Publishing Emerging Writers, February 2018

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Plain English Writing Workbook (Excerpt)
By Sandy Tritt

Advice for Beginners
So you wanna be a writer when you grow up, huh? My first word of advice is don’t. Don’t become a writer. Not for money. Not for glory. Not for any reason other than a flaming passion in your gut that is so strong, nothing can prevent you from writing. Not unless you have stories that you must tell, and writing them is as important to you as eating and sleeping and breathing. And sometimes more important.
With that out of the way, I assume you have passion. So, what do you do to pave the way into the writing world? Easy. Five things: Read. Observe. Experience. Live. Write. Those are the five main ingredients for preparing yourself for a writing career.
Read everything you can get your hands on. Read classic literature, read literary fiction, read commercial fiction. If you want to write in a specific genre, read as many books in that genre as possible. Read books on the craft of writing. Read books on writers. Read dictionaries. Read cereal boxes. Just read.
Observe. If there is one attribute a writer must have (other than his passion to write), it’s the ability to notice details. What is it about the way she walks that captures your attention? Is it her clothes? Her figure? Her wiggle? What words could you use to describe the preacher’s snortsbetween shouts? If he says “Hell,” what do his eyes look like?
Look at your surroundings as though you’re showing them to someone who’s never been there. Notice the sounds, smells, colors, textures—everything you take for granted. Think of new ways to describe old things.
Experience. Can you write about New York City if you’ve never been there? Probably—if you’ve seen enough movies and read enough descriptions. However, you would not be able to add new insight. For me, a small town girl, it was the vastness of the big city that took away my breath.
I was also surprised that most of the thousands of people scurrying to get some place important would gladly pause a moment to give directions or advice to a stranger. This is something I expected from my small hometown, but not from the Big City. It impressed me—and it’s something I’d include in a novel.
Visit as many places as you possibly can, but also consider living in as many cultures as possible. Yes, you can get superficial impressions during a seven-day vacation, but to truly understand the area and the people, you need to experience it more deeply. I’ve lived in small towns, large cities, suburbs, villages, and deep in the country. I’ve lived in apartments, houses, complexes, dormitories, alone, with friends, with family. I’ve lived in Appalachia, the Midwest, and the Deep South. And each of these has left an imprint—as well as an accent.
Try to write within your experience sphere. Having said that, fantasy is an area where imagination is the only limit. Historical writing requires we go to a time and possibly place that is foreign to those living today. But with enough research and imagination, you can still write with integrity in these genres.
TIP: Want to be a writer when you grow up?
Read. Observe. Experience. Live. Write. Repeat.

Copyright © Sandy Tritt 2016

- By Sandy Tritt

Handbook of Research on Examining Global Peacemaking in the Digital Age, Bruce L. Cook (ed.)

Description

Violent behavior has become deeply integrated into modern society and it is an unavoidable aspect of human nature. Examining peacemaking strategies through a critical and academic perspective can assist in resolving violence in societies around the world.

The Handbook of Research on Examining Global Peacemaking in the Digital Age is a pivotal reference source for the latest research findings on the utilization of peacemaking in media, leadership, and religion. Featuring extensive coverage on relevant areas such as human rights, spirituality, and the Summer of Peace, this publication is an ideal resource for policymakers, universities and colleges, graduate-level students, and organizations seeking current research on the application of conflict resolution and international negotiation.

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Plain English Writing Workbook

By Sandy Tritt

Advice for Beginners- So you wanna be a writer when you grow up, huh? My first word of advice is don’t. Don’t become a writer..... (continued below)