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Quick Tips
by Sandy Tritt
http://tritt.wirefire.com
Although I tried to cram more than one idea on each of
Tip Page, there remained several tips I wanted to cover that didn't fit
neatly in any of the established pages. So, here are the leftovers:
- Research does more than add authenticity -- it often
opens the door to subplots and additional scenes.
- Check out news events during the time period of your
manuscript. Maybe John Lenon's death didn't affect you dramatically, but
if your character is a rock 'n roll musician or a Beatle fanatic, it
would be worthy of an emotional response.
- Don't put thoughts (or internal dialogue) in quotes
or italics. Since you must be in the viewpoint of the character in order
to be privy to his thoughts, it isn't necessary to say, "he thought" or
set off in any other way. Just maintain tense and point of view (such as
third person, past tense). Example: "I don't want to go there," John
thought is better written: John didn't want to go there.
- Use current music (titles and even lyrics) to not
only add substance to your time setting, but also to make use of another
sense (sound).
- Read everything you write aloud. Especially dialogue.
- Keep pen and paper with you at all times. You never
know when inspiration will hit or when you'll be stuck in traffic.
- Make a scene feel "complete" by ending it with
dialogue (internal or external) or action from your viewpoint character.
- Keep paragraphs, sentences and parts of sentences in
chronological order.
- Write sentences in the positive form (avoid double
negatives).
- Vary the length and structure of your sentences.
Don't start every sentence with a proper noun or pronoun. (John
watched the Arrivals screen for news. He hoped her flight wouldn't be
late. He wanted to see her. He had missed her way too much).
Instead, try to start each sentence in a paragraph with a different part
of speech: John watched the Arrivals screen for news. Surely, her
flight wouldn't be late. And she would be there soon. He had missed her.
Way too much. If you find yourself stuck in the "he/she" beginning
for each sentence, decide to start each sentence with a different letter
of the alphabet. It will take some creativity, but hey, that's why you
write, right?
- Focus is what gives your story cohesiveness. You must
be able to describe your story in one sentence. Yes. One sentence.
Forcing this focus gives you a home base to return to and reflect from,
and ensures that you don't drift too much in other directions.
- The purpose of fiction -- whether short story, novel
or children's literature -- is to take the reader away from his life and
expose him to a new experience. Hopefully, the reader learns from the
experience of the characters, and, at the best, the reader views his own
life in a new way.
- The only way to finish a novel is to put pen to paper
(or fingers to keypad) and do it.
Keep writing!
Want more great tips and techniques? Our
Inspiration for Writers
Tips and Techniques Workbook is now available. Expanded tips, more
topics, reproducible worksheets, exercises to practice what you learn and
much more--check it out! Free shipping anywhere in the United States.
(c) copyright 1999 by Sandy Tritt. All rights reserved,
except for those listed here. December be reproduced for educational purposes
(such as for writer's workshops), as long as this copyright notice and the url: http://tritt.wirefire.com are distributed with the pages. For use in
conferences or other uses not mentioned here, please contact Sandy Tritt
at tritt@wvadventures.net
for permission and additional resources at no or limited charge.
Keep writing!
Sandy
Tritt
Inspiration
for Writers
tritt@wvadventures.net
Go Back in Time!...
Check out
our new all - immersion Life of Jesus (Part 1) from David C. Cook
III. You'll become a true believer. Visit...
Religion
Category
AuthorMe.com
is dedicated to the memory of David C. Cook III.
This Just In – From Paul the Apostle
Chosen
Instrument
By Kurt Schuller
Another
inspired work recreating
Bible times.
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Our Editorial Staff has expanded...
Rena Williams - Managing Editor
Helen
Cook - Editor
Adam W.
Smith - Assistant Editor
Country Editors...
Rais Neza Boneza
- Uganda, Norway,
D.R. Congo
Dr. Karanam Rao - India
Ken Mulholland - Australia
The Shadow - Bahrain
Our Marketing Staff ...
Kathy Hartwell - Director of
Marketing Communications
Radical Leadership for a New Millennium
by Jacob Hevi
AuthorMe's Newest e-book ...
Leadership
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God
Created You
Temperament is the God-given, inborn
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Temperament is who we are on the
inside, what the Bible calls “the
inner man” (or woman, God is not
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regards to temperament. The research
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It is now possible, through the use of
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GOD
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(type both lines in one)
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Read... Move Over Maharishi
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An ordinary housewife is catapulted into the unknown. For over twenty-five years with one foot in the other dimension, experiences visions, apparitions, and visits from the divine. As a Christian Intuitive with the ability to see into a person’s spirit, she experienced first hand where the departed go.
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History of Fiction in Africa
by Rais Neza Boneza
In the case of Africa, stories are looked on as an arena
of protest against cruelty in the world. Between 1700 and 1800, European
writers began to suggest that Africans were less human. They compared
Africans to the beast of burden and justified the notion of slavery.
Philosopher Frederick Engel’s story argued that Africa was not part of
history and that Africa started when Europeans set foot on her soil.
There is always a connection between writing and history.
A nation can be created or de-created through written words. Altough
slave’s masters put on rules fobidding and repressing the education of
slaves, some slaves noticed the value of the written words.
James Ukawsaw was able to write his own story in 1770
while before he could not read and write. He was fascinated watching his
master hold a Bible, look at it and talk to it. James was not aware of
what is called the reading culture. To him it was a magic book
talking to his master.
One day when his master was away from home, James stole
the bible and talked to it but only heard silence, and this increased his
inquisitiveness. Eventually he learned the trick and wrote: “An African
Prince” in 1770 and Frederick Douglas was taught to read and write by
his master’s wife.
When the master stopped him by discontinuing with his
lessons. F. Douglas would take bread and give it to poor white children
who could teach him in turn.
Late in life he wrote his own story: “The Narrative of
the Life of Frederick Douglas.”
An 18 year-old slave woman wrote poetry on moral,
social, and religious issues. A board of white masters could not believe
that it was her work. Later, when confirmed that it was her work, she was
set free from slavery.
For all the cases above, the authors’ reading and
writing skills won their freedom.
Rais Neza Boneza
AuthorMe Country Editor
Uganda, Norway, D.R.
Writing Therapy
Cost: $25.00
Instructor Name: Lynette Rees [Dip. Couns]
Instructor Email:
peaceful_writer@yahoo.com
Url:
http://class.universalclass.com/writingtherapy
What is Writing Therapy?
Writing Therapy is a way of connecting with your emotions via pen and
paper, or the keyboard. I devised this course after studying the research of
James W Pennebaker, Head of Psychology, University of Texas. Pennebaker's
research shows that writing helps to lift the mood of depressed people. He
also found that students who wrote about how they were feeling coped better
with their exams.
Class Format
I have devised 9 lessons in all - taking you from what writing therapy is
to covering the basic emotions we feel such as anger, grief, love, fear etc.
I've also added a lesson on dreams and how to interpret yours, and a bonus
lesson on creative writing. Each lesson has an appropriate assignment to
match the lesson's content.
Write your way to emotional health!
Writerly Websites...
http://www.ochiltreebooks.com
This is Dianne Ochiltree's
site for children, parents,
teachers and writers for
young readers. Dianne is an
author of books for young
readers (birth to teenage)
and she is also a children's
book reviewer. She's been
writing professionally for
over 25 years---about 18
years in public
relations/advertising/marketing
and the last 7 years as a
children's writer. Dianne
has two books published to
date, with Scholastic and
with Simon & Schuster.
http://tritt.wirefire.com The Inspiration for Writers website offers help and encouragement to writers of all levels. Tips and Techniques give practical advice about frequent writing blunders. The Writer's Prayer, inspirational quotes, and essays about the writing life add insight and inspiration. The Fiction Showcase offers short stories for the reader's enjoyment. And, for those serious about improving their writing skills, manuscript critiques and coaching services are available. Visit http://tritt.wirefire.com today!
Critiquing Special
- Limited time special, one cent per word. Just mention Publishing
New Writers Newsletter (December, 2002).
Critiques by Sandy Tritt
- Unlike most editors, I consider my role to be a mentor or a coach.
Instead of just telling you what is wrong, I explain how to correct the
problem, and I work with you to teach you how to write effective prose.
More than 50% of my business is repeat business, and I relish
establishing long-term relationships with other writers.
- Treat you with respect and compassion. All criticism will be of the
"constructive" sort. My purpose is to improve your writing, not to
destroy your confidence.
- Mark your manuscript, correcting grammatical and spelling errors and
suggesting alternative wording where appropriate, line-by-line.
- Highlight areas that are especially well-written, so you will know
where your strengths are.
- Where appropriate, offer suggestions for plot development, character
development or other areas that could be strengthened.
- Return a two-to-four page written analysis of your work. This will
include evaluation of: plot, setting, characterization, dialogue,
special effects (flash forwards, flashbacks, etc.), voice, point of view
and any other areas particular to your work.
- If appropriate, recommend reading or resources to strengthen your
areas of weakness.
- Answer any questions you have via email.
- Provide my telephone number for a personal follow-up, if you desire.
For Sandy's success stories, see
http://tritt.wirefire.com/Manuscript_Critique.html
Write Sandy at tritt@wvadventures.net
(See Sandy's article above.)
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