It can EAT YOUR LIFE. Go ahead. Spend all your time and energy blogging, texting, IM’ing, hunting down great writers’ articles and posts on Twitter, connecting with other writers on Facebook, updating your LinkedIn profile, registering with StumbleUpon, Digg, Squidoo, and all the other bazillions of blogonetworking tools out there…. Read more“4 Ways Social Media Can Screw Up Your Writing”
Month: May 2010
Differentiating between exposition & backstory
Aaaaaaaoooooh in re: expo is a backstory?—@so_you_know Then would backstory be exposition?—@marisabirns Exposition as backstory in film, often flashback scene (dreams, memories, etc.)—@AllInky So an ‘info dump’, however it is done, is not exposition?—@Story_Craft Now, we did have a great conversation about exposition on #storycraft Sunday, and I did go… Read more“Differentiating between exposition & backstory”
The 1 big secret behind why we write
I picked this up on the Bloggess today, and although she’s applying it to bloggers, frankly I think it completely explains writers. COMPLETELY. Why do we do what we do? You know why? We’re not motivated by the money. No, we are not. It’s not there. Even if a writer… Read more“The 1 big secret behind why we write”
Defining exposition
I’m confused as to what novelists mean by ‘exposition’; do they simply mean any narration that isn’t description, whether it imparts information or not? For example, would novelists consider paragraphs of the ‘narrator’ musing on the meaning of the story that we have just read, but adding nothing to the… Read more“Defining exposition”
Guest speaking on exposition on Twitter Sunday
That’s today. I know. I’m springing this on you. Sorry about that. Today, Sunday, 3:00-4:30 Pacific Time, I’ll be talking about exposition on #storycraft on Twitter. I’m the guest speaker. I don’t know what time that is where you are—you’ll have to break out the ole calculator. Just go on… Read more“Guest speaking on exposition on Twitter Sunday”
The 5 Reasons Your MS Keeps Getting Rejected
Ever wonder why you keep getting all those form rejections from agents and editors? When I was in college, there was a guy in my Early American Lit class who complained that he didn’t understand why the teacher even took his papers, she ought to just carry a big rubber… Read more“The 5 Reasons Your MS Keeps Getting Rejected”
Trimming for your genre
Dear Editor, When I completed my novel, it contained 91,000 words! After careful editing, it is down to 62,000 words—still lengthy for my genre—upper middle grade. I feel like I have trimmed the story as far as I can, but it’s my first novel and I’m worried that its length… Read more“Trimming for your genre”
Creating a satisfying ending
I’m about to write the climax, ending, and denouement of my story. Any suggestions for keeping the tension high, and creating a satisfying ending (even if it’s not a “happy” one)?—Lyn South YES. It took me three chapters to cover everything I know about this in the Art & Craft… Read more“Creating a satisfying ending”
21+ Things Your Characters Should Never Say
“Stand right there and break the wind.” “He was waving his arms and ejaculating at the top of his lungs.” “I have the same problem when my pants get hot.” “What a sweet kitten. So delicious!” “You’re not supposed to spread them that far apart.” “Tie it off with that… Read more“21+ Things Your Characters Should Never Say”
Writing by word count or set time?
Write by word count or set time each day??—@oldguey Hey, did you folks all get together and decide you were worried about just one thing this week? This is kind of eerie. Sure, you can write by word count. Or you can set a minimum time limit. If you’re lucky… Read more“Writing by word count or set time?”