...  Publishing New Writers  ...
Opt-In Publication for AuthorMe.com, GalleyProof.com, StoryThread.com, SlushPile.biz

 December, 2002

Quick Tips

by Sandy Tritt

http://tritt.wirefire.com

Although I tried to cram more than one idea on each of Tip Page, there remained several tips I wanted to cover that didn't fit neatly in any of the established pages. So, here are the leftovers:

  • Research does more than add authenticity -- it often opens the door to subplots and additional scenes.
  • Check out news events during the time period of your manuscript. Maybe John Lenon's death didn't affect you dramatically, but if your character is a rock 'n roll musician or a Beatle fanatic, it would be worthy of an emotional response.
  • Don't put thoughts (or internal dialogue) in quotes or italics. Since you must be in the viewpoint of the character in order to be privy to his thoughts, it isn't necessary to say, "he thought" or set off in any other way. Just maintain tense and point of view (such as third person, past tense). Example: "I don't want to go there," John thought is better written: John didn't want to go there.
  • Use current music (titles and even lyrics) to not only add substance to your time setting, but also to make use of another sense (sound).
  • Read everything you write aloud. Especially dialogue.
  • Keep pen and paper with you at all times. You never know when inspiration will hit or when you'll be stuck in traffic.
  • Make a scene feel "complete" by ending it with dialogue (internal or external) or action from your viewpoint character.
  • Keep paragraphs, sentences and parts of sentences in chronological order.
  • Write sentences in the positive form (avoid double negatives).
  • Vary the length and structure of your sentences. Don't start every sentence with a proper noun or pronoun. (John watched the Arrivals screen for news. He hoped her flight wouldn't be late. He wanted to see her. He had missed her way too much). Instead, try to start each sentence in a paragraph with a different part of speech: John watched the Arrivals screen for news. Surely, her flight wouldn't be late. And she would be there soon. He had missed her. Way too much. If you find yourself stuck in the "he/she" beginning for each sentence, decide to start each sentence with a different letter of the alphabet. It will take some creativity, but hey, that's why you write, right?
  • Focus is what gives your story cohesiveness. You must be able to describe your story in one sentence. Yes. One sentence. Forcing this focus gives you a home base to return to and reflect from, and ensures that you don't drift too much in other directions.
  • The purpose of fiction -- whether short story, novel or children's literature -- is to take the reader away from his life and expose him to a new experience. Hopefully, the reader learns from the experience of the characters, and, at the best, the reader views his own life in a new way.
  • The only way to finish a novel is to put pen to paper (or fingers to keypad) and do it.

Keep writing!

Want more great tips and techniques? Our Inspiration for Writers Tips and Techniques Workbook is now available. Expanded tips, more topics, reproducible worksheets, exercises to practice what you learn and much more--check it out! Free shipping anywhere in the United States.

(c) copyright 1999 by Sandy Tritt. All rights reserved, except for those listed here. December be reproduced for educational purposes (such as for writer's workshops), as long as this copyright notice and the url: http://tritt.wirefire.com are distributed with the pages. For use in conferences or other uses not mentioned here, please contact Sandy Tritt at tritt@wvadventures.net for permission and additional resources at no or limited charge.

   Keep writing!

Sandy Tritt

Inspiration for Writers tritt@wvadventures.net


Go Back in Time!...

Check out our new all - immersion Life of Jesus (Part 1) from David C. Cook III.  You'll become a true believer. Visit... 

Religion Category

AuthorMe.com is dedicated to the memory of David C. Cook III.

This Just In – From Paul the Apostle

 Chosen Instrument

By Kurt Schuller

 Another inspired work recreating

Bible times.

 


 

Publishing New Writers,

December, 2002 (no.312)

Publisher Bruce L. Cook, P.O. Box 451, Dundee, IL 60118.  Fax (847) 428-8974.

Submissions and comments to cookcomm@gte.net. Links are welcome.

To subscribe and/or  review our archive of past newsletters, go to

 Newslist

Visit our sister websites...

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Our Editorial Staff has expanded...

 

Rena Williams - Managing Editor

Helen Cook - Editor

Adam W. Smith - Assistant Editor

 

Country Editors...

 

      Rais Neza Boneza - Uganda, Norway,

         D.R. Congo

      Dr. Karanam Rao - India

      Ken Mulholland - Australia

      The Shadow - Bahrain

 


 

Our Marketing Staff ...

 

    Kathy Hartwell - Director of

        Marketing Communications

 


 

Radical Leadership for a New Millennium by Jacob Hevi

AuthorMe's Newest e-book  ...  

Leadership has been the topic of discussion, so also values. But the intimate functional relationship between leadership and values has not been given enough attention. The thesis of this book is that authentic leadership which alone can fulfill the aspirations of humankind in the new millennium is the leadership based on, directed by and oriented towards the fulfillment of fundamental values of various groups and the universal humankind- the leader being the symbol and promoter of fundamental human values.

This conclusion is indicated by the collective historical human conscience , which implicitly sets the criterion  for authentic leadership  in various dimensions of human existence.

Click here to order

 

God Created You

Temperament is the God-given, inborn nature of each person determining how he or she interacts and reacts with people, circumstances, environments, situations, and the world.

Temperament is who we are on the inside, what the Bible calls “the inner man” (or woman, God is not talking gender here). The National Christian Counselors Association, in the early 1980s, conducted seven years of research involving 5,000 people in regards to temperament. The research is still continuing.

It is now possible, through the use of the Temperament Analysis Profile Report (renamed the Arno Profile System in honor of Drs. Arno who were intimately involved in this research), to determine a person’s temperament and their temperament needs accurately and scientifically.

When a person’s temperament needs are being met by healthy and godly means, stress, anxiety and the problems related to stress and anxiety are greatly reduced.

Some of the problems directly connected to stress and anxiety are: depression, dissatisfaction, loneliness, fear, frustration, anger, marriage and family problems, poor work performance, exhaustion and inter/intra personal conflicts.

Even the American Medical Association has stated that 80% of physical ailment is stress related. Dr. Rick is convinced Temperament Therapy is God’s gift to the church to help people in the area of counseling.

Temperament Therapy is Bible based and Christ-centered. He is also convinced that relationship problems are all temperament rooted and has yet to find a problem, great or small, that cannot be solved with Temperament Therapy.

Dr. Rick wrote God Created You: A Guide To Temperament Therapy to provide information in a fun, easy to understand, non-clinical format so people could understand who God created them to be, how God created others and how to have happy, healthy relationships with the rest of God’s creatures (people; yes, God created them the way they are also, just as He did you). He is convinced this book will help anyone who has any relationship (at work or home or play) to be the person God intended them to be and to enjoy happier, healthier relationships.

GOD CREATED YOU  by Dr. Rick Martin

A guide to Temperament Therapy.

Purchase your copy now! Just $15. Click here.



Lynette's creative Writing Website

(type both lines in one)

 http://pages.ivillage.com/silverlady0

/lynettescreativewriting/index.html

 


Read...   Move Over Maharishi

By Dee Landerman

An ordinary housewife is catapulted into the unknown. For over twenty-five years with one foot in the other dimension, experiences visions, apparitions, and visits from the divine. As a Christian Intuitive with the ability to see into a person’s spirit, she experienced first hand where the departed go.

She shares her life openly with you, with the intent to give answers and direction for you to find power, peace and acceptance in your own life. Dee reveals the ‘Heart Of God’ about organized religion and today’s churches, sharing God’s concerns and desires for America and the world.

Click here for more info...

 
 

 

 



 

 

 

 

History of Fiction in Africa

by Rais Neza Boneza

In the case of Africa, stories are looked on as an arena of protest against cruelty in the world. Between 1700 and 1800, European writers began to suggest that Africans were less human. They compared Africans to the beast of burden and justified the notion of slavery. Philosopher Frederick Engel’s story argued that Africa was not part of history and that Africa started when Europeans set foot on her soil.

There is always a connection between writing and history. A nation can be created or de-created through written words. Altough slave’s masters put on rules fobidding and repressing the education of slaves, some slaves noticed the  value of the written words.

James Ukawsaw was able to write his own story in 1770 while before he could not read and write. He was fascinated watching his master hold a Bible, look at it and talk to it. James was not aware of what is called the reading culture. To him it was a magic book talking to his master.

One day when his master was away from home, James stole the bible and talked to it but only heard silence, and this increased his inquisitiveness. Eventually he learned the trick and wrote: “An African Prince” in 1770 and Frederick Douglas was taught to read and write by his master’s wife.

When the master stopped him by discontinuing with his lessons. F. Douglas would take bread and give it to poor white children who could teach him in turn.

Late in life he wrote his own story: “The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas.”

An 18 year-old slave woman wrote poetry on moral, social, and religious issues. A board of white masters could not believe that it was her work. Later, when confirmed that it was her work, she was set free from slavery.

For all the cases above, the authors’ reading and writing skills won their freedom.

        Rais Neza Boneza

        AuthorMe Country Editor

        Uganda, Norway, D.R.


Writing Therapy

Cost: $25.00

Instructor Name: Lynette Rees [Dip. Couns]

Instructor Email: peaceful_writer@yahoo.com

Url: http://class.universalclass.com/writingtherapy

What is Writing Therapy?

Writing Therapy is a way of connecting with your emotions via pen and paper, or the keyboard. I devised this course after studying the research of James W Pennebaker, Head of Psychology, University of Texas. Pennebaker's research shows that writing helps to lift the mood of depressed people. He also found that students who wrote about how they were feeling coped better with their exams.

Class Format

I have devised 9 lessons in all - taking you from what writing therapy is to covering the basic emotions we feel such as anger, grief, love, fear etc. I've also added a lesson on dreams and how to interpret yours, and a bonus lesson on creative writing. Each lesson has an appropriate assignment to match the lesson's content.

Write your way to emotional health!

 


Writerly Websites...

http://www.ochiltreebooks.com

This is Dianne Ochiltree's site for children, parents, teachers and writers for young readers. Dianne is an author of books for young readers (birth to teenage)

and she is also a children's book reviewer. She's been writing professionally for over 25 years---about 18 years in public relations/advertising/marketing and the last 7 years as a children's writer. Dianne has two books published to date, with Scholastic and with Simon & Schuster.


http://tritt.wirefire.com The Inspiration for Writers website offers help and encouragement to writers of all levels. Tips and Techniques give practical advice about frequent writing blunders. The Writer's Prayer, inspirational quotes, and essays about the writing life add insight and inspiration. The Fiction Showcase offers short stories for the reader's enjoyment. And, for those serious about improving their writing skills, manuscript critiques and coaching services are available. Visit http://tritt.wirefire.com today!


Critiquing Special

  • Limited time special, one cent per word.  Just mention Publishing New Writers  Newsletter (December, 2002).

    Critiques by Sandy Tritt

  • Unlike most editors, I consider my role to be a mentor or a coach. Instead of just telling you what is wrong, I explain how to correct the problem, and I work with you to teach you how to write effective prose. More than 50% of my business is repeat business, and I relish establishing long-term relationships with other writers.
  • Treat you with respect and compassion. All criticism will be of the "constructive" sort. My purpose is to improve your writing, not to destroy your confidence.
  • Mark your manuscript, correcting grammatical and spelling errors and suggesting alternative wording where appropriate, line-by-line.
  • Highlight areas that are especially well-written, so you will know where your strengths are.
  • Where appropriate, offer suggestions for plot development, character development or other areas that could be strengthened.
  • Return a two-to-four page written analysis of your work. This will include evaluation of: plot, setting, characterization, dialogue, special effects (flash forwards, flashbacks, etc.), voice, point of view and any other areas particular to your work.
  • If appropriate, recommend reading or resources to strengthen your areas of weakness.
  • Answer any questions you  have via email.
  • Provide my telephone number for a personal follow-up, if you desire.

For Sandy's success stories, see http://tritt.wirefire.com/Manuscript_Critique.html

Write Sandy at tritt@wvadventures.net

(See Sandy's article above.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© Cook Communication 1999 - 2006     (not affiliated with Cook Communication Ministries)