these 100,00 will sell less than 100 copies - not because they are not good enough, but because no publicity is made available for them, no book promotion because publishers plough their budgets into sure-fire hits from celebrities. The public has no idea which books are available. If this sort of thing continues, if there is no encouragement for new writers, there could be a stage where real novels are no longer available.
- So what is the 2010 Debut Author Challenge on The Story Syren?
- "The objective is to read a set number of YA (Young Adult) or MG (Middle Grade) novels from debut authors published this year.* I'm going to challenge everyone to read at least 12 debut novels! I’m hoping to read at least 30! You don’t have to list your choices right away, but if you do feel free to change them throughout the year. I will also be focusing on mostly Young Adult novels.
- Anyone can join, you don’t need a blog to participate. If you don’t have a blog you can always share your views by posting a review on Amazon.com/ BarnesandNoble.com/ GoodReads/Shelfari, or any other bookish site.
- The challenge will run from January 1, 2010- December 31, 2010. You can join at anytime!"
- For more information check the post out at The Story Syren
- Next post on Tell Me a Story
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Creative writing tips, conflict and tension
Book writing, 20 ways to polish that manuscript
Saturday, 2 January 2010
Getting over Writer's Block
Tell Me a Story - writing tip
If the surge of ideas has faded, if your writing feels trapped or awkward, if you’ve hit the dreaded writer’s block, maybe you’re just not paying attention to your subconscious.
The waking mind
When you hit a sticking point, it sometimes means the plot is flawed and your subconscious knows and has slowed down. You’re still forging ahead as if the storyline is okay, and simply think you’re having a bad patch. The idea that your scheme might be wrong hasn’t trickled through to your waking mind yet.
Sometimes it’s better to step back and take another look at your plot. Re-assess your ideas; are there other scenarios that might work better?
Allow it to be processed
Search through your running notebook of questions on the story (you do keep a notebook of things that need answering or resolving at a later date don’t you). Feed the ideas into your mind, try reversing the roles, chew things over. Ask yourself questions about the problem you've hit.
Now put the whole thing to one side. Take a walk, feed the dog, go shopping, do anything except write. Allow time for this fresh material and the questions to be processed by your subconscious. Let it poach and boil whilst you do something unrelated. Take a holiday.
Nourish your mind
Feeding crude material into your mind can be intriguing and very worthwhile. The more you nourish your mind, the more probable your subliminal dynamic will be there to help.
Lying dormant within your notebook, or sometimes in what you’ve already written will be a clue to the problem. Give it time to bubble and eventually the answer will doubtless appear.
Who needs writers agents?
Book writing tips - A Perceptive Notebook
If the surge of ideas has faded, if your writing feels trapped or awkward, if you’ve hit the dreaded writer’s block, maybe you’re just not paying attention to your subconscious.
The waking mind
When you hit a sticking point, it sometimes means the plot is flawed and your subconscious knows and has slowed down. You’re still forging ahead as if the storyline is okay, and simply think you’re having a bad patch. The idea that your scheme might be wrong hasn’t trickled through to your waking mind yet.
Sometimes it’s better to step back and take another look at your plot. Re-assess your ideas; are there other scenarios that might work better?
Allow it to be processed
Search through your running notebook of questions on the story (you do keep a notebook of things that need answering or resolving at a later date don’t you). Feed the ideas into your mind, try reversing the roles, chew things over. Ask yourself questions about the problem you've hit.
Now put the whole thing to one side. Take a walk, feed the dog, go shopping, do anything except write. Allow time for this fresh material and the questions to be processed by your subconscious. Let it poach and boil whilst you do something unrelated. Take a holiday.
Nourish your mind
Feeding crude material into your mind can be intriguing and very worthwhile. The more you nourish your mind, the more probable your subliminal dynamic will be there to help.
Lying dormant within your notebook, or sometimes in what you’ve already written will be a clue to the problem. Give it time to bubble and eventually the answer will doubtless appear.
- Next post on Tell Me a Story
Who needs writers agents?
Book writing tips - A Perceptive Notebook
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Give yourself permission to write crap
Tell Me a Story - writing tip
Some writers become drunk with their own words and don’t recognize what they’ve written can have anything wrong with it. They are deluding themselves. Their writing will remain crap.
Words have worth
Maybe your problem is the opposite in that you don’t believe your words have worth. If that’s the case, then you too, are deluding yourself. There is something of worth in everything you write. Amongst that crap will be a gem, and if you clean it up it will sparkle.
Once you acknowledge a first draft, warts and all, is an essential part of writing, maybe you’ll face it more philosophically and proficiently. No one is going to read your first draft. It’s for your eyes only, a scribbling of basic ideas.
Force yourself to write.
Striving for the ultimate is an essential part of success, but you really shouldn’t let it get in the way of putting that precious story down. Be hard on yourself. Force yourself to simply write until the draft is complete. When the draft is finished, you can give yourself full-rein to edit. You can be as harsh as you like – in fact, you should be severe. Stories are not written, they are re-written.
Overcoming the problem.
Years ago I had trouble with putting profanities into my work.
I overcame the problem by writing a whole story using the most foul-language I could dream up. I let it flood out; in fact, I overdid the writing. The story was unreadable because of this overuse of swear words, but it cured me.
Maybe you could try something similar with, say, a version of your very own NaNoWriMo. Set your own target then write like mad for a month – forget quality – forget story content – just give yourself permission to complete a novel-full-of-crap within a month.
Expect crap, write crap; be satisfied with crap - but you might be pleasantly surprised. You might even have a story you can use sometime – and you might just be cured.
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AJ - Do you have any suggestions for those of us perfectionist/ slowpokes who have a hard time NOT editing as we write? Basically I write crap. I have to keep editing it away.Hi, Billie. Thanks for contacting me. I can only suggest that because you understand your problem, the answer virtually lies in your own hands. Recognizing that you’ve hit an obstacle is certainly the first step - and even the best writer churns out crap in the first draft.
Some writers become drunk with their own words and don’t recognize what they’ve written can have anything wrong with it. They are deluding themselves. Their writing will remain crap.
Words have worth
Maybe your problem is the opposite in that you don’t believe your words have worth. If that’s the case, then you too, are deluding yourself. There is something of worth in everything you write. Amongst that crap will be a gem, and if you clean it up it will sparkle.
Once you acknowledge a first draft, warts and all, is an essential part of writing, maybe you’ll face it more philosophically and proficiently. No one is going to read your first draft. It’s for your eyes only, a scribbling of basic ideas.
Force yourself to write.
Striving for the ultimate is an essential part of success, but you really shouldn’t let it get in the way of putting that precious story down. Be hard on yourself. Force yourself to simply write until the draft is complete. When the draft is finished, you can give yourself full-rein to edit. You can be as harsh as you like – in fact, you should be severe. Stories are not written, they are re-written.
Overcoming the problem.
Years ago I had trouble with putting profanities into my work.
I overcame the problem by writing a whole story using the most foul-language I could dream up. I let it flood out; in fact, I overdid the writing. The story was unreadable because of this overuse of swear words, but it cured me.
Maybe you could try something similar with, say, a version of your very own NaNoWriMo. Set your own target then write like mad for a month – forget quality – forget story content – just give yourself permission to complete a novel-full-of-crap within a month.
Expect crap, write crap; be satisfied with crap - but you might be pleasantly surprised. You might even have a story you can use sometime – and you might just be cured.
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- Next post on Tell Me a Story.
- Romantic Suspense
Saturday, 19 December 2009
Writing - Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance
Tell Me a Story - question
It seems to me that you almost have the answer in your own hands. Most people don't understand what the obstacles are with their writing and that's where their actual problems lie. Once they KNOW they have a problem, they work on it and polish it away. You seem to understand exactly what is wrong - so let's try to see why you can't get over it.
Edit it away
Most authors simply get on with writing their story and return later to edit away the crap. Don’t imagine that writers produce a beautiful piece of work hot off the press. Stories aren’t written, stories are re-written, several times. Everyone has to edit the rubbish away. The trick is recognizing what the rubbish is. You already seem to understand this.
Let's try a plan
Okay, so maybe the real problem lies in planning. I know I hammer this a lot, but a lot of hiccups in writing come about because of insufficient preparation.
If you make an outline of the story before you start to write, you won’t grind to a halt because any sticking points will be ironed out in the planning stage. A plan doesn’t have to be all-inclusive, it can be as sketchy as you like. Just make one. The worst plan is better than none at all - and the plan can be altered at any time to accomodate new ideas.
Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance
Some writers claim that making an outline inhibits their flow of writing, that their creative juices are stunted. In fact, it can have the opposite effect. Once you know where the story is going, you can write free-flow then wham! Words just fall off the ends of your fingers.
A plan is merely a guide, a map of where you want to go; it isn’t the journey, it isn’t writing. Writing is where you release the juices and the flow of creation comes into it’s own.
Good luck - and let me know how you go on.
Hello, AJ. I'm having a dilemma. I think it's descriptive power syndrome. I over-describe things (maybe) and get stuck right after writing a great descriptive paragraph and become unable to continue the plot. Every thing I start to write results like that. Please do recommend me methods or tell me tips to overcome my problem. Thanks.Hello Aiman from Singapore. Thanks for sending this in. Descriptive Power Syndrome, mm.... That's a new one on me, I guess you not only recognize you have a problem, but have named it as well. Perhaps you’re talking about what in the past was called ‘purple prose’.
It seems to me that you almost have the answer in your own hands. Most people don't understand what the obstacles are with their writing and that's where their actual problems lie. Once they KNOW they have a problem, they work on it and polish it away. You seem to understand exactly what is wrong - so let's try to see why you can't get over it.
Edit it away
Most authors simply get on with writing their story and return later to edit away the crap. Don’t imagine that writers produce a beautiful piece of work hot off the press. Stories aren’t written, stories are re-written, several times. Everyone has to edit the rubbish away. The trick is recognizing what the rubbish is. You already seem to understand this.
Let's try a plan
Okay, so maybe the real problem lies in planning. I know I hammer this a lot, but a lot of hiccups in writing come about because of insufficient preparation.
If you make an outline of the story before you start to write, you won’t grind to a halt because any sticking points will be ironed out in the planning stage. A plan doesn’t have to be all-inclusive, it can be as sketchy as you like. Just make one. The worst plan is better than none at all - and the plan can be altered at any time to accomodate new ideas.
Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance
Some writers claim that making an outline inhibits their flow of writing, that their creative juices are stunted. In fact, it can have the opposite effect. Once you know where the story is going, you can write free-flow then wham! Words just fall off the ends of your fingers.
A plan is merely a guide, a map of where you want to go; it isn’t the journey, it isn’t writing. Writing is where you release the juices and the flow of creation comes into it’s own.
Good luck - and let me know how you go on.
- Next post on Tell Me a Story
- Romantic Suspense
Sunday, 6 December 2009
The first few pages of a novel are crucial
Tell Me a Story - advice.
For more information take a look at this Bukisa article BECOMING A WRITER
Hope this helps a little. Don't give up - and good luck.
Who needs writers agents?
Book writing tips - A Perceptive Notebook
Hello AJ. I wonder if you can help? I have a problem when starting my stories. I never seem to get the beginning right. Is there any advice you can offer?Hi, Jennifer. Thank you for sending this in. The first chapter, in fact probably the first ten pages, are the most important part of any story. It's the window into your fictional world and unless readers like what they see within this time, they're liable to turn away.
For more information take a look at this Bukisa article BECOMING A WRITER
Hope this helps a little. Don't give up - and good luck.
- Next post on Tell Me a Story
Who needs writers agents?
Book writing tips - A Perceptive Notebook
Friday, 27 November 2009
Tips for editing your book
Tell Me a Story - writing tips
So your story is written. Your flurry of words is finally down, you've captured all the ideas you wanted to capture. The adventure is complete.
Now comes the hard work.
That amazing manuscript is raw. Raw words should never see the light of day other than by the author. You now have to become your own worst critic. You must put those wonderful words away for a few weeks. Shove them in a drawer. Lock them up. Let them rest for a while.
It's amazing what a few weeks away from your work will do to your perspective. You'll suddenly realize those words aren't so magical after all. But all is not lost.
Editing
You need to learn how to polish. You have to put on your editing head and knock that precious book into shape.
How? Take a look at To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better and you'll stand a chance of making it to the other side without screaming.
How To Describe - Mastering Descriptive Writing
7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing
Emotional Writing - 8 Cool Writing Tips To Invoke Emotion
So your story is written. Your flurry of words is finally down, you've captured all the ideas you wanted to capture. The adventure is complete.
Now comes the hard work.
That amazing manuscript is raw. Raw words should never see the light of day other than by the author. You now have to become your own worst critic. You must put those wonderful words away for a few weeks. Shove them in a drawer. Lock them up. Let them rest for a while.
It's amazing what a few weeks away from your work will do to your perspective. You'll suddenly realize those words aren't so magical after all. But all is not lost.
Editing
You need to learn how to polish. You have to put on your editing head and knock that precious book into shape.
How? Take a look at To Write A Story - 20 Ways To Write A Story Better and you'll stand a chance of making it to the other side without screaming.
- Next post on Tell Me a Story
How To Describe - Mastering Descriptive Writing
7 Cool Ways To Jump-Start The Story Characters In Your Writing
Emotional Writing - 8 Cool Writing Tips To Invoke Emotion
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
The Fulfilling Facet - Emotional Influence
Tell Me a Story
Enjoyment, fury, dread and anguish are the most common human emotions. Each time you find a piece of writing that sticks in your mind, it's usually spiked with one or more of these. If you want your own work to be thought of in this way, you'll have to wrench at those same feelings in your readers.
Emotional writing? So, what is the right way to go about writing a book that has sufficient emotion? How do you create such an elusive element in your readers? Naming it certainly doesn’t produce it. We can declare our protagonists irritated, anxious, broken-hearted or suchlike, but it doesn’t generate the emotion in the reader. How then do we use this intangible feature
generator
Emotional writing - creating impact
"It is my ambition to say in ten sentences what other men do not say in whole books." - Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzshe
Emotional influence is sometimes the most ignored facet with wannabe writers. Emotion is essential, not only when linked to what characters feel about themselves and others, but more importantly, in the reaction they stir in readers.Creative writing tips - but what is emotional impact?
Creative writing is worthless without emotion. Creating emotional impact is the only real way to cultivate empathy between readers and your story.Enjoyment, fury, dread and anguish are the most common human emotions. Each time you find a piece of writing that sticks in your mind, it's usually spiked with one or more of these. If you want your own work to be thought of in this way, you'll have to wrench at those same feelings in your readers.
Emotional writing? So, what is the right way to go about writing a book that has sufficient emotion? How do you create such an elusive element in your readers? Naming it certainly doesn’t produce it. We can declare our protagonists irritated, anxious, broken-hearted or suchlike, but it doesn’t generate the emotion in the reader. How then do we use this intangible feature
Elements of emotional writing.
How do established authors invoke emotion? There are certain elements in creative writing that can be brought into play that have an emotional influence. It must be noted that their whole is greater than the sum of their parts. You should be prepared to include all elements to be sure of capturing this elusive quality. generator- Emotional writing - There must be consequence. The degree of emotive reaction is a direct reflection of the character’s problem and the consequences they face. Will there be incentive if the central character makes it, will there be tragedy if he doesn’t.
- Emotional writing - There must be a strong theme. The outcome of the story must be important in some way. The story must mean something. If the predicament doesn’t matter one way or another, readers won’t be bothered about the outcome.
- Emotional writing - There must be struggle. There must not only be consequence in the plot, there must be serious tussle both inner and outer with the character, otherwise no emotion will come from it. No matter how severe the crisis, if it is easily sorted, no one will care; no one will feel anything.
- Emotional writing - Find that passion. Passion grows from the story’s significance. If the task is meaningless, there will be no feeling, no identity.
- Emotional writing - Think about the atmosphere. A story should have mood, ambience, atmosphere, call it what you will. Mood comes from all the restrained emotions that arise from the material elements of your story. It’s not enough to set a house in front of your characters; we need to know how they feel about it. Is it scary, or full of love, what does it mean to them; how does it move them?
- Emotional writing - Use the senses. Characters shouldn’t walk in a vacant space. Tell readers what is around them. Emotions can be constructed from sensory reaction even when there isn’t a problem. It won’t be a strong emotion, but it can exist as an entirety by itself.
- Emotional writing - Writing with moderation. Never give emotive words too full rein when you’re displaying how a character feels, use moderation, it’s a good maxim. Play down the most moving events. Encounter in itself carries drama, and key sentiments become implicit without description.
- Emotional writing - Limit your detail. Be cautious of littering scenes with too much detail. It takes only a few well-chosen words to describe a setting. Humans don’t have time to respond to every element around them, and characters should not respond to everything either. Opt for the most valuable details; the reader will fill in the rest.
Emotional writing tips - and so....
So maybe the lesson to be learned from these emotional writing tips, is to write with every single sense, including the sixth, but to write with restraint. Remember, more than enough is too much. Use your descriptive powers with self-control. Make every word count.- Next post on Tell Me a Story
Saturday, 31 October 2009
Researching that novel
Tell Me a Story - tips
Does the idea of research throw you into a fluster?
Okay, so you’ve dreamed up a breathtaking idea for a mystery. You've decided you’ll have a young English girl swept off her feet by a French aristocrat whom she bumps into accidentally and who obviously has something to hide. You can’t be bothered with all that crap about planning and plotting, you know exactly where to begin. You’ll get your main characters in conversation right away when they meet on a train from London to Glasgow.
You're in heaven
You rush right in, hot ideas spilling into the word processor. You're filled with utmost assurance. The dialogue will be a cauldron of interesting little snippets that are sure to captivate the readers. You’ll bring in your hero’s French background, how he came to be on the London train, her experience in learning some new job that you’re bound to think of in a few minutes, and every bit of it will be full of interesting detail.
Oh, oh!
At this point, you come to a stop, yet you haven’t typed more than a couple of pages. You become conscious that you don’t know these characters. Their lives are a blank; you know absolutely nothing about them or their lifestyles. Is there even a train from London to Glasgow? If so what times does it run? Someone will pick up on it if you get it wrong.
As empty as an empty can
The whole of your mystery will be just as empty if you don’t know pertinent facts. You must find out all about your characters and their backgrounds before you begin. You must know about their families and friends, you must know their likes and dislikes. Research means no more than that, yet the thought of it can throw beginners into as big a panic as the idea of writing a synopsis.
Even if you’re familiar with a place, a job, a building, you still need to do a little research. Unless you have a super-human memory, you’ll find your knowledge of even quite familiar things will play tricks with you.
Research can be as unpretentious or as convoluted as you care to make it. Just make sure you get out there and do it.
Book writing tips - A Perceptive Notebook
Does the idea of research throw you into a fluster?
Okay, so you’ve dreamed up a breathtaking idea for a mystery. You've decided you’ll have a young English girl swept off her feet by a French aristocrat whom she bumps into accidentally and who obviously has something to hide. You can’t be bothered with all that crap about planning and plotting, you know exactly where to begin. You’ll get your main characters in conversation right away when they meet on a train from London to Glasgow.
You're in heaven
You rush right in, hot ideas spilling into the word processor. You're filled with utmost assurance. The dialogue will be a cauldron of interesting little snippets that are sure to captivate the readers. You’ll bring in your hero’s French background, how he came to be on the London train, her experience in learning some new job that you’re bound to think of in a few minutes, and every bit of it will be full of interesting detail.
Oh, oh!
At this point, you come to a stop, yet you haven’t typed more than a couple of pages. You become conscious that you don’t know these characters. Their lives are a blank; you know absolutely nothing about them or their lifestyles. Is there even a train from London to Glasgow? If so what times does it run? Someone will pick up on it if you get it wrong.
As empty as an empty can
The whole of your mystery will be just as empty if you don’t know pertinent facts. You must find out all about your characters and their backgrounds before you begin. You must know about their families and friends, you must know their likes and dislikes. Research means no more than that, yet the thought of it can throw beginners into as big a panic as the idea of writing a synopsis.
Even if you’re familiar with a place, a job, a building, you still need to do a little research. Unless you have a super-human memory, you’ll find your knowledge of even quite familiar things will play tricks with you.
Research can be as unpretentious or as convoluted as you care to make it. Just make sure you get out there and do it.
- Next post on Tell Me a Story
Book writing tips - A Perceptive Notebook
Friday, 30 October 2009
Identity theft
Tell Me a Story - warning identity theft.
I feel an idiot. Last night I was well and truly hooked by local phishermen.... or in this case someone pretending to be someone I knew.
My identity was briefly stolen - my personna robbed - someone took my place. Some unknown piece of shit stole my name and passed themself off as me. I feel abnormally angry.
Phishing and chips
I'm perhaps one of the lucky ones. No money was involved this time - at least none I'm aware of. My credit cards are intact, my bank balance remains healthy - but my identity was still taken. I am violated.
The cause.... I opened a DM (direct message) on Twitter from a trusted follower, and it advised me to follow a link that I 'just had to see'. That's what ultimately let me down - I was too damn nosey - I had to find out what was going on - so I suppose it was my own fault. That's what these vile shits understand - people's weaknesses. They're expert psychologists.
Identity theft
When I clicked the link I received a message telling me that Twitter was over capacity. Now as all Twitter users will know, this a common enough happening - except this time it also flashed up that I needed to re-enter my Twitter name and password. It wasn't quite the same format as usual but close enough not to ring any warning bells - I entered my password and bingo....
Immediately, some, if not all, of my followers received strange DM's that I can only hope were legal. I pray no one had anything pornographic.
I was lucky enough to have people warn me fairly soon afterwards that something odd was taking place. I followed advice and changed my password - which hopefully put a stop to it - but how much damage was done - to my reputation if nothing else? That's what identity theft does, it robs you of confidence, it makes you question what else in your life has been affected - or damaged.
Reputations take forever to build and can be destroyed in seconds - I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that any collateral is minimal. I hope my friends remain just that - friends. I hope they realise it wasn't me sending out the spam.
So take heed of my circumstance and be warned. Be careful how and when you let your password out - it's frighteningly easy to get trapped. It all seemed so logical, so normal that I was fooled. There are some evil bastards out there..... It could have been much worse than this.
Who needs writers agents?
Book writing tips - A Perceptive Notebook
I feel an idiot. Last night I was well and truly hooked by local phishermen.... or in this case someone pretending to be someone I knew.
My identity was briefly stolen - my personna robbed - someone took my place. Some unknown piece of shit stole my name and passed themself off as me. I feel abnormally angry.
Phishing and chips
I'm perhaps one of the lucky ones. No money was involved this time - at least none I'm aware of. My credit cards are intact, my bank balance remains healthy - but my identity was still taken. I am violated.
The cause.... I opened a DM (direct message) on Twitter from a trusted follower, and it advised me to follow a link that I 'just had to see'. That's what ultimately let me down - I was too damn nosey - I had to find out what was going on - so I suppose it was my own fault. That's what these vile shits understand - people's weaknesses. They're expert psychologists.
Identity theft
When I clicked the link I received a message telling me that Twitter was over capacity. Now as all Twitter users will know, this a common enough happening - except this time it also flashed up that I needed to re-enter my Twitter name and password. It wasn't quite the same format as usual but close enough not to ring any warning bells - I entered my password and bingo....
Immediately, some, if not all, of my followers received strange DM's that I can only hope were legal. I pray no one had anything pornographic.
I was lucky enough to have people warn me fairly soon afterwards that something odd was taking place. I followed advice and changed my password - which hopefully put a stop to it - but how much damage was done - to my reputation if nothing else? That's what identity theft does, it robs you of confidence, it makes you question what else in your life has been affected - or damaged.
Reputations take forever to build and can be destroyed in seconds - I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that any collateral is minimal. I hope my friends remain just that - friends. I hope they realise it wasn't me sending out the spam.
So take heed of my circumstance and be warned. Be careful how and when you let your password out - it's frighteningly easy to get trapped. It all seemed so logical, so normal that I was fooled. There are some evil bastards out there..... It could have been much worse than this.
- Next post on Tell Me a Story.
Who needs writers agents?
Book writing tips - A Perceptive Notebook
Friday, 23 October 2009
National Hispanic Awareness Month - Living In Spain
Tell Me a Story
I LOVE living in Spain. As an Ex-pat from England, I'm maybe uniquely placed to comment on what it's like to live in Spain. Sometimes pictures speak better than words. Maureen Sabina has been looking at the photos around Jalon and Moraira and is interested in what my own villa looks like - so here goes -
I've taken a few snaps around the garden and here they are. Hope they meet with your approval - I love the place - but then again I am rather biased.
I LOVE living in Spain. As an Ex-pat from England, I'm maybe uniquely placed to comment on what it's like to live in Spain. Sometimes pictures speak better than words. Maureen Sabina has been looking at the photos around Jalon and Moraira and is interested in what my own villa looks like - so here goes -
I've taken a few snaps around the garden and here they are. Hope they meet with your approval - I love the place - but then again I am rather biased.
Thursday, 15 October 2009
National Hispanic Awareness month - Around Moraira
Tell Me a Story
As promised, for those living in the New World here are some more photos to remind them of their origins in the Old World of Spain. This time I've featured Moraira. A picturesque resort close to Jalón - featured in the novel Without Reproach.
As promised, for those living in the New World here are some more photos to remind them of their origins in the Old World of Spain. This time I've featured Moraira. A picturesque resort close to Jalón - featured in the novel Without Reproach.
National Hispanic Awareness month
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