tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52536095699675860432024-03-13T07:26:12.758-04:00Writers Cheat SheetsSecrets, Shortcuts, Tips, and Practical Advice on Writing FictionCatherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966048015900583351noreply@blogger.comBlogger182125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253609569967586043.post-4494700876842942612024-03-02T15:47:00.000-05:002024-03-02T15:47:14.818-05:002024 - March - Wise Words, Part 2 - READ<p> <span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"> This is the second of a three-part series.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Last month's topic was WRITE. This month the topic is READ. So—</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Can reading help you write better, create better stories, create believable story people? Yes, it can</b>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The subconscious works most effectively when provided with abundant and varying input. It is vital that the subconscious collects such information because storytelling is about the juxtaposition of ideas, knowledge, facts, and fiction. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">So, fill your subconscious file cabinets with information that's available from books. Not only the facts but also fantasies and genre classics. Delve into the experiences of others with biographies. Look into histories and documentaries. Read outside your genre or interest comfort zones.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Newspapers, magazines, and other news outlets provide condensed articles and essays on dangers and horrors of crimes and wars, as well as the extremes of passion and folly. Such things make a writer more empathetic, aware, and, yes, they even offer enlightenment.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">When it come to creating believable characters, reading allows for observation and insight into the human condition and how people act and react in given situations. So base story characters in "a truth" and their stories will have verisimilitude.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Do read works by good writers who are well-known. This aids in subconsciously absorbing the power of prose—i.e. grammar, punctuation, paragraphing, syntax, vocabulary, and style. Such things are not to be duplicated but must contribute to a writer's own unique "voice."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Reading good stories, whether long or short, helps a writer subconsciously absorb what story is, its structure, the flow of plot and theme, and so much more.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">So does reading have any downside? Of course. Often reading great works is intimidating. It is futile for a novice writer to compare themselves to the greats. Yet keep in mind that those greats succeeded through perseverance and learning the craft and art of storytelling.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Imitation of what's being read is also a danger. Imitating may be a form of flattery, but it's also detrimental to the development of one's own writing style. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Another downside is that reading might lead to procrastination. For instance, it may be more fun to read others' works then polishing one's own writing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">To become a writer, reading is fundamental. Read 100 books in the genre you intend to write in. Among those 100 books will be the ones you cannot forget as well as the ones you had to force yourself to read. In the doing, you'll find similarities and differences. You'll also discern what made the one book a keeper and the other a book worth putting in the trash bin.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>So—feed your subconscious. Read, read, read.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"># # # </span></p>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966048015900583351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253609569967586043.post-29585135250415852012024-02-01T10:51:00.008-05:002024-02-01T10:51:55.413-05:002014 - February - Wise Words, Part 1 — WRITE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg72xKjy2xmStqljGIfoomhfiiv_xrRX_y6gZApHuasvhHaZifD81O07lglQQ3fT-5hufSeMwWVwAdpr1LKWCUG1t2PRyjqPEEOA0Sg_zbpMn6RoX4tk8HF0RHALFBwlHhjMauO0ZJBE7S9RIm6vfUTFs-Bx5v45CgSauL4bZCRrhB54H66tC-lO7r7u5k/s199/YellowPad-pen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="158" data-original-width="199" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg72xKjy2xmStqljGIfoomhfiiv_xrRX_y6gZApHuasvhHaZifD81O07lglQQ3fT-5hufSeMwWVwAdpr1LKWCUG1t2PRyjqPEEOA0Sg_zbpMn6RoX4tk8HF0RHALFBwlHhjMauO0ZJBE7S9RIm6vfUTFs-Bx5v45CgSauL4bZCRrhB54H66tC-lO7r7u5k/s1600/YellowPad-pen.jpg" width="199" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Part 1 - WRITE <br /></span><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>On becoming a writer </b>there are numerous sites and blogs on the Internet touting anywhere from seven to twenty-five "easy steps" to becoming a writer. In looking over such sites, three items consistently appeared on the lists: Write, Read, and Join a Writing Group.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Rather than tackle all three in one blog post, I'm doing one aspect a month. This month being— Write.</b></span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>What writer hasn't been told to write every day?</b> After all it is said that writing is like a muscle, if you don't use it you lose it. But— </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Look at the reality of writing every day.</b> That logically means writing 365 days a year. No weekends off. No sick days. No life emergencies. No holidays or special events to celebrate or take time off for. No kids, pets, spouses, relatives, or friends to deal with. Of course eating, sleeping, visits to the bathroom, and other necessities are permitted for health reasons.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Today's writing methods include </b>AI, dictating stories verbally, and cell phone thumbing. I'm not addressing those methods but starting with writing in a journal or diary every day. Be it written with a pen, a pencil, or with a keyboard, it's daily writing.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Unfortunately, writing fiction or nonfiction as well as writing literary or genre works changes the writing pace. </b>Even the speedy social media blogger is affected by how many worthwhile words that can be generated at a keyboard in an hour or a day.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Notice I said worthwhile words.</b></span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The first attempt by writers is the first draft.</b> That initial writing effort is to get the ideas down. But at what speed?</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>If the speed is by hand,</b> with pen or pencil, the average handwritten speed for an adult is eight words a minute. However, the speed range is actually sited as being between five and twenty words a minute. If you learn or know Greg Shorthand (or some other speed writing method), 60-80 words a minute is average with the Greg record being 350 words a minute.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>As to the typewriter?</b> Well, its day has come and, unfortunately, gone, but we still have the keyboard. The average typing speed is considered 40 words per minute. If you want a secretarial job, the minimum is still 60 words a minute. An advanced typist needs 80 words a minute.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>In the age of computers and their keyboards</b>, the base line is still 40-60 words a minute but more desirable is 60-90 words a minute. If someone has an average of 120 words a minute, they are in the top 1% of typists in the world. And then there is the typing speed record of 300 words per minute.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But set those statistics aside.</b> Look at the practical writing speeds and the possible word count for an hour:</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Average handwritten speed: 8 words per minute = 480 words an hour</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Average typing speed: 40 words per minute = 2400 words an hour</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Average typing speed: 60 wpm = 3600 words per hour</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Average typing speed: 80 wpm = 4,800 words an hour</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Here's the thing</b>, the experts say the average to strive for is <b><u>100 words an hour.</u></b></span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Now, the reality check:</b> who can sustain such average speeds consistently, let alone for a solid hour? I sure can't and I've been typing since I was sixteen years old (and worked for decades as a secretary).</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Take a deep breath.</b> Don't think you have to write every single day at high speeds. If writing is important to you</span></span> — <span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> and as Sol Stein says if you are a writer who cannot not write</span> — <span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> then cultivate a habit of writing that suits you. Achieve that by experimenting with different methods of producing work until you find one that generates completed works in a timely fashion. </span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Once you find your groove, write and keep writing your way.</b></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Next Month</b></span></span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">—</span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> Part 2, READ</span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"># # # </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimykCmNv5EC2V9ugdOw1maErTbrMbPMoKv4q3TE261CPd0DJnxrW_p9jvLVBW4Mnca3nQDrKyV6SdrLI34ph6ABdCm0wai5bnw7SwLhI4kR9DzWsNjCbHY7LMjuL1yYKpeTAxA_b3HNu9aNOXzgkRobpsbOTzUBm8PvgjHv4pQm6gh8gI6UY_ENM4BHc0/s1200/Hearts%20PURPLE%20trio.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimykCmNv5EC2V9ugdOw1maErTbrMbPMoKv4q3TE261CPd0DJnxrW_p9jvLVBW4Mnca3nQDrKyV6SdrLI34ph6ABdCm0wai5bnw7SwLhI4kR9DzWsNjCbHY7LMjuL1yYKpeTAxA_b3HNu9aNOXzgkRobpsbOTzUBm8PvgjHv4pQm6gh8gI6UY_ENM4BHc0/s320/Hearts%20PURPLE%20trio.png" width="320" /></a></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: large;"><b>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</b></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966048015900583351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253609569967586043.post-30314922208598071972024-01-01T00:30:00.001-05:002024-01-01T00:30:00.132-05:0001 - January 2024 - Happy New Year ?<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtZCoVAP5N_ZWxBDben7CFfTDHFOV_jmaL7Bzz3Mk006Aj6r2N3AVm_37olPJbrMrvnQrCbFYXF7dQPwpNiA1WK5gurKfJktAz7wc5B7hPod_zbGNpsDRwvt0JNsw1fdoTBVtErKiGQURbSnO1K7xlPOnhd718uLaStqK0Aecz_yKVxBv_8OvAwmEm1k/s308/NW%20YR%20gold.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="308" data-original-width="281" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtZCoVAP5N_ZWxBDben7CFfTDHFOV_jmaL7Bzz3Mk006Aj6r2N3AVm_37olPJbrMrvnQrCbFYXF7dQPwpNiA1WK5gurKfJktAz7wc5B7hPod_zbGNpsDRwvt0JNsw1fdoTBVtErKiGQURbSnO1K7xlPOnhd718uLaStqK0Aecz_yKVxBv_8OvAwmEm1k/w159-h174/NW%20YR%20gold.png" width="159" /></a></p><p><i><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Oh, No, Not Another New Year's Resolution!</b></span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Do you despair at making New Year's Resolutions?</b></span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Considering the failure rate statistic </b>is that 90% of those who make resolutions never achieve them. But, kudos to those that do.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Another research statistic says</b> 23% of people quit their resolution by the end of the first week, and 43% quit by the end of January.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Resolutions are </b>usually about bad habits we want to undo or end. It takes desire and willpower to overcome such ingrained patterns of behavior or desires.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>It's also a fact that</b> the joy of a New Year, those bright and shining days ahead, lead us into a state of euphoria that cannot be maintained 365 days of a year. </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Then there is</b> the human nature factor— Reality will always trump the illusion. And yet, setting resolutions is also a long-standing tradition. Can't win, right?</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Experts on human behavior </b>like to substitute goals for resolutions. Setting goals is far better if one understands the goal must be specific and realistic, meaning the goal is concrete, something tangible. For instance, I want to achieve publication by a quality New York publisher. That's doable if I write a popular genre-themed novel that's a page-turner no one can put down until The End. </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>Goals should be broken down into smaller goals.</b> That helps insure reaching the primary goal, say to write a novel. To novice writers, I tell them to start small. Go from the developed short story to a novella to a novelette to a novel. That's because it's far easier to learn craft in a short form than draft a novel that has so many flaws it's better to leave it in one's Achieved Story File on one's computer. </span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>But do save the idea and characters.</b> They can be recycled when one learns what story is and the ins and outs of the technical aspects of plot, characterization, theme, dialogue mechanics, cause-and-effect sequences, etc.</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>So, did you make resolutions last year on January 1st?</b></span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> <span> </span><b>Did you keep them? </b>And— are you setting resolutions or goals for 2024?</span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I wish you all the best in learning and growing as a writer in this new year of 2024.</i></b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"># # # </span></p><p><br /></p>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966048015900583351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253609569967586043.post-54543585813670994732023-12-01T00:15:00.001-05:002023-12-01T00:15:00.140-05:002023 - December - Christmas Greeting Cards<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCaXRmw4JJSLcsoieawt39Ri4LvfL7Fg_N3BAMLiqgarQvtCK_I61tO-r2wEXpp50xMH_WAg7ILP3OD5oXZxDnAVhwB1SpzINZwrliR_FmUIiviM8qXcguBDj-TeF3INPZxNu4QgDhdNS1Pzdo9suBiin2RgEPty9dyLrL5jAgicazghTdM8hvPHbqT4/s737/2023%20Envelope.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="737" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCaXRmw4JJSLcsoieawt39Ri4LvfL7Fg_N3BAMLiqgarQvtCK_I61tO-r2wEXpp50xMH_WAg7ILP3OD5oXZxDnAVhwB1SpzINZwrliR_FmUIiviM8qXcguBDj-TeF3INPZxNu4QgDhdNS1Pzdo9suBiin2RgEPty9dyLrL5jAgicazghTdM8hvPHbqT4/w240-h168/2023%20Envelope.PNG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>As a writer, have you ever thought about the greeting card market?</b> Here are a few statistics that I found interesting:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">●<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Revenue forecast for all greeting cards in 2023 is estimated at over 20 billion dollars. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">●<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The traditional card segment accounted for 75.76% in 2022</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">●<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The e-Card greeting cards segment is expected to grow at 4.2% during the forecast period from 2023-2030</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">●<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>According to the facts from the Greeting Card Association, Americans purchase an estimated 6.5 billion greeting cards each year</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">●<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The average spending on greeting cards in the US is $29 per year.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span></span><i style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">Source: Greeting Cards Market Size, Share & Trends Report 2023, Grand View Research</i></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Another statistic</b> is that the average greeting card writer in the US earns $22.53 per hour. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Then there are the independent crafters </b>who make and sell their own greeting cards. Although I don't sell my greeting cards, I use my computer to generate the cards I make cards for my friends' and relatives' birthdays and the major holidays. I use my own photographs of flowers and scenery on the cover of the cards. I customize the words inside for the recipient. Although most of the time, I make up the inside greeting, sometimes I use quotes from famous people.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>For you, my blog followers and readers, </b>I send good wishes for your holiday season and — </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtv3oXfAGm8QlbI8HFtXyDMUcx-2B6wMUsj4FTgW6p_QHWZNR095p3gUjNhGh3SJ3hiUTZgtUekL5Q51iydVNk_aWFSpJp9jQJ_HX9bpod6lWTYSLf4vUDDV3BcuP9hyphenhyphen016aEy-YIVxp7Bvi3HCS67ST5WMKUaf_LHWrZvV822iDorguFNw7N3G_AgLvE/s697/Xmas%202023%20WritersCheatSheets.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="376" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtv3oXfAGm8QlbI8HFtXyDMUcx-2B6wMUsj4FTgW6p_QHWZNR095p3gUjNhGh3SJ3hiUTZgtUekL5Q51iydVNk_aWFSpJp9jQJ_HX9bpod6lWTYSLf4vUDDV3BcuP9hyphenhyphen016aEy-YIVxp7Bvi3HCS67ST5WMKUaf_LHWrZvV822iDorguFNw7N3G_AgLvE/w265-h490/Xmas%202023%20WritersCheatSheets.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"># # #</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966048015900583351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253609569967586043.post-88414943773594683382023-11-01T00:00:00.008-04:002023-11-01T00:00:00.161-04:002023 - November - NaNoWriMo – NoNotMe<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9dMDV0mPybyVCy-TqSOQeTwhZazTg5PyOQD3d1WU1ao9IMYgcKV76l2pVui-9JwBdz0fd_BDzFVFMFTThjlBCABpp8EtOAxuRUuYmAd45Avr2m6ZllBLfxGyB1YDjzr1OGEYKoJsQqlGIaFoUC_KHUJcZYQd7M2BlNQShLH5_9yr5Q5Cj4pxyEY1-C8/s320/Alice%20In%20Wonderland%20Clip%20Art%2038565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9dMDV0mPybyVCy-TqSOQeTwhZazTg5PyOQD3d1WU1ao9IMYgcKV76l2pVui-9JwBdz0fd_BDzFVFMFTThjlBCABpp8EtOAxuRUuYmAd45Avr2m6ZllBLfxGyB1YDjzr1OGEYKoJsQqlGIaFoUC_KHUJcZYQd7M2BlNQShLH5_9yr5Q5Cj4pxyEY1-C8/w161-h161/Alice%20In%20Wonderland%20Clip%20Art%2038565.jpg" width="161" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I am in the minority when it comes to NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I don't do it. I don't even recommend it. Why? For a few reasons.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The biggest reason I don't participate is that I am a binge writer. I'm also a plotter. When I've got a story outlined in the broad brush strokes of characters and plot, I look at my calendar and see what whole days are completely free to sit at my keyboard and write that story. Most of the time, I write that new story all day (six, eight, ten, and sometimes twelve hours worth). Even on days where my schedule is free half a day, I put in a few hours. That story is my top priority, and I do complete the story.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Look at the NaNoWriMo breakdown— 50,000 words divided by 30 days equals 1,666 words per day. How can anyone write all day, every single day in November? What about voting in the elections? What about Veteran's Day and its parades? What about Thanksgiving Day? A funeral? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">For the curious, I do take days off for holidays, doctor appointments, go grocery shopping, attend my embroidery and craft guilds, do sewing, do the newsletter for my medieval group, visit friends, deal with family, celebrate holidays, and handle life's little hiccups and emergencies. Being retired isn't as easy as it sounds.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I was very surprised when I googled and discovered that only 10% to 15% of those taking part in NaNoWriMo actually complete their 50,000 words. Okay, so 50,000 words is the baseline for a novel, but most marketable novels are 80,000 to 100,000 words. When does a NaNoWriMo writer finish the other 30,000 to 50,000 words?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Not doing NaNoWriMo also means I am not under duress and suffering the feeling of being bullied by fellow writers egging each other on to make daily quotas or seeking kudos for achieving word counts. Truth is, I don't need reminders or a cheering section to keep me writing. The story I need to tell is driving me nuts to get it onto the page.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I also like to write as cleanly as possible, which saves on the self-editing and polishing time. For those doing NaNoWriMo, making word counts means speed typing and that proofreading goes by the wayside. And, as the saying goes, one error drags in its wake a thousand errors. Drafts become riddled with typos. Then there are the errors of grammar, syntax, diction, and logic. The plot strays, the characters go off on tangents, and more. No wonder fixing all those errors becomes a nightmare of a turn-off to self-editing for publication.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Be assured, I am not against NaNoWriMo or those that do it. To each their own. However, my curiosity being what it is, I was disappointed when googling anti-NaNoWriMo that I didn't discover a group of anti-NaNoWriMo'ers. Not that I'd join such a group, mind you, but it would be nice to know that I am not solely in the minority-minority.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"># # # </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><br /></p>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966048015900583351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253609569967586043.post-51702752475833220772023-10-01T00:30:00.004-04:002023-10-01T00:30:00.134-04:002023 - October - What Scares Writers<p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i>Don't miss out on this Mini-Conference for Writers!</i></span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjc-agPFQy5wgwl3PuJrdpAoAW2kz-GtOK-WpSAzuEYipLXLqQK7gFzLHpxNWQFWWg93UHtCQDP3VJ7m_QSqdwGk50auZptN6Su2pzp2LOepHDbIk4yGGxd22pmWEKYRBHdVAXIP-2SLdOU-xH0olNGYrqXDS6NKcyXS9qIYq08Xv5jaFIG5S3OhiBxLk8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="500" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjc-agPFQy5wgwl3PuJrdpAoAW2kz-GtOK-WpSAzuEYipLXLqQK7gFzLHpxNWQFWWg93UHtCQDP3VJ7m_QSqdwGk50auZptN6Su2pzp2LOepHDbIk4yGGxd22pmWEKYRBHdVAXIP-2SLdOU-xH0olNGYrqXDS6NKcyXS9qIYq08Xv5jaFIG5S3OhiBxLk8=w475-h248" width="475" /></a></b></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: #f8f8f8; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM </span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: #f8f8f8; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">ZEM ZEM BANQUET & CONFERENCE CENTER</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: #f8f8f8; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 400; text-align: start;">525 West 38th Street, </span><span style="background-color: #f8f8f8; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 400; text-align: start;">Erie, PA 16506 </span><span style="background-color: #f8f8f8; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">- </span><a href="https://www.writersroadtrip.com/" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #3568a7; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;" target="_blank">https://www.writersroadtrip.com/</a></b></span></div><p></p><div style="float: left; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"> <b><i>I'll be giving two workshops at this mini-conference. One is on timelines and the other workshop is about achieving rhythm and cadence in your writing. See you at the conference!! </i></b></div><div style="float: left; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><b style="text-align: center;"><i> Catherine E. McLean</i></b></div><div style="float: left; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="float: left; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br style="background-color: #f8f8f8; font-family: "Libre Baskerville", serif; font-size: 15px;" /></div></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> ✦✦✦ </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkXSe2zb4STS_d0sVwDs0ZiAeyfy18MSET5cLTI4YWRkfSbU2o8pZ0zOnZOQvcdbP85R8zGYJKaE9DWGX2985hGdC0GiQ3T9y7keSddLtuCsKhvnaB-dS9ICYmXqVa0rpuM0FQhyphenhyphenempI-1IaEG6eCLkKIbQB0XMnSYttYYrsz9Uch6xP4oYXJw2MWC54/s318/Mummy%20Clipart%2040484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="318" data-original-width="219" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkXSe2zb4STS_d0sVwDs0ZiAeyfy18MSET5cLTI4YWRkfSbU2o8pZ0zOnZOQvcdbP85R8zGYJKaE9DWGX2985hGdC0GiQ3T9y7keSddLtuCsKhvnaB-dS9ICYmXqVa0rpuM0FQhyphenhyphenempI-1IaEG6eCLkKIbQB0XMnSYttYYrsz9Uch6xP4oYXJw2MWC54/s1600/Mummy%20Clipart%2040484.jpg" width="219" /></b></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>WHAT SCARES WRITERS </b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>This being October</b>, the autumn of the year, and the frightful season of Halloween, let's talk about the three top things that scare a writer.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b><i>Number One is Writer's Block,</i></b> the blank page syndrome, the not-knowing-what-to-write-about.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Since my imagination keeps coming up with new stuff all the time, I have never suffered Writer's Block. Back in 2008, on this blog, I did suffer Blogger's Block, but that wasn't quite the same thing — </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> and I've not had Blogger's Block since. I have also given writing workshops on how to find ideas to write about (I still offer <b><i>Ideas for stories - 32 ways to find them</i></b> as a <a href="https://www.writerscheatsheets.com/free-writers-cheat-sheets.html">free Writers Cheat Sheet</a>).</span></p><p><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>Number Two is Fear of Failure. </i></b></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The statistics are bleak— 99% of submitted work to editors and publishers is rejected. Worse, Amazon.com daily publishes 7,500 new eBooks and only 1% make up the cream of the crop. Depressing is that a writer's work must competes with the 12 million that Amazon.com offers. It takes courage, fortitude, skill as a writer and storyteller, and luck to achieve high rankings.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i><b>Number Three is Lack of Time to Write.</b></i> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Excuses abound why writers don't write. Cited are the lack of time due to making a living, commitments to family, children, friends, church, organizations, etc. and more. Trite as it seems, it boils down to that old adage of where there is a will, there is a way. Again, it takes courage to make writing a priority. If writing is to be a priority, strive to carve out a writing time and write.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b><i>Are there other fears?</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> Sure. So, which of the above scares you as a writer? Or is it something else and what is it?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"># # #</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966048015900583351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253609569967586043.post-17771146993199078242023-09-01T00:30:00.012-04:002023-09-01T00:40:56.440-04:002023 - September - Developing Your Writer's Voice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9_lCV1g1Mr3NBhri44RGr7IlRrgL_oYdIBn9yBHrSInUQNSHffw4xIBmtZRav061n-oKbtNreqGvIDW7uZ2hQxX7AhZapcMoZHIcnvI-uneim11jdzWo40iZnkN-E4s9yzfMoyCFAH6Qd2-oM_fTj-rW8UoD-hzJSiRVb3RpQf4e9yET8kohWBWHQ3Q/s693/sound%20waves%202023%20WCS%20Sept.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="679" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9_lCV1g1Mr3NBhri44RGr7IlRrgL_oYdIBn9yBHrSInUQNSHffw4xIBmtZRav061n-oKbtNreqGvIDW7uZ2hQxX7AhZapcMoZHIcnvI-uneim11jdzWo40iZnkN-E4s9yzfMoyCFAH6Qd2-oM_fTj-rW8UoD-hzJSiRVb3RpQf4e9yET8kohWBWHQ3Q/w288-h178/sound%20waves%202023%20WCS%20Sept.JPG" width="288" /></a></div><br /><p><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">To quote author James N. Frey: <i>Having a strong voice is as important to you as a writer as knowing your craft.</i></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Oddly enough, the beginning writer may strive to have a strong narrative voice but fail because they don't actually hear the voice that's on the page.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Why don't they hear "the narrative voice?" Because they've been taught to put facts down in a coherent manner and to use proper English diction, grammar, and punctuation. Simple but effective communication, but writing fiction is about emotions generated by a voice that resonates in a reader's mind. That voice will not be the reader's own voice but the actual voice of the narrator or multiple narrators.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Somewhere in my writer's journey, I came across the adage that it takes a million words to discover one's voice. Okay, so there are a few authors who have no problem putting a voice onto the page from the get-go. Unfortunately, the majority of writers will struggle writing those million words, and more, to find that unique voice of a narrator or narrating character and not achieve it. In my opinion, the failure lies in an inability to listen to how others speak and how the very words and the word order those speakers use nets their unique voice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Another problem with voice is that the characters narrating the story may all sound alike because their voices are that of the writer.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I skipped half a million words getting to voice because I was a secretary who took dictation from many different bosses over the years. I not only put shorthand onto a page of what my bosses said, I also had to transcribe my squiggles. Then came the day one of my bosses said, write a letter telling XYZ the shipment will be delayed. Suddenly, I had to create the boss's voice. That turned out not to be a problem because I had listened to his voice for months. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When I became a writer, I basically took dictation from my characters and that netted me their voices.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Here's a way to improve your ability to write character voices— turn off the visual picture on your TV movie and listen to the characters talk. Really listen. You could even pick a TV or movie character that is similar to the one in your story and play the movie several times, intently listening to that particular character's speech pattern. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Next, write a few pages of your story character's dialogue and narration. Then ask your writing group or partner if the voice coming off the page sounds like the character and not your voice. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"># # # </span></p><p><span style="color: red; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>SPECIAL NOTE: </b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEu0YUj8PZS0tN6P5SkVA-YiIhVm1zqqFLtfrrJPSWGK3PI8mpuF90AaOLVMdmpZSRQPQr6ISyrO4a1Yly9ZR9UnfQQ7G20ZEsV4qqa4jOTpae5HT8xgRtQSknOethvgSxdPmPeMTNZU2SvvyHFSS4u1daQyITwCz1x28sg0uSJvwaO4q4xaMHP1wcA2k/s570/MarvnBugsBny-Whats.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="570" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEu0YUj8PZS0tN6P5SkVA-YiIhVm1zqqFLtfrrJPSWGK3PI8mpuF90AaOLVMdmpZSRQPQr6ISyrO4a1Yly9ZR9UnfQQ7G20ZEsV4qqa4jOTpae5HT8xgRtQSknOethvgSxdPmPeMTNZU2SvvyHFSS4u1daQyITwCz1x28sg0uSJvwaO4q4xaMHP1wcA2k/w194-h153/MarvnBugsBny-Whats.PNG" width="194" /></a></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><b>Screenwriting and Playwriting 101</b> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">with author Stephen M. T. Greene, on September 16, from 1-4 p.m. at the Cochranton Area Public Library, Cochranton PA. <i><b>Free and open to the public.</b></i> Hosted by Shenango Valley Pennwriters-Craftmasters, part of pennwriters.org. Flyer/information:</span><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.catherineemclean.com/shenango-valley-pennwriters-craftmasters.html">https://www.catherineemclean.com/shenango-valley-pennwriters-craftmasters.html</a> </span><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Permission is given to forward and post on social media. Please tell others about this in-person event.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">************************************************************************</div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966048015900583351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253609569967586043.post-72887297025545511742023-08-14T14:30:00.000-04:002023-08-14T14:30:49.769-04:002023 June-July-August ? What happened<p> This is August 14 and I just discovered that my posts to this blog for June, July, and August were not published. I'm working to figure out what happened and hope to be posting again for September 1.</p><p>There's nothing like computer glitches . . . (sigh).</p><p>Catherine E. McLean</p>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966048015900583351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253609569967586043.post-68387470255275816652023-05-01T00:30:00.001-04:002023-05-01T00:30:00.152-04:002023 - May - Blueprint to Story<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju09Y1U3FI5OUa8lI8dcruskwbFfP72ssIXbm2Apqpbz79C7cRGvflnUHDdXS4z57al61CD5r3TVUtRzTN8dAND3xqeR6hgplYDMP488yTLhgcwqPt8___wRANeDNvKQ-bTFwaEj99T4QyrRkACU1sfkP3H_rdt8B5EUVRuWtTXF-mvazyaF4LbWQ0/s1800/Blueprint%20layout%20(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju09Y1U3FI5OUa8lI8dcruskwbFfP72ssIXbm2Apqpbz79C7cRGvflnUHDdXS4z57al61CD5r3TVUtRzTN8dAND3xqeR6hgplYDMP488yTLhgcwqPt8___wRANeDNvKQ-bTFwaEj99T4QyrRkACU1sfkP3H_rdt8B5EUVRuWtTXF-mvazyaF4LbWQ0/w126-h126/Blueprint%20layout%20(1).png" width="126" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>New writers are seldom aware that a developed short story and a novel, no matter the genre, have a basic structure.</b> That basic story blueprint is "The Hero's Journey" which is also considered "The Character's Journey" and "The Writer's Journey."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>This basic pattern is what readers enjoy the most.</b> And, yes, this pattern deals with the power of myth in storytelling. Another way of looking at this blueprint is the 3-Act-Play structure. After all, plays came before novels.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>The basic story structure, </b>be it called myth-based or 3-Acts has a sequence. The first sequence is the beginning, which is about an interesting character (the protagonist) in an interesting setting (their ordinary world as they know it) and a problem that is either the story's main issue or a scene where a problem is made known and which will lead to the main issue. Keep in mind that a story is about one person's journey, one person facing danger, and only that one person solving the problem at the end of the story.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>The second sequence is the "Inciting Incident."</b> This is the point where the protagonist's life will forevermore change because they have come face-to-face with the story problem and must act or there will be consequences. The Inciting Incident is also where the protagonist enters the very scary, unknown new world of dangers and uncertainties.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Next is the middle of the story where,</b> by trial and error, the protagonist tries to solve the problem and fails until they finally understand what it will take to ultimately solve the problem.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Then comes the confrontation</b>, the climax, the do-or-die finale. The protagonist wins, loses, or it's a draw and the problem is solved or resolved.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Some writers ignore story structure </b>thinking that their subconscious, their muse, will create a block-buster novel. In reality, it's important to keep in mind the technical side—the blueprint that underlies a marketable story, a story readers will remember and tell others about.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGASXVm0AAkr3pkkMewmJPZl6q12xs1DoRRfE3xHgN0-yzZUK76-kO7mvRQODVNJkveeC69Vd7akj3c44QRae7nwr9nZlbr-HsYa6ujZRMwogyMxgndFczHg9dPnED7x71YbBg17QAIKtc2RyWYFap0Gi_f1yBsPc2gqolXalQHrJwyJXSROUvu11b/s5120/Blueprint%20layout%20(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5120" data-original-width="5120" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGASXVm0AAkr3pkkMewmJPZl6q12xs1DoRRfE3xHgN0-yzZUK76-kO7mvRQODVNJkveeC69Vd7akj3c44QRae7nwr9nZlbr-HsYa6ujZRMwogyMxgndFczHg9dPnED7x71YbBg17QAIKtc2RyWYFap0Gi_f1yBsPc2gqolXalQHrJwyJXSROUvu11b/w170-h170/Blueprint%20layout%20(2).png" width="170" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Here's the thing</b>, a reader doesn't realize there is a structure, but the writer knows it and employs it for the reader's benefit.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>If you'd like a recommendation of a book or books on the subject of story structure, </b>let me know in an email to <a href="http://catherinemclean00@gmail.com.">catherinemclean00@gmail.com.</a></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"># # # <br /></span><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div><br /></div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966048015900583351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253609569967586043.post-36971394702550187322023-04-01T00:04:00.000-04:002023-04-01T00:04:35.534-04:002023 - April - Poetry in your writing?<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b> April is National Poetry Month.</b> Thirty-one days to investigate and celebrate a type of prose that can enhance fiction and nonfiction. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">With poetry in mind, take a look at this website:</span></p><p><a href=" https://assignmentpoint.com/importance-of-poetry-in-our-world/"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> https://assignmentpoint.com/importance-of-poetry-in-our-world/</span></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qQ3o4x--tLKHoGQIV-jJKPAeU56mOyUVdNJlTJtGHKCoIROEA3OC12b4aU8sYhJWAdVGDUIz7WPnQ-YGcTAGZ_B-01_1T7QrA-xEkV_82ZN4PKUT4zOBL5PLsBOktHKqS32EQIOfERZr_zh5KWjFWe4mCizhvb4hK1QbV8L25BtpHoQ-UrOj5As1/s777/Poetry%20Month%202023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="777" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qQ3o4x--tLKHoGQIV-jJKPAeU56mOyUVdNJlTJtGHKCoIROEA3OC12b4aU8sYhJWAdVGDUIz7WPnQ-YGcTAGZ_B-01_1T7QrA-xEkV_82ZN4PKUT4zOBL5PLsBOktHKqS32EQIOfERZr_zh5KWjFWe4mCizhvb4hK1QbV8L25BtpHoQ-UrOj5As1/s320/Poetry%20Month%202023.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">And, in honor of National Poetry Month, I have a challenge for you writers.</span></b> Go to your WIP (Work in Progress). Find a few long descriptive passages. Turn one or more of them into something succinctly poetic, yet in keeping with the POV-Viewpoint of the narration.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Need an example? How about this improved woodland description from one of my WIPs:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>By mid-day, the icy wind lost its breath. The stillness slipped unhindered about the half-naked oaks. My shuffling footsteps now muffled by the feathery, ankle-deep snow . . . </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Poets see things in a different way and condense images into a conciseness that is often envied.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Poetic turns-of-phrases, too, enhance a story. Readers like finding such "little gems."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If you take the challenge, share your findings or share one of your rewrites. You have 31 days to play poet with your words.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Happy Poetry Month!</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"># # # </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p><br /></p>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966048015900583351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253609569967586043.post-72049369271975174452023-03-01T10:15:00.000-05:002023-03-01T10:15:54.740-05:002023 - March - I not I ?<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKhkNE7eZIR7scYxv_aKZp9CHleop_uaxdNr1GSLJC0sz2flAFZUYYVbqosageXMuTawqbLCx4IqjCW12mOAbmzaVkM70OcZ3R3qlZFqB3CZ8UB-GdR960vI5LjaW0NgLak9Q70ybfQBMdWF0Ski6unz6OEgd96MZwQ1CJi35zqe3QUURXmYaeloul" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="280" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKhkNE7eZIR7scYxv_aKZp9CHleop_uaxdNr1GSLJC0sz2flAFZUYYVbqosageXMuTawqbLCx4IqjCW12mOAbmzaVkM70OcZ3R3qlZFqB3CZ8UB-GdR960vI5LjaW0NgLak9Q70ybfQBMdWF0Ski6unz6OEgd96MZwQ1CJi35zqe3QUURXmYaeloul=w138-h108" width="138" /></a> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Over the years, I've addressed aspects of POV-Viewpoint, which are two different things. POV is the who and Viewpoint is the how of a narrator telling the story. This month, let's look at an aspect of the "I" narrator.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Some writers think using the first person "I" narration is better than the other POV-Viewpoint techniques. Trouble is, new writers inadvertently confuse who the "I" narrator really is because there can be two different "I" personalities on the page.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The first "I" is the writer. The second "I" is the story's narrator. When the writer hits the page, it usually becomes an Author Intrusion—which is to be avoided because readers hate them. There are different types of Author Intrusions. The blatant ones go something like, "little did she know what awaited her tomorrow."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Anther blatant type is to get historic facts wrong, like a writer stating Genghis Khan as a ruler when the story was set years after his death and the correct name should have been Kublai Khan.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The more subtle Author Intrusions are harder to locate. These include characters not acting like they should. An example would be a drugged victim speaking with clarity or a street-wise kid spouting Ivy-league words or using their diction or syntax are those of the writer.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The worst kind of Author Intrusion is the writer turning a character into their personal crusader. Yes, a character can be profoundly prejudicial, bigoted, and on a crusade of their own. When the writer steps in and takes over the narrative from the character to expound on a virtue or vice dear to the author's heart, that's what will turn off the reader.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">So, is there a way to spot or avoid Author Intrusions and catch those substitutions of the I of the narrator versus the I of the writer? Here are two:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">1) Do not edit as you write. Once a draft is done, let it set, step away from the story and characters. Come back to the draft and listen for the voice of the narrator coming off the page. Does it sound like the character or is it different—like the writer's voice? Of course, all depends on the writer's ability to <i>hear</i> the voices coming off the page and to distinguish their own voice from the characters.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">2) Know your characters. Some writers use character sketches, character questionnaires, character worksheet on which to delve deep into their characters back story, their personalities, likes, dislikes, prejudices, their moral fiber, their mannerisms, their speech patterns, their motivations, and more. Other writers draft text and, in the revision process, they self-edit. They may also depend on critique partners or groups and beta readers to spot and fix Author Intrusions.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"># # # </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><br /></p>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966048015900583351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253609569967586043.post-151534114539391782023-02-01T00:30:00.001-05:002023-02-01T00:30:00.148-05:002023 - February - How-To Books<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmL6OpkK6SP9A3RBL13LxBzrfArJr7PMWcc-ppYv9fD2Vd_A7kyMiyn7VRxWgDmmnp6J5nrn51v5bFiba-kD2tBYDHtEVM2jNTibaun3t7fzcMS_OLRuWW2AKIwF7d6wBVRaEP8_Ow3JxGsHgeKEh-0Cm2NTE9liPisr_0RY8zJORfLEiStXRSo2Q/s1248/book%20stacked%203%20dark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="1248" height="68" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmL6OpkK6SP9A3RBL13LxBzrfArJr7PMWcc-ppYv9fD2Vd_A7kyMiyn7VRxWgDmmnp6J5nrn51v5bFiba-kD2tBYDHtEVM2jNTibaun3t7fzcMS_OLRuWW2AKIwF7d6wBVRaEP8_Ow3JxGsHgeKEh-0Cm2NTE9liPisr_0RY8zJORfLEiStXRSo2Q/w161-h68/book%20stacked%203%20dark.jpg" width="161" /></a></div><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">How-To Books </h2><p></p><p><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">If you're writing for yourself</b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">, no one will see or care how you write or use words or string sentences along. It's when the goal is to write a story that someone else will rave about or pay money for that the writer must look at what story is and how the patterns of prose and story engage the mind of another person.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>The secret to a great story </b>is that they are written and ruthlessly edited </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">so that the words create a movie in the reader's mind.</span></p><p><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">There's nothing new about the craft of storytelling or the patterns of plot.</b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> To write quality stories requires learning those worthwhile story techniques and devices that have been handed down for centuries.</span></p><p><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Every day writers go online</b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> and read blogs or listen to podcasts on the various aspects of writing. Trouble is, those are only quickie overviews. If a writer is serious about learning to write well and tell a story well, they invariable turn to the proven how-to books that teach a technique, device, or aspect of fiction or nonfiction.</span></p><p><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I always advocate</b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> that a writer who wants the low-down on a particular aspect of storytelling to get at least three books on the subject, read each, take notes, study examples, and do any exercises those books recommend. And, no, I do not advocate buying the books. I recommend borrowing them from a local library. If one or all three (or more) books prove valuable, then spend the money to own the book and make it your bible. After all, such a book's author is your writing mentor.</span></p><p><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I've said it before and I'll say it again</b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">—talent will take a writer only so far, it is craft that enhances talent and liberates creativity. Check out the shelves of your local library and consider using the Library Loan System to advantage and write the stories of your heart.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><b>P.S.</b> If you need a book recommendation on a technique or device, let me know.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"># # # </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966048015900583351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253609569967586043.post-37728653737348478942023-01-08T17:41:00.001-05:002023-01-08T17:41:09.920-05:002023 - January - Looking back, Looking Forward<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjje5whn6bv_FZhrnSVKNQTZevX-ISjjnrOakhXOzS45v03NQPh6ZYYjkzuZm-XbzMEBFerEr1wv8j3XWXE5mSFxIBZLOYUG0dK3OOFqXiBOKTbWdH7gKxhB7_WsN8f3t22CYGsHcOEuzuUEo5P8C_rRzsFaFiGVQW69Dg4LyxcNwgkQK6NmBe6VaMK/s1600/Clock%20Clip%20Art%204788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjje5whn6bv_FZhrnSVKNQTZevX-ISjjnrOakhXOzS45v03NQPh6ZYYjkzuZm-XbzMEBFerEr1wv8j3XWXE5mSFxIBZLOYUG0dK3OOFqXiBOKTbWdH7gKxhB7_WsN8f3t22CYGsHcOEuzuUEo5P8C_rRzsFaFiGVQW69Dg4LyxcNwgkQK6NmBe6VaMK/w98-h98/Clock%20Clip%20Art%204788.jpg" width="98" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I began this Writers Cheat Sheet Blog fifteen years ago. That's a lot of years, a lot of blog posts, and a helluva lot of words committed to the subject of writing well and telling a story well.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Fifteen years ago, writers were keen to learn the craft of telling good stories and writing using proven techniques for engaging the reader. They waited until they masters the techniques and devices of storytelling.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Not so since Amazon.com and the digital age of self-publishing-and-get-rich. The Internet abounds with quickie information on how to write the novel or short story, fiction or nonfiction, and be an author–and do it in thirty days or even ten weeks. Truth is, it takes years to achieve quality writing and quality storytelling because there is so much to learn about story, about characterizations, about plot.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Yes, templates and computer programs abound to make the story writing quick and simple. But writing is not simple. Telling a story that another person can see as a movie in their mind isn't easy— it's downright hard. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Getting a story seen is ten times more difficult in today's ultra-flooded marketplace. It's still true now as back in 2007— it seems everyone thinks they can write The Great American Novel. And they write one and self-publish. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I'm not down on the self-publishing, just on the glut of poor quality and draft reads that are out there. Over the holidays, I spent hours looking for a book to read and finding none I could read from beginning to end. Most I stopped after the first chapter. One I was 60% through when the plot went off on a tangent.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Of course, writing successful, marketable stories takes time and know-how. It requires a commitment to learn craft, to strive to write well and to strive to tell a story well. It's climbing the ladder one rung at a time. There are no swift elevators to the top or to success.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">So, as the new year gets underway, it's that time of year to set down, in writing, the New Year's Resolutions. After all, as your desire is, so should be your deed. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Why write down goals? Because writing the down, committing them to paper is a commitment to giving the writing priority. Writing down goals is one big step in making goals concrete. Writing down goals becomes a contract with the subconscious that shouts "I INTEND TO SUCCEED."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As you aspire to become the author you plan to become, what goals will you strive for that are realistic and achievable in 2023? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRUd8a6TwvwjvIifJPE8wLI2fHTnXqiwV6nOOCZD4vGONC4ynEbjsXUrg-Th-YBL-LlNZZ3irK9GrLlnM0JqYlFDSwGQOD-GGvq03rIRlrc9evS24MEv9nrUGDLJ9K08i-_Uc45A6KK6LRdR9mmDAOA8fpm5hjtyIju2rEWDCd9_eYgQPAxObuf_a/s1917/ASPIRE%20DITTY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="1917" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRUd8a6TwvwjvIifJPE8wLI2fHTnXqiwV6nOOCZD4vGONC4ynEbjsXUrg-Th-YBL-LlNZZ3irK9GrLlnM0JqYlFDSwGQOD-GGvq03rIRlrc9evS24MEv9nrUGDLJ9K08i-_Uc45A6KK6LRdR9mmDAOA8fpm5hjtyIju2rEWDCd9_eYgQPAxObuf_a/w410-h260/ASPIRE%20DITTY.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><br /></div></div><p>* * *</p>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966048015900583351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253609569967586043.post-17260881635947906962022-12-01T15:27:00.001-05:002022-12-01T15:27:24.462-05:00 2022 December - The 12 Days of Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHv36G6tfRCNlJ3BqdD8wZeD3R3FTyiWXf1Aya4-Xo6wkZrlXOLiWErwPWFmZOqpbUm3XGFppqAghROD7yNg0-FPIg1IaXo26feSgDAREqtLNColUsLxUG4aEnHrvcGTTqwZy9qGHEVaoaUdQBo7S0UN9vFgisvN28PL6wi7nz605Nyune9cmLrDe/s446/12%20Days%20Pyramid.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="408" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHv36G6tfRCNlJ3BqdD8wZeD3R3FTyiWXf1Aya4-Xo6wkZrlXOLiWErwPWFmZOqpbUm3XGFppqAghROD7yNg0-FPIg1IaXo26feSgDAREqtLNColUsLxUG4aEnHrvcGTTqwZy9qGHEVaoaUdQBo7S0UN9vFgisvN28PL6wi7nz605Nyune9cmLrDe/w315-h344/12%20Days%20Pyramid.JPG" width="315" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As is often the case, math turns out not to be a writer's strong suit. That's because words are (or should be) a writer's forte. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So, just for fun, I'm deviating from a writing topic to boggle your mind with this question:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Just how many gifts did "My True Love" give? </b></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Or sate your curiosity with this question:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>How much did all the gifts cost, either individually or as a total.</b> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Being a writer, you could use either question as a writing prompt by taking one POV-Viewpoint (i.e., be the giver or the receiver or the person fulfilling the order, etc). If you come up with something under 200 words, feel free to share it in the comments section below. Write short in </span><span style="font-size: large;">any genre or in any style. See where your imagination leads you.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">However, if you just want the facts, the mathematical input and total, go to</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.houseofmaths.co.uk/2016/12/how-many-gifts-in-total-in-the-twelve-days-of-christmas/">https://www.houseofmaths.co.uk/2016/12/how-many-gifts-in-total-in-the-twelve-days-of-christmas/</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">or </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/17/economy/12-days-christmas-cpi-inflation">https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/17/economy/12-days-christmas-cpi-inflation</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In any event, I wish you all the Happiest of Holidays!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Catherine E. McLean</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"># # # </span></p>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966048015900583351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253609569967586043.post-91894181245899433592022-11-02T11:26:00.002-04:002022-11-02T11:26:35.282-04:002022 November - The Anchoring of Time and Place<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEQboES4HqkjgzwwgDDCQrft5DHPv1cABosttWYyB9RUZCFr3qw0Xv_vj9P27vTaDxvrxy4ZGsU5oYge5IupfN8UXbeFU9H4bXcYJY3ejJvk4f9kXeU8_p7HWMUbAoNzB0ZLEAGd6rWFZ5VCBHjsQO0Lk-uW2I7ljtcMgQosPQ3ebBP3wjEvcuhiK/s579/Cityscape-World%20halves.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="504" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEQboES4HqkjgzwwgDDCQrft5DHPv1cABosttWYyB9RUZCFr3qw0Xv_vj9P27vTaDxvrxy4ZGsU5oYge5IupfN8UXbeFU9H4bXcYJY3ejJvk4f9kXeU8_p7HWMUbAoNzB0ZLEAGd6rWFZ5VCBHjsQO0Lk-uW2I7ljtcMgQosPQ3ebBP3wjEvcuhiK/w148-h169/Cityscape-World%20halves.png" width="148" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Writers are admonished to "anchor the reader in a time and place" when opening a story.</b> The best way, of course, is to weave in clues or provide tidbits that vividly or subtlety describe the setting, era, or time of day or night without stopping the action. For example:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Lady Eleanor Black sidled into the midnight shadows of vines that clung to the stone edifice of Covenant Gardens.</span></p><p><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">In this example, there is a particular character</b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> (Lady Eleanor Black) doing something interesting (sidling into shadows) and who is at a particular place (Covenant Gardens). The clues are there that indicate this is nighttime and it's Regency England. </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Of course,</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> the reader of such historicals becomes curious as to why Lady Black is hiding behind the vines and so the reader continues to read.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Sometimes— </b>and to be used only when all else fails— a writer might resort to using the point-blank method of a subheader before the story's opening paragraph, like:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Regency London</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lady Eleanor Black sidled into the midnight shadows of vines that clung to the stone edifice of Covenant Gardens.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Another method of opening a story</b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> is with intriguing dialogue, like this from one of my medieval WIPs:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Are you not afraid, Good Woman, being out here by thyself?" Mallory shifted his cloak and sat upon the stump where she had bade him. Overhead the trees stood silent, for no evening breeze trespassed in the King's wood.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>And there is always the tried and true method of starting in action, like:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">A shrill whistle blew with sufficient intensity to gain the attention of the small group of colony's miners yelling both profanity and encouragement to the two men tangled in hand to hand combat in the center of their circle. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Yet, far too often writers open with a description of the setting, like this:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">On</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> the horizon, swiftly barreling down the valley between the high peaks, came black thunder clouds. Pitchforks of lightning flashed from sky to ground but were replaced by a deluge of rain. The creeks and gullies soon filled with water, gushing and racing to empty into the nearby creeks, the creeks into the river--a river swollen from a week of rain--and all of that water emptying into the dam basin. The water there was now well over flood stage. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Why is this a poor opening? </b>The three reasons why are: </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large; white-space: pre;">1</span>) nothing is really happening</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2) no character or person is involved</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>3) there is no distinct and opinionated POV-Viewpoint</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Read the paragraph again. </b></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Notice that a picture is painted of scenery as if it's a report. This is also viewpointless narration, which brings me to reason number two—no specific character or person is involved in action. If a person were involved, this opening might become:</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">My gaze riveted on the horizon where thunder clouds swiftly barreled down the valley between the high peaks. I scrambled up the rocky path to higher ground, cursing myself for deciding to hike to the caves to find silent sanctuary and sort out my husband's newly confessed infidelity. Now I was going to get soaked for my impulsive impulse to run and hide until the hurt eased. My life couldn't get any worse.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Pitchforks of lightning flashed from sky to ground.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I paused to watch the display, then shifted my gaze to a wall of rain coming down from the blackest of clouds, drenching the rugged slope of The Iron Face.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Flash flood! Flash flood! echoed in my mind.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Huge raindrops pelted my back, soaking through my denim jacket.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I had to get to safety.</span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>The character POV-Viewpoint version </b>is also an example of showing, not telling, because everything is filtered by a distinct, opinionated POV-Viewpoint of a woman narrator.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Take a look at your most recent WIP </b>(Work In Progress). Which method of anchoring your reader in a time and place did you use for your opening? If not one of the above mentioned types, what did you open your story with?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"># # # </span></p>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966048015900583351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253609569967586043.post-87159092423260751492022-10-01T14:07:00.003-04:002022-10-01T14:07:22.469-04:002022 - October - Wicked Words <h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Gr9jVwTAVsII2aUdZS3zS7yGkCyYxT13ngGVYe0Q4cTjR00pjjvLGEaMeGxZJOBom2pkDjfh08rq2M3UzMnu8vc4UB1GFuh_i3F-ftnk23SdPGumLrXU0gbFZnFGSD39CQs7hlT35uCi5-pNq5po4LiAgeifObdOuz5a2VfJ3RYvlCAJsKa0OiDB/s788/witch%2001%20RED.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="788" height="95" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Gr9jVwTAVsII2aUdZS3zS7yGkCyYxT13ngGVYe0Q4cTjR00pjjvLGEaMeGxZJOBom2pkDjfh08rq2M3UzMnu8vc4UB1GFuh_i3F-ftnk23SdPGumLrXU0gbFZnFGSD39CQs7hlT35uCi5-pNq5po4LiAgeifObdOuz5a2VfJ3RYvlCAJsKa0OiDB/w148-h95/witch%2001%20RED.JPG" width="148" /></a><span style="color: red;">Red Flag Words & Phrases</span></h2><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Writers have crutch phases and crutch words they use when drafting. These are habit words, that is, words that are placed on the page without consciously thinking about them being overused words.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">When critique partners point out such overused words or phrases, start a Red Flag List of them and ruthlessly remove them when you self-edit. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">But go an extra mile— once aware of such Red Flag Words, start to eradicate typing them or using them as you draft. It's best to do one Red Flag word or phrase at a time. After all, you can't catch every one all at once, right?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Okay, so once you achieve success with one Red Flag word or phrase minimized (yes, minimized, because sometimes it might just be the right word to leave on the page!), move on to the next word on your list.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">If you're curious about what are the most wicked Red Flag Words, they are: WAS and its companion WERE. Next is AND, BUT, JUST, SO, ONLY. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">How can you figure out if you have such Red Flag Words in such quantities that its detrimental to the manuscript? Here's how:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Take ten pages of your writing, any ten. Use your computer's search and find feature and look for WAS. If your word processor highlights in color, look at the pages—are they dotted with highlights or does the highlight appear in clusters? In both instances, can you cut down on the number by providing better, image-provoking verbs? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Now, is also a good time to get your computer to tell you how many WASes is in your sample. Divide the number of WASes into the number of words. What is the ratio? Strive for a ratio of one WAS per page (or one in 331 words).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">For the record, when I had writers do this exercise in my online courses, one writer discovered she used was once every 15 words—in other words, in every sentence (the average sentence is 20 words). She even had two wases in one sentence.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">As for me, when I began checking my work, I was lucky to get one was in 441 words. Ten years later, the average was one in a thousand. My current work in progress has a chapter that I found only one was in 3,544 words.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Keep in mind that nothing is written in stone. Some of those WASes will have to remain. Also keep in mind that the overuse of Red Flag Words at some point will drone like angry bees in a reader's mind,</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">—</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">and the reader will either quit reading or not feel the story is worth a five-star review, let alone tell others about the story.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">If you do a WAS ratio, let me know your score.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">****</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span></p>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966048015900583351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253609569967586043.post-77774485714701985082022-09-05T11:11:00.001-04:002022-09-05T11:11:12.115-04:002022 - September - Color Revelations for Characters<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInCITd5jAKWx9mq_D6oBp6qC7j3tJOvKfFJuyD9jW2rHc1gTqxFVFWf3KaAwHvSwpX6TyWN6d9cy_iBl53X2kRazQUTu31iGZOFfn55NqEF7fQi3Kja4MamosroY-xvvW2SswiPiBr5s5YDTdTpp2r2UQeeOMrJCfVh_M3JEu9J9ILnKnNl8Wu4hV/s335/Color%20Kid%20Book%20Rainbow%20-%20SQUARE.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="335" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInCITd5jAKWx9mq_D6oBp6qC7j3tJOvKfFJuyD9jW2rHc1gTqxFVFWf3KaAwHvSwpX6TyWN6d9cy_iBl53X2kRazQUTu31iGZOFfn55NqEF7fQi3Kja4MamosroY-xvvW2SswiPiBr5s5YDTdTpp2r2UQeeOMrJCfVh_M3JEu9J9ILnKnNl8Wu4hV/w238-h222/Color%20Kid%20Book%20Rainbow%20-%20SQUARE.JPG" width="238" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>A lot goes on in a reader's subconscious mind</b>, as well as the writer's. In that basement (or attic) of the writer's mind are feelings and impressions garnered over a lifetime of experience in the real world. Especially buried are clues to characters that are based on real people as well as the fictional characters a writer has encountered while watching TV, videos, movies, and reading. As to reading, that includes stories as well as what's been read in newspapers, magazines, and advertisements.</span></p><p><b style="font-size: large;">Yes, advertisements. </b><span style="font-size: large;">Take for example the perfume and cologne ads. On the page is that suavely handsome man or movie-star gorgeous femme fatal. What caught your eye about them that you paused to look at the ad—and in particular the male or female in that ad?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Nine times out of ten, </b>it's the hair color or the eye color, which includes the makeup around the eyes that enhanced them. When a writer describes their characters or jots down the initial character data on a character, chances are hair and eye color will be among the first "descriptions." </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>But what the writer may not be aware of </b>is that in those hair and eye colors are clues to the character's character. For example, why did Scarlet O'Hara have emerald-green eyes? Answer: that specific color represented jealousy and envy.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>When it comes to hair color, a writer should ask: </b>why that particular color? Several years ago, in my characterization session from my The Project Bible Course, students had to submit a short description of their protagonist and antagonist. One student filled out the "Hair Color" line with: red hair and stated "all witches have red hair." </span><span style="font-size: large;">I replied that was an ad hoc fallacy—not every witch had red hair. I also pointed out that red hair ranged from palest strawberry blond of angels to the darkest down-to-earthiness of mahogany. In the middle of that wide range of color was the carroty-red and fiery-reds. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>On a subconscious level, </b>carroty-red implies zaniness and fiery-red implies a quick temper. Does that mean good witches have blond hair or dark brown hair? Not necessarily. What it does mean is that the writer's subconscious chose that color for a reason and it's up to the writer's logical mind to decipher "why that particular color" in order to better understand the character and help the reader like or dislike the character. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Where did I originally find out about hair and eye coloring influencing personality?</b> From a study done on traits people perceived that went along with hair color. (It pays to read eclectically.) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>So, you're thinking, what about dyed hair? </b>Then ask: What color of dyed hair? Then ask why that character chose that particular shade and what does that mean. Also ask the character: "What do you dislike about your own hair color that you feel you need to dye it?"</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Go to your work in progress, </b>or a story you've written and if you gave your major characters eye and hair colors, list them. What do the colors imply about each of the characters? Did they match the characteristics that went with the character? Let me know what happened by leaving a comment.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">****</span></p><p><br /></p>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966048015900583351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253609569967586043.post-32736591811635013802022-08-01T22:29:00.002-04:002022-08-01T22:29:58.145-04:002022 August - Having A Project Bible<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxRo738Jf6HCMHzTKuWv1Ny63SSyI9xFDpBAJpeT7vuxILaKsTl1GVUbsuRggX8yPlmN1_kSIx-ffeM0LVki8qwidbX5kl0d1ifURcCiuNSX0eZmyJRFJ7tOOcWSo36vEyT74HAjmKl9AIOp6MPG3-i_0gg64wp5MOS8PTI_3GjVpdm_H8s5ZclSH/s734/CharactrARC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="734" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxRo738Jf6HCMHzTKuWv1Ny63SSyI9xFDpBAJpeT7vuxILaKsTl1GVUbsuRggX8yPlmN1_kSIx-ffeM0LVki8qwidbX5kl0d1ifURcCiuNSX0eZmyJRFJ7tOOcWSo36vEyT74HAjmKl9AIOp6MPG3-i_0gg64wp5MOS8PTI_3GjVpdm_H8s5ZclSH/s320/CharactrARC.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">For a writer, having a Project Bible for their story writing is a means to sorting through ideas, characters, and plot points to verify there is a story with a beginning, a middle, and an ending worth the time to invest in writing it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Basically a Project Bible is a plan of action a writer creates and uses for themselves. No two Project Bibles are alike because of each writer is unique in the way they tell a story. Project Bibles range from hard-copy, 3-ring notebooks and others are a series of master computer files.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Some Project Bibles are even as simple as 3x5 index cards that contain reminders such as the basic questions to evaluate a character:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>First Name - (How is the name spelled and what subconscious reaction will the reader infer from the spelling or look of the work. That is, is the name positive/heroic, negative/villainous, or neutral/too ordinary to be a major character? What does the name mean?)</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Middle Name - (Why that name? Is it positive, negative, or neutral? Does the name have a meaning?)</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Last Name - (Is there a nationality associated with the name or does the name have a particular meaning—positive, negative, or neutral—associated with it?)</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Initials (Initials must not inadvertently spell anything derogatory—the exception is for humor or irony.)</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Nickname - (Not all characters have nicknames, but why that nickname? How did they come by it? How does the character feel about the nickname?</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Another card might be for:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Body type - (How does their build help or hinder them in seeking their life's goal or the story goal or suit their occupation?)</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Hair color - (Why that specific color? What traits does the color represent—or on a subconscious level, what does the color telegraph to the reader?)</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Eye color - (Why that specific color? What does the color represent—or on a subconscious level, what does the color telegraph to the reader?)</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">. . . and the questions go on.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Some Project Bibles include very specific items like full character questionnaires, time-line calendars, maps, research material, short cuts to tags and traits, shortcuts to getting at a character's core values and morals, plot diagrams or questions on plotting (such as the Hero's Journey), collected worksheets garnered from the writer attending workshops and conference classes, and much more.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Regardless of its size or type, a Project Bible can truly minimize the frustration of dead-ends and stories that go off on a tangent.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">****************************</span></p><div><br /></div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966048015900583351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253609569967586043.post-41950975136322978562022-07-01T05:00:00.003-04:002022-07-01T19:43:37.783-04:002022 - July - The Long and Short of It<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2jatPWHiX01pitaCSnVe0FkdlIE6VDyxorcaHRKj7kc_6lh1DWFA5f3cSGjhMnoZg8sTvIWJzXrygGA44Rivg1WsudNSJ8TN1BEYdI_vtq1AwRrubBcqLOEh7ik5-Z9aA7xEhXhR-Wg_Dl7aFhcmNp6UlV69uFJnauLmub4Ajp7EKM9VownSkeOD/s594/Wall-2-Wall%20Wds%20Image.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="359" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2jatPWHiX01pitaCSnVe0FkdlIE6VDyxorcaHRKj7kc_6lh1DWFA5f3cSGjhMnoZg8sTvIWJzXrygGA44Rivg1WsudNSJ8TN1BEYdI_vtq1AwRrubBcqLOEh7ik5-Z9aA7xEhXhR-Wg_Dl7aFhcmNp6UlV69uFJnauLmub4Ajp7EKM9VownSkeOD/w153-h253/Wall-2-Wall%20Wds%20Image.JPG" width="153" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Quickly jot down your answers to these questions:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">1.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>What is the average word length of a sentence?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">2.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A long sentence exceeds how many words?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">3.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>What is the average number of sentences for a paragraph?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here are the answers— </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">1. 20 — The average word length of a sentence is considered twenty words, which is the exact word count for this sentence.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Why use such a benchmark for sentence length? Because twenty words can be said in one breath? Yes, that's true, but equally as important is that shorter sentences promote clarity (and as I've said many times— clarity trumps all rules.)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When writing fiction, it is the narrative voice (i.e., how a character or narrator thinks and talks) that the reader hears as they read. Does that narrator consistently speak and think in short, medium, or long sentences? Does that narrator consistently use simple sentence constructions or complicated or clause-filled sentences? Also, how complex is the narrator's language, diction, and syntax? Such things affect sentence lengths and brings characters to life on the page, making readers like them or hate them or feel neutral toward them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Here's the thing: in fiction, a sentence can stand alone as a paragraph and a sentence can be as short as one word.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">2. 30 to 40 — A long sentence is considered thirty to forty words. Exceed those thirty or forty words and clarity becomes an issue. So does running out of breath when speaking such sentences out loud. For the record, in READING LIKE A WRITER by Francine Prose, there is a 181 word sentence. By the way, no semicolons were used in that very clear-to-understand sentence. That sentence is broken apart by eight commas, one pair of dashes, and ends with one period. Those pieces of punctuation and the rhythm of the words allows for clarity and comprehension. It takes a pro to write with such clarity and comprehension at such a long length.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">3. 3 — The average number of sentences for a paragraph is considered three (which translates to an average of sixty words.) However, all depends on the topic of that paragraph. After all, the supporting sentences to that opening line (i.e. the topic sentence) can range from three to five to eight. However, at twelve sentences, such a paragraph looks like wall-to-wall-words.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> Wall-to-wall words is a term used to describe blocks of type. When a reader comes to such a block, most readers think the subject matter is boring or too technical and they skip down to dialogue or the indentations to shorter paragraphs.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Here's a tip— any double-spaced manuscript page with four or fewer indented paragraphs should be looked at to see what's in those paragraphs. Those long paragraphs likely need broken apart for clarity. (For single-spaced pages, look for eight or fewer paragraphs.)</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>T<span style="font-size: medium;">ake a few minutes today and go to your work in progress. Use your word processing program's zoom feature, reduce the pages to 50%. Count the white-space of paragraph indentations on each page. Also check for paragraphs that carry over to the next page. Do you have any wall-to-wall paragraphs? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In those long paragraphs, did you find long sentences, semicolons joining clauses or sentences, or conjunctions like and joining sentences, or even run-on sentences?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Please share your findings with a comment to this blog.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Wishing you a safe and happy 4th of July celebration.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"># # # </span></p><p> Get the low-down on semicolons in Catherine's guidebook REVISION IS A PROCESS</p><p>`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````</p>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966048015900583351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253609569967586043.post-70019382102433158902022-06-01T00:43:00.001-04:002022-06-01T00:43:11.309-04:002022 June - The Long and Short of It<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm89LlnuRVGJ94gUiVjz5fwqAqCNitE5LcHDOIUmh_7b-f761aZZ2tYVroAvCK_5Ba0HTCEDThXVjcL8tcTFsVGuTwme735SxYGWUV41_jYhsfqTeW9tTP8b-Csjr45wMu6_Kgkh6mxyglLZhFWPCGgaQhvgfMZAA1JHS4nw0VRBqCMf-sW8Z9DGjG/s1920/climb%20WALL%20orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1920" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm89LlnuRVGJ94gUiVjz5fwqAqCNitE5LcHDOIUmh_7b-f761aZZ2tYVroAvCK_5Ba0HTCEDThXVjcL8tcTFsVGuTwme735SxYGWUV41_jYhsfqTeW9tTP8b-Csjr45wMu6_Kgkh6mxyglLZhFWPCGgaQhvgfMZAA1JHS4nw0VRBqCMf-sW8Z9DGjG/w116-h116/climb%20WALL%20orig.jpg" width="116" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Quickly jot down your answers to these questions:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">1.</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">What is the average word length of a sentence?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">2.</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">A long sentence exceeds how many words?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">3.</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">What is the average number of sentences for a paragraph?</span></p><p><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Here are the answers— </b></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">1. 20 — The average word length of a sentence is considered twenty words, which is the exact word count for this sentence.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Why use such a benchmark as sentence length? Because twenty words can be said in one breath? Yes, that's true, but equally as important is that shorter sentences promote clarity (and as I've said many times: clarity trumps all rules.)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>However, when writing fiction, what will affect the length of sentences is narrative voice. How does the character or narrator think and talk? Do they speak or think in short, medium, or long sentences? Do they use simple sentence constructions or complicated or clause-filled sentences? How complex is the narrator's language, diction, and syntax? Such things affect sentence lengths and bring characters to life on the page, making readers like them or hate them or feel neutral toward them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Here's the thing: a sentence can stand alone as a paragraph and a sentence can be as short as one word.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">2. 30 to 40 — A long sentence is considered thirty to forty words. Exceed those thirty or forty words and clarity becomes an issue. So does running out of breath when speaking such sentences out loud. For the record, in READING LIKE A WRITER by Francine Prose, there is a 181 word sentence. Interestingly, no semicolons were used in that sentence. That sentence is broken apart by eight commas, one pair of dashes, and ends with one period. Those pieces of punctuation and the rhythm of the words allows for clarity and comprehension. It takes a pro to write with such clarity and comprehension at such a long length.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">3. 3 — The average number of sentences for a paragraph is considered three (which translates to an average of sixty words.) However, all depends on the topic of that paragraph. After all, the supporting sentences to that opening line (i.e. the topic sentence) can range from three to five to eight but at twelve sentences, such a paragraph looks like wall-to-wall-words.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> Wall-to-wall words is a term used to describe blocks of type. When a reader comes to such a block, most readers think the subject matter is boring or too technical and they'll skip down to dialogue or the indentations to shorter paragraphs.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Here's a tip: any double-spaced manuscript page with four or fewer indented paragraphs should be looked at to see what's in those paragraphs. Those long paragraphs likely need broken apart for clarity. (For single-spaced pages, look for eight or fewer paragraphs.)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Take a few minutes today and go to your work in progress. </b>Use your word processing program's zoom feature, reduce the pages to 50%. Count the white-space of paragraph indentations on each page. Also check for paragraphs that carry over to the next page. Do you have any wall-to-wall paragraphs? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In those long paragraphs, did you find long sentences, semicolons joining clauses or sentences, or conjunctions like and joining sentences, or even run-on sentences?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Share your findings with a comment to this blog.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nBJrAA2QZfhRImvls6zcmnALuN1wn8Jy7U1sCqO-_Cc4co7XyUjVJ56FycBFkeXvwg-68nDtfMZCmv58ohZwf3ouaoT4KzpWQUh_YX25GM0TYH5kPJuoWpwbHh2CDjlNXxGnSFonIALb0FDYe5P-siNwWiIWUc6mLOYBuuTVdjQagmWto4Fs2ZIE/s792/RevProc%20Ad-sm-ColonSemi.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="792" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nBJrAA2QZfhRImvls6zcmnALuN1wn8Jy7U1sCqO-_Cc4co7XyUjVJ56FycBFkeXvwg-68nDtfMZCmv58ohZwf3ouaoT4KzpWQUh_YX25GM0TYH5kPJuoWpwbHh2CDjlNXxGnSFonIALb0FDYe5P-siNwWiIWUc6mLOYBuuTVdjQagmWto4Fs2ZIE/w406-h301/RevProc%20Ad-sm-ColonSemi.JPG" width="406" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0988587440">Buy at Amazon.com</a> </p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/revision-is-a-process-catherine-e-mclean/1126295618">Buy at Barnes & Nobles</a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">************************************************************************</span><p></p>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966048015900583351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253609569967586043.post-25892311161175891622022-05-01T11:35:00.000-04:002022-05-01T11:35:07.360-04:002022 May - RUE Resist the Urge to Explain<div class="separator"><p style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </p></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOROJDXin52cKv1LgBCVuFQRMvnoMhreImQoRxXHhOlFVSkbomdXSzuFqzsIuB_LQOZo4RlCMwCOu4g-3rWmcMgNrpQq06vdzkR7VZhN-XBceSK1m5Yof9cFB46ZT1yR1cYCQHXzBaKqnp42Ajwh_THMPcfoQfIt3fWhRhC-CJwIDOG58oJzuBlJd/s448/RUE.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="368" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOROJDXin52cKv1LgBCVuFQRMvnoMhreImQoRxXHhOlFVSkbomdXSzuFqzsIuB_LQOZo4RlCMwCOu4g-3rWmcMgNrpQq06vdzkR7VZhN-XBceSK1m5Yof9cFB46ZT1yR1cYCQHXzBaKqnp42Ajwh_THMPcfoQfIt3fWhRhC-CJwIDOG58oJzuBlJd/w165-h201/RUE.JPG" width="165" /></i></a></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>I often tell writers</b> that there is one rule to writing, which is: Clarity trumps all rules. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Unfortunately, in an attempt to make things clear to a reader, a writer often overexplains. </b>The result is that editors and critique partners will place RUE in a manuscript's margin (or in a comment box). RUE stands for <i>Resist the Urge to Explain.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Let's look at the most notorious place for overexplaining,</b> which is the opening of the story, and the two most common types of overexplaining, which are setting details and characterization.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Prologues that open a story are notorious for being explanations</b> of characters or settings. Here's a tip—if anything in that prologue is repeated in the story, ax the entire prologue.</span></p><p><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Back to setting details, </b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">in particular, those in the opening chapter of a story. Novice writers often think they are setting mood or tone with such an expository chapter one opening. Trouble is, such openings have no drama or action underway, making the opening sound like a travelogue or documentary. Such openings bore readers.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Keep in mind that setting details should be sprinkled into the ongoing action.</b> This is best done through the sensory perceptions of a major character (protagonist or antagonist) who is actively engaged with some sort of worthwhile problem at the beginning of a story.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Yes, writing science fiction and fantasy often requires explanations</b> of strange worlds and settings or how gadgets, technology, or weapons work. The rule of thumb is to allot no more than one to three sentences of description in any one spot (that's 20 to 60 words). In other words, use only those precise, vivid, image-provoking details of a setting, the society, etc. that can be tucked into the story's action or given in small doses by a major character. Unfortunately, putting in such details is where research complicates things.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>In all honesty,</b> resistance seems futile in the face of researched knowledge that so<b> </b>intrigues a writer that the writer feels they must share and teach the reader about the history, the theology, a cause, a disaster, or social mores, etc. of a story.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>A story is not about everything.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>A story is about </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>the most important elements that </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>support the plot and theme.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Now, let's turn to characterization </b>and the information dumps that are back story, flashbacks, remembrances, and recalls by the protagonist (and sometimes the antagonist or second major character, who is often the romantic lead or sidekick). </span></p><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Recalls are </b>short quickies amounting to a sentence or two. Remembrances are often triggered by a sensory perception and are brief, just a paragraph or two. Flashback are lengthy scenes of many pages. A flashback will stop, or slow down, the story's forward movement and action. Such flashbacks force a reader to stop, go back in time, reorient, and forget the now of the story. Getting in and out of flashback requires skills and techniques that most new writers don't have.</span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Here's another thing—</b>those lengthy information dumps, explanations, or back story details were necessary for the writer to get to know the story and characters but the reader only needs ten percent of it. Which ten percent? The ten percent that succinctly fills in the back story of why a character is who they are or justifies their particular long-held belief or moral value. Such elements are tied into the story's theme and plot and should be inserted only when it is absolutely necessary for the reader to know and understand.</span></p><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">In writing this post,</b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> I've had a hard time resisting the urge to explain in greater detail. Suffice to say, I've just touched on the tip of the iceberg. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipF_OcyJB8vkfzrUfcjZ4kh9vEQTfuvrL2RgDh5CQAAty2dylW9GweNXwKEeKvErvH3Ez81IvVNIZWQYk7CEk_vpexmSxR7DfPwBA16HjF8cAorNDxxdeGEVmo9XPwUpvwNokJrnk_MguEJnyWCOo5TZl64SL72juZpCEtcKIYEqqD0wB3Fq9eLffd/s1024/Icberg2018WCS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipF_OcyJB8vkfzrUfcjZ4kh9vEQTfuvrL2RgDh5CQAAty2dylW9GweNXwKEeKvErvH3Ez81IvVNIZWQYk7CEk_vpexmSxR7DfPwBA16HjF8cAorNDxxdeGEVmo9XPwUpvwNokJrnk_MguEJnyWCOo5TZl64SL72juZpCEtcKIYEqqD0wB3Fq9eLffd/w262-h349/Icberg2018WCS.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"># # # </span></div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966048015900583351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253609569967586043.post-29447420484948586282022-04-03T10:14:00.004-04:002022-04-03T10:37:53.363-04:002022 April - What is Your Inner Ear IQ?<div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Let's start this month's topic with a Quiz:</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">When reading words, something magical happens,</span></b> our brain's inner ear "hears" the voice—the narrator—created by the diction, syntax, vocabulary, and jargon of the words being read. That narrator might be the author or a character or the author-as-a-storyteller (using a storyteller's voice), etc.</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>So, how good an inner ear do you have?</b> </span>After reading each sentence below, identify the voice of the narrator:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> A - "It is half full of water."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> B - "Don't be an idiot, it's half empty." </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> C - "That's just a glass with water in it." </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> D - "Why do you humans concern yourself with a glass containing water?" </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> E - Marsha couldn't believe the conversation had deteriorated to analyzing a glass of water.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> F - When is my master going to pour that water into the bowl for me?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> G - "It is obvious, Sir Charles, that crystal goblet is barely half full."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> H - "Measuring . . . In the glass is 0.236588 liters of water, which is the equivalent of one cup."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">The basic problem with convincing writers about POV-Viewpoint</span> </b>is getting them to realize POV-Viewpoint is not about First Person, Second Person, or Third Person but about "the narrative voice," which is the voice of the person or entity that is narrating the story or article.</span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Too often a writer hears only their own voice</span> </b>and uses only their own diction, syntax, etc. Thus all the characters and the narration sounds alike. Which isn't good.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Two thing help hone an inner ear</span></b> and help bring story characters to life. The first is to read voraciously in multiple genres, fiction and nonfiction, memoir, etc. The second is to actually take time to keenly listen to the way people talk.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">--------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b>So when you are listening to somebody, completely, attentively, </b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b>then you are listening not only to the words, </b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b>but also to the feeling of what is being conveyed, </b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><i><b><span style="font-family: arial;">to the whole of it, not part of it</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. </span></b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><i>— Jiddu Krishnamurti, philosopher, speaker, and writer</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">--------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div><i><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">For those who took the quiz, here are the answers: </span></span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> A - "It is half full of water." (Optimist)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> B - "Don't be an idiot, it's half empty." (Pessimist)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> C - "That's just a glass with water in it." (Realist)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> D - "Why do you humans concern yourself with a glass containing water?" (Baffled Alien Being)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> E - Marsha couldn't believe the conversation had deteriorated to analyzing a glass of water. (Omniscient)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> F - When is my master going to pour that water into the bowl for me? (A pet or being who cannot talk out loud)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> G - "It is obvious, Sir Charles, that crystal goblet is barely half full." (A highly educated and opinionated person)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> H - "Measuring . . . In the glass is 0.236588 liters of water, which is the equivalent of one cup. (A machine, an automaton, a robot, etc.)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"># # # </span></div><div><br /></div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966048015900583351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253609569967586043.post-61423779602432264992022-03-01T09:19:00.000-05:002022-03-01T09:19:52.718-05:002022 - March - Ups and Downs of Writing<p> Being a writer, I bet you've experienced ups and downs, the surges and lulls of the struggle to get a story onto a page. So often a writer blasts off like a rocket ship with an idea and then the engine quits. The idea plummets to earth, the reality-check that what seemed so grand has exploded into nothing worthwhile. The pattern may look like this: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5yd25xeccBO4DF6lzNiw1h0DmskQO80qJ-dMH4BMOMDLgV5LemMgGSSXOn68EBzvUdCvBqInW8GVizHFnKOe9sbxHSfCXFujyu5c0cGJs8z9_5OHoEHdzpMjbJyy7rQeLPRxL6CIw-OOGO5b8U-xSnlJG3Dbem5tNVcWwRv48Al-NmBuRvqA0atnh=s731" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="731" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5yd25xeccBO4DF6lzNiw1h0DmskQO80qJ-dMH4BMOMDLgV5LemMgGSSXOn68EBzvUdCvBqInW8GVizHFnKOe9sbxHSfCXFujyu5c0cGJs8z9_5OHoEHdzpMjbJyy7rQeLPRxL6CIw-OOGO5b8U-xSnlJG3Dbem5tNVcWwRv48Al-NmBuRvqA0atnh=w532-h321" width="532" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>1. This is the "ah-ha moment," the manic high, the stupendous exuberance of the idea's arrival. The thrill of "what if" that sets a writer off to scribble down the bones or a scene of the idea. But this "ah-ah moment" of conception can also be a character coming forward and intriguing the writer into telling their story. Such an idea is the most beautiful of wild roses, but— </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkKI_gVVi7m-m0QB_7_02ppZRPD4x8yCUNwcnEYnsy1jEO0GJoRzMVmScnFZIxQlgS7jSPKa0zMc4q1NAygtvvbPIiZ1kayPonwR0pkYsOZ5UgXgXNtytnLHFVoOUReyKVrwKTH0dKPX0VOnFNa6LbheTna69AV39leY3fXOlwbZD3D17-5zxdAgza=s2367" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2367" data-original-width="891" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkKI_gVVi7m-m0QB_7_02ppZRPD4x8yCUNwcnEYnsy1jEO0GJoRzMVmScnFZIxQlgS7jSPKa0zMc4q1NAygtvvbPIiZ1kayPonwR0pkYsOZ5UgXgXNtytnLHFVoOUReyKVrwKTH0dKPX0VOnFNa6LbheTna69AV39leY3fXOlwbZD3D17-5zxdAgza=w120-h365" width="120" /></a></div><p>2. The rose has thorns. The first thorn-prick is a reality check— there are problems with the idea, the character, the plot. And so the joy fades.</p><p>3. But the rose's scent lingers. That idea has the writer pausing, reflecting, and thinking that the idea isn't as bad as first feared. Hope renews with possible fixes, new information, and so on.</p><p>4. However, the fix nets another jab of a thorn—more problems, seemingly unsolvable. Then come questions without answers. The writer feels stuck in a depressing quagmire.</p><p>5. But the recalled, heady, first-scent of the rose, the idea itself, beckons anew, whispering of a promise that must be written. The stick-to-it-ness of being a writer kicks in, and a renewed sense of can do, must do, nets a draft to be shared and feedback sought.</p><p>6. With that feedback, the red-pen notations, the scowls and blank faces of readers, additional thorns sink deep and draws blood that the work is doomed. The pessimist within the writer whispers "you can't write this."</p><p>7. And yet, the realization dawns— the work needs a few Band Aids. A tweak here. A restating there. Another realization—the work is good enough, not perfect but worth shipping out to beta readers and keeping one's fingers crossed.</p><p>8. The beta readers seem to take forever to return their feedback. It's good feedback. Now the book goes out to a professional editor or agent.</p><p>9. If all has gone well, the book becomes a bouquet of roses, published, earning five-star reviews, being talked about, entertaining the populous, or affecting their lives.</p><p>Writing often seems like a topsy-turvy endeavor. One that takes perseverance.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixIBmWXJ1Q9MD0tCg8o8C6qXs00_gTn3w1297JaUgUSLISkOxhSV2pqLDBHttOOqJaXAxBL110KS6dTPsK3PYST55uIFQfQZoAidAgmPzmU3Df5hHKivCLWhTE_ciqFIjA_TjO7vi-KbjFQ0qEdn_SJejwbuexvEZ8-0Fk37HsCQH5GIiPeutO4YQm=s2367" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2367" data-original-width="891" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixIBmWXJ1Q9MD0tCg8o8C6qXs00_gTn3w1297JaUgUSLISkOxhSV2pqLDBHttOOqJaXAxBL110KS6dTPsK3PYST55uIFQfQZoAidAgmPzmU3Df5hHKivCLWhTE_ciqFIjA_TjO7vi-KbjFQ0qEdn_SJejwbuexvEZ8-0Fk37HsCQH5GIiPeutO4YQm=w54-h146" width="54" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>So, where on the graph are you now with your current WIP (Work In Progress)?</p><p># # #</p><p><br /></p>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966048015900583351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253609569967586043.post-91689288701024158902022-02-01T15:12:00.002-05:002022-02-01T15:14:26.989-05:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhQSMMzuBSZ6BdUWpQOaqgLI36orpuccrr-Qz3YUt9ASDMXTPh6XpTva89hsJ32at0ajiAkbvzHGxsyjzXEJxbdDVg9b7YI0q-4F_8PzRcLSGTNtbIofJtUZyjltTMryLLU4lII7Ff3sua8m_7woMxgr_nnBrSSxVeqdJ0evaZpP4pwIO9xXS9J8QU=s1920" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhQSMMzuBSZ6BdUWpQOaqgLI36orpuccrr-Qz3YUt9ASDMXTPh6XpTva89hsJ32at0ajiAkbvzHGxsyjzXEJxbdDVg9b7YI0q-4F_8PzRcLSGTNtbIofJtUZyjltTMryLLU4lII7Ff3sua8m_7woMxgr_nnBrSSxVeqdJ0evaZpP4pwIO9xXS9J8QU=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Here's a little quiz dealing with the language of writing and being a writer. Answers appear at the end. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When proofreading, AWK stands for</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When proofreading, POV stands for</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When proofreading, LS stands for</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Widows and Orphans are</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">deus ex machina is</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Beats are </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">C-E stands for</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Dénouement is</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Grawlix is </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The Black Moment is</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Now try your hand at these True of False statements:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">1. Dialogue has 13 functions (or more)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">2. Internalizations are not dialogue</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">3. Exposition is telling not showing</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">4. A plot and theme go hand in hand</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">5. A flashback is a short look at what happened in the backstory and is presented in the now of the story</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">6. A vignette is a short story</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>ANSWERS:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When proofreading, AWK stands for Awkward. That is, the text did not make sense, forcing the reader to stop reading and enjoying the story to reread and puzzle out — and guess — what the writer meant. Another type of AWK is where sentences were joined together (by "and" or semicolons or colons) to the point of the reader being uncertain what was happening or going on or who was doing what to whom.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">POV stands for Point of View</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When proofreading, LS stands for Long Sentence. An average sentence is considered 20 words. Any sentence exceeding 30 words should be looked at for being awkward (AWK) or a run-on or a convoluted sentence.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Widows are one line from the previous page stranded at the top of the next page. Orphans are one to three words stranded on one line at the end of a paragraph (often changing one "big" word to a simpler "smaller" word will free up that line for better use.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Deus ex machina is an unexpected character who appears in the climax to solve the story and save the hero and heroine. Reader don't like it when someone other than the Protagonist solves the story problem or is resued.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Beats are bits of stage business or actions interspersed throughout a scene, often involving physical gestures, like pouring a glass of wine or walking into or out of a room.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">C-E stands for Cause and Effect (often C-E is skewed or elements of the logical straightforward sequence of events or actions are missing).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Dénouement is the final resolution of the main story's problem.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span> </span><span>Grawlix is that bunch of swearing symbols: "£$%*>#!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The Black Moment is when the Protagonist faces off with the Antagonist in the story's climax.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>True of False</b><span>:</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">1. Dialogue has 13 functions (or more) TRUE</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">2. Internalizations are not dialogue FALSE - internalizations are dialogue that is not spoken out loud</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">3. Exposition is telling not showing TRUE</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">4. A plot and theme go hand in hand TRUE</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">5. A flashback is a short look at what happened in the backstory and is presented in the now of the story FALSE - a flashback is a <i>long</i> look back, <i>a full-blown scene</i>).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">6. A vignette is a short story FALSE (Vignettes are "slices of life").</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>How did you do? Did you cheat and look at the answers while doing the quiz?</b></span></p><p><b style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">***Feel free to share this quiz with other writers.**</span>*</b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"># # # </span></p><p> </p>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966048015900583351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253609569967586043.post-29926663145000953132022-01-01T12:19:00.004-05:002022-01-01T12:19:47.988-05:002022 - January - Begetting Quality <p> <span style="background-color: #fcff01;"> This year we're back to first-of-the month posts, this year topics are about writing well and telling a story well. </span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuk6_3lGrwH5XxP1oUYKc8Z81Vgw0h9fDaStr76eiACWR3l2Vwj79XgjlmF3MzQZOajWdCYpQx33Z14O9XDMKPujydfC_acm-wH7LnhKCI_9puxQWy5d8L6Zc7-KFq10DGGpA-SvAGza631FTfoEvsr998Mx1llMRCmfOVnbSL2ilnRbmvCe6Qy9Nn=s561" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="520" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuk6_3lGrwH5XxP1oUYKc8Z81Vgw0h9fDaStr76eiACWR3l2Vwj79XgjlmF3MzQZOajWdCYpQx33Z14O9XDMKPujydfC_acm-wH7LnhKCI_9puxQWy5d8L6Zc7-KFq10DGGpA-SvAGza631FTfoEvsr998Mx1llMRCmfOVnbSL2ilnRbmvCe6Qy9Nn=s320" width="297" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Writing does not beget good writing, it begets repetition of the same-old principals of setting </b>words into sentences that were taught in school. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>In order to write quality stories worth a reader's interest, time, and money,</b> a writer needs to learn and then train their mind to write with techniques of the successful, highly paid, multi-published.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>It's the difference</b> between learning to swim and making the Olympic team in swimming.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>That's why I tell new writers to stop writing and learn craft.</b> Craft enhances talent and liberates creativity. And here's the catch — by learning craft, a writer must practice what they're learning and thus bring to the writing a whole new aspect of workmanship and mastery of word images.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Other benefits follow,</b> like far less rewriting, far less revising, and far less errors of all kinds from the big picture of plot to the minuscule of line edits done word by word.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>If you're truly interested in writing well and telling a story well,</b> then take a time out to learn. Start with books on craft, not an Internet blog post or two of a few hundred words, but books that cover a topic-subject in tens of thousands of words. Then practice that craft subject in a short form— a short story or a scene— until it comes naturally. Those will not be wasted words. Those will be better words, better scenes, better stories.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>So where should a writer start this learning curve? </b>Start by learning what story is. And I will recommend the following books that can teach this:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A STORY IS A PROMISE by Bill Johnson</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This book is filled with, as the subtitle says: "Good things to know before you write that screenplay, novel, or play." And never forget, verbal stories, epic poem-stories, and plays came long before novels.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">HOW TO TELL A STORY—THE SECRETS OF WRITING CAPTIVATING TALES by Peter Rubie and Gary Provost</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> This book </span>does hold the secrets of writing captivating tales.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">WRITING THE SHORT STORY—A HANDS-ON PROGRAM by Jack M. Bickham </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This book takes a writer step-by-step through the Developed Short Story. Here's the catch: the only difference between the Developed Short Story and a Novel is length and scope. Learn to write the Developed Short Story and the novel is oh so much easier to do.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">SAVE THE CAT by Blake Snyder </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A screenwriters bible, but again, plays came before novels. This book's how-to's give insight and practical advice on story and writing a story.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>You don't have to buy the books. You can usually get them through the Library Loan system.</b> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>It's the New Year</b> and resolutions and goals often are set</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">— or </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">at least thought about. Isn't it time you made a commitment to not just writing the same-old way but writing well and telling a story well?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">****Stop back the first of February for the next posting to this blog. </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">— Catherine E. McLean,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Author, Writing Instructor, Workshop Speaker</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ffd966; font-family: georgia;"><b>Connect with me at</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzCG1z-M7Kyiv8j7Z8s8DWa-B-qKB1ceu99boLG5FhQq-B2rt-fxPfmxrX8lDD2UDJOEl4OTAtOR72105NvvERLZHhGwc3vdM1g82QkniLFzYPsUg3_TxVqkPMOz2o-1mcFyQzoBZf6cMBgFQuScmP4eesHmpMIG16oXuLVtAZ72MrXuY0YXKSVfay=s2000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzCG1z-M7Kyiv8j7Z8s8DWa-B-qKB1ceu99boLG5FhQq-B2rt-fxPfmxrX8lDD2UDJOEl4OTAtOR72105NvvERLZHhGwc3vdM1g82QkniLFzYPsUg3_TxVqkPMOz2o-1mcFyQzoBZf6cMBgFQuScmP4eesHmpMIG16oXuLVtAZ72MrXuY0YXKSVfay=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvm_-kMMGifZznbxB9l5Qt-Q0hbJVvCY7VRNnmkWAn_sXVap-ACeDy4CpU7qnUvMfuH9f4WYgaSgdwAAYJ4X1vji27BweHaYLRTru6G1ZSBDbi6C9R71fXxeA91cJ9ofs1fOZWJY8NvqWCa5bLvFkkJrEZ2Yvi7WwgkOJr2Zc_WMmRjAGlRGvJ2OyG=s360" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvm_-kMMGifZznbxB9l5Qt-Q0hbJVvCY7VRNnmkWAn_sXVap-ACeDy4CpU7qnUvMfuH9f4WYgaSgdwAAYJ4X1vji27BweHaYLRTru6G1ZSBDbi6C9R71fXxeA91cJ9ofs1fOZWJY8NvqWCa5bLvFkkJrEZ2Yvi7WwgkOJr2Zc_WMmRjAGlRGvJ2OyG=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHAXHfBY7PyKv42j6qIRIk2BAzxsgFxm-aZE8ygZr9L3vlfQuWRhxe8MVCDxaR0pjHdWTp2ou5EKvSffyZKFIOitMyeoWaSPJNQiGSPzQDS8O2TZvB0PyhVAV-gi9uT5iAP2UMcAQbifqmpeQSBktKHxbRRirRyA96wYNvZg6DIMiKoeEzOZTVg7l4=s2000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHAXHfBY7PyKv42j6qIRIk2BAzxsgFxm-aZE8ygZr9L3vlfQuWRhxe8MVCDxaR0pjHdWTp2ou5EKvSffyZKFIOitMyeoWaSPJNQiGSPzQDS8O2TZvB0PyhVAV-gi9uT5iAP2UMcAQbifqmpeQSBktKHxbRRirRyA96wYNvZg6DIMiKoeEzOZTVg7l4=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"># # # </div></div></span></div></div>Catherinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09966048015900583351noreply@blogger.com2