Fiction

Writing Romance – Why Love can help Your Fiction Sell

by Annette Young

When writing romance, put aside any cynical thoughts and focus instead on innocent dreams and memories from your youth because capturing that all important innocent essence is vital when trying to portray that spark of attraction between two of your characters. Writing romance can add sparkle to a scene or indeed, depth to a character and as it can encompass different layers for your characters, it provides glimpses of the person you are trying to create. Writing romance scenes can be fun for the writer too and it can help the story or novel to sell, because romantic fiction is hugely popular in these stricken financial times.

We all like escapism. Readers may want a story which has a semblance of gritty realism but they also want stories of hope, laughter and romance. Fiction needs to have aspects of true life so that readers can relate to it and interlacing romantic moments can produce feel - good factors throughout. When writing romance just remember that it does not all have to be hearts and flowers and over the top romantic gestures to make it work, in fact, depending on the type of fiction that you are planning to write, it can have variations of romance which either carry or support the story as it unfolds.

Romance can also add much needed obstacles to the story and these add weight to any storyline and draw the reader in. Obstacles work in a variety of ways because they add depth to the characters and to the storyline but they also take the reader on a voyage of discovery and leaves them wanting to know whether the obstacles were finally overcome. Using obstacles to prevent the romantic liaisons from progressing also works incredibly well and the actions of the characters involved then start to reveal a great deal about their personalities going forward.

Of course, if writing a short story, word count is going to be limited greatly and so the writer must know exactly what the story is about and also how much romantic content it will contain. Finding the relevant starting point is also important and writing a compelling opening paragraph essential. All readers secretly want a happy ending in some shape or form, it doesn’t have to be that the romance works as long as there is some hope that it has worked out for the best or perhaps within those final paragraphs, there are hints of a better alternative as the story closes. Sometimes leaving out some information and avoiding finalising the story down to the very last detail can have the reader’s imagination soaring as they being to perceive those characters as three dimensional entities and start to think about the plot, how it progresses and ultimately ends.

Romantic interludes work well. The writer does not need to write intense or heavily erotic scenes if they feel uncomfortable with that, instead they can suggest a positive intensity between their characters by well-crafted dialogue and descriptive scenes. When writing romance, it is essential to provide dark and light elements to vital scenes and allow the reader to convey the subtle influences within the text.

Annette Young

Freelance Writer/Editor

www.creative-competitor.co.uk

Writing Short Stories – From Amateur to Professional Status

by Annette Young

Writing short stories or poetry is where most writers begin their long journey towards publication. It provides a perfect creative outlet for those who have the feint stirrings of a story to tell and wish to transfer those creative thoughts to paper. Crafting a unique and well-rounded story is not easy and there are many pitfalls but with a little help, success is only a few steps away. When writing short stories, always consider what you are trying to achieve. It is very easy for the writer to become lost in the depths of their own imagination and a 1000 word story can easily be trebled. Writing short stories is an art form and it deserves a great deal of recognition as the writer must be focussed and dedicated to the task at hand.

There are many different story lengths available, writers can choose to write flash fiction which can be anything from approximately 50 words up to 1000, although many fiction magazines seek out stories which also have had the chance to develop and grow and these can be around the 2000 word mark.

Identifying a market for the story is the first step and then once this has been determined, it is time to plan the story in its entirety. Writing short stories that will sell readily requires additional planning, so extend the market research around the intended publication. For example, what do you know about the readership? A story about a teenage pregnancy is not going to be of interest to publications aimed at those in their senior years unless the writer can make it relate to them significantly.

Many writers fail at the first post by writing solely for themselves. There is of course, nothing wrong with writing for the sheer joy of creativity alone, but as many writers would like nothing more than to see their story and name in print, it is vital that those writers change their mind set from that of an amateur to a professional and this will then afford them much more opportunities and in fact, fuel that creative fire even further.

When writing a story with a minimal word count, many writers neglect to develop their characters fully but it is important that the reader begins to connect with the characters and start to care as to the outcome, otherwise the story will lack interest for them. Allow the reader to identify with a strong human interest angle and this will help keep them interested and following through to the end.

Stories are around us all the time but it is our own unique interpretation that makes the story come alive. As writers, it is important that any witnessed mannerisms, characteristics and events are all stored away for future use, as aspects of events can be used in short stories, for example an old creepy building that you may have observed in passing could be used when trying to picture a haunted house for a ghost story. Life produces unlimited opportunities for story tellers everywhere but when writing short stories with a serious intent, we have to make good use of this free material and then we can go from amateur to professional quickly and easily.

Annette Young

Freelance Writer/Editor

www.creative-competitor.co.uk

Writing Horror – How to Terrify your Readers

by Annette Young

Writing horror stories that can immerse your readers completely and make them relive the terror is something that most writers in this genre are trying to achieve. It’s not always easy though and a poorly written horror story can be almost comedic in comparison. The writer has to establish a creative and solid foundation to their story first which means knowing the plot inside and out and then weave the suspenseful elements into that existing plot. Writing horror may not be the easiest genre to write in, but it can certainly be an exciting and captivating one and a lesson in writing and building suspense.

When writing horror, it is important that the writer knows the direction of the story as many writers begin their stories without a clear sense of direction and this can lead to a confusing plot with a myriad of limitless possibilities. If the writer becomes confused, then it is quite certain that the reader will be too. It is important that the reader finds it easy to read the story irrespective of whether it’s a short story or a novel. Why make it hard on the reason to immerse them in the plot line?

If the thought of writing horror is a compelling one, then make sure that you adhere to the following points:

· Consider the plot carefully and make it as original as possible.

· Understand what ‘you’ are trying to get across to your readers and don’t waffle.

· Think about word count. Assuming you would like to get your work published, it is important to research the publication you are likely to submit to. Sending 5000 words to a publisher whose requirements are for stories with a 2000 word maximum word count is bound to end in a rejection.

· Create characters that almost jump off the page, this means learning about those characters inside and out before writing the story. Make sure they are 3 dimensional and include characteristics that will tie in naturally with your story.

· Consider where to create suspense for the reader.

· To write horror, it is always useful to consider what frightens you on an individual level. If it frightens you, then it equally could scare the reader.

· Remember that horror does not have to be gory; fear can be escalated in a number of ways, in fact, sometimes it is what the writer doesn’t say but merely hints at that will begin to unnerve the reader. Let their imaginations work.

· Consider your word count and then work out just where the story needs to starts. A novel should have an exciting opening but can build up the horror and suspense naturally. A short story has to be written in an entirely different way.

· Create a title that intrigues and draws the reader in.

Building an overall plan regarding your story can help save time in the long run. It certainly helps to prevent the writer from meandering within the plot and be able to confidently move the plot forward. Don’t forget that for horror stories, the pace of the story is extremely important as the reader must be carried into the story from beginning through to end and their attention must be held by your carefully crafted words. So, when writing horror successfully - think, plan and learn to write instinctively for maximum effect.

Annette Young

Freelance Writer/Editor

www.creative-competitor.co.uk

7 Steps To Success For Chick Lit Writers And Authors

By Samantha Pearce

The 'chick lit' market is going from strength to strength as more and more young women find that they can relate so uncannily to the characters in these books. These books address concepts that all women will face in some way and at some time in their lives. Whether it be facing the dilemma of balancing motherhood with a career; or whether it is having to make the choice between a sensible life partner that your parents would adore or choosing the rugged, good for nothing man that sends your heart racing! Chick lits are invariably an easy and light-hearted read written in a humorous tone and littered with slang and clichés and modern cultural references that young women can relate to.

A good chick lit read will contain the following key elements:

* A female lead: The main character will be struggling in at least one if not all of the dimensions of her life. These dimensions generally being her career, her love life and her relationships with family and friends.

* A unique style of writing: Often being as a recount of the heroine’s disastrous efforts in love and life, this can sometimes be in a diary format, such as ‘Bridget Jones’ Diary’, which was one of the more successful ‘chick lits’. The style of writing ensures that the book can be picked up, read and enjoyed in short bursts.

* Humour: The book will generally highlight the character’s failings or day to day happenings with a humorous slant.

* Sexual themes: A good chick lit will not shy away from the inclusion of sex and it is often written about in a very frank manner.

* Glamorous setting: These stories are often written around the supposedly glamorous worlds of fashion or media, although more often than not the story reveals that the reality is not quite as the reader would expect.

* Modern references: References to the latest designer shoes or to celebrity lives can often be found in a good chick lit and it adds to the relevance that the reader can find within the story.

* An unexpected twist: Although chick lits are expected to be an easy read, the more successful books always have a quirky outcome or twist that makes finishing the book even more worthwhile.

So if you want to write successful chick lit make sure you incorporate these simple elements.

In this srticle you will find the elements that are essential to the success of any chick lit manuscript.

Want your Chick Lit Manuscriptto be noticed? Visit Words Worth Reading for professional writer's proofreading / appraisal services.

Writing for the sake of writing

By: Mikal Jhonson

What are the pros and cons of writing short stories and posting them online for money as opposed to writing short stories just for the sake of writing itself?

The first thing that a writer interested in writing online stories as a means of living must accept is that it’s not easy selling your online stories to willing publishers over the Internet. While there may be a lot of literary agents and publishers out there who may accept your works, the money you can possibly get from writing short stories online is not that big.

Of course there may have been a few writers out there who found it quite easy to write short stories online for online consumption but these are the distinguished few who have already established a niche and a name in the online literary market. Stephen King, being one of the most prominent examples, has already tested the online waters with huge aplomb but that’s because he has already created a name for himself publishing horror novels in the traditional form prior to writing short stories online.

In your case though, being one who is only starting on your literary career, you may find it pretty difficult to penetrate the market when writing short stories online. There might be occasional websites who are willing to pay you decent sums of money but as a general observation, the competition in writing short stories online for money is really tight and difficult. For instance, granted you write short stories online impressively, but most of the online publishing houses would just give you that proverbial glare because you are a new author who has yet to establish a name in the literary market.

As such, it has always been recommended that you write short stories online first for the sake of writing itself before you plunge into using your writing for a living. Sign up to some respectable writing websites for authors who have been writing online stories. Publish your works there until such a time that you’re already noticed by a wider online readership other than your family and kin.

As soon as you have established your name in the various writing websites, publishing companies will eventually notice your talent in writing short stories and before you know it, they’ll be tailing you off and asking you to write short stories online for them. Good luck!

For more information about writing short stories online and writing online stories please logon to our website

/http://www.writemymemoirs.com/

Three Fiction Writing Concerns

by Kathryn Lively

One of the challenges an editor must face is polishing the work of an author without erasing too much of that author's style. If you follow a particular novelist, you might notice over time particular quirks to dialog and narrative that shape the author's unique voice, little things inspired to endear readers over time. It may be a method of relaying a specific dialect, a favorite phrase used in more than one book, or even a mechanic style one doesn't often see in certain genres.

Fantasy authors, for example, may feature characters that communicate by thought. To enhance this phenomenon to the reader, use of italics denotes what is being thought, rather than said. Some authors may take this device and imprint a unique style by adding asterisks or other characters to further emphasize the story. Other books may use different fonts to express and highlight different aspect of their tales as well.

An author should be unique in writing style, and should possess a voice that attracts readers and inspires them to want to seek out books that mimic yours, rather than leave them guessing for whom you take after. That said, there are a number of tics that readers (and editors) may find more annoying than amusing. In the spirit of previous articles on the subject of style, I hereby submit three more personal nitpicks of mine: devices and phrases I have seen in bestsellers and small press offerings. The following are not necessarily incorrect or improper, but may cause distraction if overused in a manuscript. Grab a pen and proceed with caution.

1) There was no other word for it.

I can't tell you how many times I have suggested in edits that authors strike this sentence from their works. It is common narrative, used mainly to emphasize shock or surprise as felt by a character.

When Brian pulled the gun on her, Darlene was flabbergasted. There was no other word for it.

You think so? What about shocked, galled, puzzled, speechless, amazed, surprised, or bewildered? A quick search in the Thesaurus may produce more suitable words to describe how Darlene is feeling, standing there at the end of a gun, wondering if her life is about to end. Quite personally, were I in Darlene's situation, one other word would come to mind...it's about four letters long!

Is this phrase used incorrectly? Not really. Taking the scene from Darlene's point of view, there could be no other words to say. Having a gun pointed at your face doesn't necessarily inspire anything verbose outside of screaming in fear or gasping for breath. Is the phrase necessary? Not really. As a matter of personal opinion, tacking on "there was no other word for it" seems rather superfluous in this situation. If there is no other word to describe what Darlene is feeling, why not leave the scene at flabbergasted? Why add on dressing to an already tense scene, when brevity better evokes a sense of doom?

When Brian pulled the gun on her, Darlene was flabbergasted. She grasped the doorknob for support and pressed a hand to her chest to keep her heart from bursting. "What are you doing?" she finally cried.

Continue with the action of the scene without unnecessary words getting in the way, and keep Darlene alert in front of that gun.

2) Heads-a-hoppin'

When I send manuscripts for evaluation, one thing I ask readers to look for is concise differentiation of point of view. Are scenes constructed in a manner that one point of view is presented clearly? Otherwise, does the narrative appear too jumbled with too many voices shouting to heard over the others?

In fiction, third person point of view is easily the more popular style - over first-person, where the story is told entirely by one character, either a lead (e.g. Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum) or an observer of the leads (e.g. Fitzgerald's Nick Carraway, who tells the story of Gatsby and Daisy), and the rarely used second person (see Bright Lights, Big City for an oft-used example). Within the third person point of view are two distinctive styles: limited, which presents the story told from the perspective of a character based only on what he/she knows, and omniscient, where the character's perspective of things is broader. In the case of omniscient point of view, the narrative might not even be told from the perspective of an active character, but an outsider watching and sensing everything that happens.

In a book written in the third person limited point of view, the perspective does not have to be limited to one character. In romance especially, point of view may switch from the hero to the heroine at various intervals. In mainstream fiction, perspective may expand to a number of core characters. Other books, especially cozy mysteries, limited the perspective to that of the sleuth, while a more intense thriller may also get into the head of a criminal.

However you decide to tell your story, it is strongly recommended to keep the perspective limited to one point of view within a distinguishable scene. In other words, avoid the device known as "head-hopping," where point of view changes so swiftly within a passage that the reader might not know who is thinking what. While telling a story from different points of view is acceptable, it is suggested to make the shifts obvious so the reader can keep track. Head-hopping can be distracting to readers, and especially to editors who might decide the manuscript is too muddled to fix in a reasonable amount of time.

3) Dot-dot-dot

And now...we come to a device overused more than the comma...the ellipsis. Yes, there is actually a name for the "dot-dot-dot" that follows a trailed away thought, a break in conversation, or a tease into a sudden action. Used properly, the ellipsis indicates an omission of words; for example, if you have ever seen a movie ad where Roger Ebert proclaims American Pie is "The best film...of the year," there is a good chance the film's PR people are spinning critics words and exaggerating praise. For all we know, Ebert really said, "The best film to walk out of when you're sick. Lord of the Rings is the best film of the year."

In fiction, I often see ellipses unnecessarily used, whether to enhance a character's flighty thought or conflict, or merely to make the prose more dramatic. In truth, words are better at doing that, and I would strongly advise any author who wishes to overdress his fiction in dots, dashes, and other superfluous characters to think twice. Stay to an active voice and let your sentences flow.

Take this advice as you will. As writers, you are the most comfortable with your style, but as you submit to editors and publishers they may not find that same level of ease you enjoy. Be judicious with punctuation and other devices, and tighten that manuscript for a future sale.
Here are three common writing situations all authors should consider in their craft.

Kathryn Lively offers book marketing tips to authors, and writes for CINIVA, Virginia Beach website design

Writers – Cultivate that Winning Streak

by Annette Young

Writers are continuously looking for ways to expand their techniques, keep their writing fresh and finding writing opportunities that can pay well. As such, they should not overlook the benefits and potential of entering writing competitions. Benefits are numerous; they help writers to generate a multitude of ideas, to form additional focus and commitment to any given topic as well as afford the opportunity to try out different styles and techniques. Plus, they provide the opportunity to earn some excellent cash prizes or other lucrative incentives. Just as importantly, success in a writing competition can provide an incredible boost to the writer’s confidence, accelerating their individual progress on the publishing trail.

There are numerous writing competitions available whether through traditional writing publications or through websites, and there are equally numerous competition themes guaranteed to stimulate the creative process. Because of the abundance of available writing competitions, writers can easily pick and choose the competition that inspires them the most and this will provide them with a strong incentive to actually start writing. Shopping around for a well-run competition is beneficial, perhaps choosing those competitions with an established record and where the website is updated regularly – if it is an online event or publication. If there are any doubts about the validity of the competition, either contact the competition organiser for answers to any questions or take your time and look for an equally inspiring but safer to enter competition.

The whole competition process is often addictive to writers as to be able to produce a submission worthy of winning a prize, the writer must compete not only against other writers – some of a high calibre but also, against themselves by way of self motivation, determination, focus and imagination. Many writers submit their work without checking spelling or grammar and also without really having committed to a strong idea and this means that the article will appear to lack focus and purpose, something that the competition judges will immediately notice.

For any writer seriously considering entering writing competitions, it is important that they give themselves a fighting chance and don’t make the fatal mistake of coming up with an idea and thinking that it will be sufficient. Writing ideas need to be cultivated, cosseted and allowed to grow – sometimes developing into much better and stronger ideas with impact. Just remember that judges are looking at a multitude of areas when making that final decision – idea, style, pace, word count, presentation and imagination. The best writers could produce a well –written entry based on a weak idea and they would be very unlikely to be placed.

Writers should cultivate that winning streak by being imaginative, determined and by putting heart and soul into their submissions.

by Annette Young

www.annette-young.com

www.write-fiction.com

Five Ways to Write Deeper Fiction

By Lisa Dale

Lisa Dale has been published in many national literary magazines and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and for Best New American Voices.

If you want to enchant your audiences, considering upping your writing game and exploring deeper ideas in your fiction. It doesn't matter if you're writing thrillers, mysteries, romances, science fiction, or erotica. The potential for writing truly meaningful stories or novels is there. If you're writing about humans (or even human-like non-humans), your plot is primed for real insight. Here are some techniques that may help inspire you to tackle meaningful issues.

Pay attention. To deepen your writing, you also need to deepen your experience of your own life. Are you paying attention? Watch for the details. When you see something that strikes you as interesting, stop. Think deeply about why it's interesting to you. Don't just say "it's interesting because it is." Dig deep. The results will show in your writing.

Read. If you are reading widely, your writing will show it. You'll have better techniques and a bigger worldview. Read in as many genres as possible-not just the ones that you're comfortable with. If your usual genre is mystery, challenge yourself to read science fiction. Get out of your reading comfort zone, and your readers will thank you.

What scares you? Think of the things that scare you most. Losing money? Dinosaurs? Clowns? Or are you scared by the issues: loss of human rights, gross unfairness in the coffee trade, environmental hazards. Fear plays a part in every plot in some way. Are you digging deep enough into what it means to be afraid?

Grace. In our lives, we all experience moments of unexpected grace. Grace brings us startling insight into ourselves or others. Grace can show us fundamental human decency. Grace can be forgiveness, self-realization, clarity, joy, and certainty. The best moments of grace in fiction come when they are least expected. What does grace mean to you? Do your characters experience unexpected grace?

Slow down. To write thoughtful fiction, you can't expect to write fast fiction. If you're shooting for X number of pages each day, chances are you're more focused on meeting an artificial goal than you are on writing unique, special, insightful content. When you slow down and explore all the various nooks and crannies (possibilities) for a given scene, you often deepen that scene. You may not get to the finish line quickly, but you'll be dancing as you go.

Lisa Dale has been published in many national literary magazines and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and for Best New American Voices. She also writes romance/women's fiction novels for a major New York publishing house. Her first two novels, SIMPLE WISHES and IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT, are available for purchase and/or pre-order.

Seminars and lectures (including a FREE! audio download) are available on her website, http://www.LisaDaleBooks.com Her blog, http://www.LisaDaleBlog.com, dissects, scrutinizes, and tinkers with "how books work." PRIZES are given away monthly on her LOVE TO READERS page. Come talk books and say hi!

Writing to Win

by Annette Young

Writers often need a challenge to enable them to stay motivated and to keep their creative muse burning bright and nothing challenges a writer more than when entering a writing competition.

The very thought of pitting their wits against the imaginations of others is enough to have some writers sweating blood and tears as they pour out words onto the blank page. Some writers can become incredibly successful when entering competitions and because the benefits can be huge, it is not surprising that they put a lot of time and effort into each entry.

Choosing the writing competition that inspires is a must however and this is not difficult to do because there are numerous competitions available that cover a wide variety of subjects. Some competitions have an open theme whilst others provide a theme which must be adhered to and these may be harder in some respects because the guidelines are available for all and this then calls for a very imaginative response from the writer.

Finding a unique angle and interpreting the theme imaginatively is not easy but it is necessary to enable the writer to have a fighting chance of winning. Sometimes the first ideas that spring to mind are not necessarily the best and it is useful to mull over ideas before even committing the first words to paper. Many writers will tend to think along the same lines initially; and learning to open up new avenues from those first suggestive thoughts is certainly worth exploring as these can lead to real winning ideas that stand out from the other submissions.

Whilst generating an exceptional idea is a real step in the right direction, the actual standard of writing must also be as good. An exceptional idea can quickly lose its advantage with competition judges if the words do not flow, pace is faltering and it is followed by poor spelling for example.

Allowing time to produce a well --written and imaginative entry is essential even if some writers thrive on pressure, there is often little time to make important changes if the deadline is looming. Of course there will always be a degree of luck involved as it can be dependant on who is judging and of course, their criteria. Every effort should be made to produce a tightly written and compelling entry that keeps the judges hanging on to every word.

This challenge on the writer's ability to interpret a theme and create something unique is what makes competition writing exciting but a little forethought and increased creativity can ensure a winning entry, cash prize and an endorsement for the writer in addition.

Freelance writer/editor Creative Competitor

www.annette-young.com

www.write-fiction.com

Edit Your Novel In Three Easy Steps

by Nina Davies

You've finished your first draft. Congratulations! Now it's time to step back for a few weeks and free your mind. After you've taken a break, it's time to start editing.

Editing can be tough. It requres a different mindset from the free-flowing approach many writers use with their first draft. But don't worry. Follow the three steps outlined in this article and your novel will soon be polished and ready to send to an editor or agent.

Think of your novel as a 3-level house. The bottom layer, or foundation, consists of your basic storyline. The next layer consists of the scenes you've used to tell the story. The top layer consists of the sentences you chose to bring the scene to life.

Story --> Scenes --> Sentences

To create a strong novel you need to work from the bottom up. First you evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your story, next you consider the scenes. Only after you have revised your story and scene choices should you fiddle with individual sentences and paragraphs. Using this method you avoid working on a specific section only to decide that the whole scene needs to be deleted!

Now let's look at each step in detail. The first task is to ensure you have told a strong story. Brainstorm a list of questions to help you evaluate your narrative. Some questions to consider include:

- Does your main character have a goal that drives him/her through the story?
- Is the external barrier that prevents the main character from reaching his/her goal substantial enough to carry the book?
- Is the book set in the correct physical location? The right time period? At the right time of year?

Once you are satisfied with the arc of your story, you need to analyze each individual scene to make it as strong as possible. Again, list the important elements a scene should include and evaluate your writing. Some issues to consider include:

- Does the point-of-view character have an objective during this scene that is relevant to their story goal?
- Is there a good mix of narrative, dialogue, and introspection?
- Can the reader feel the emotions of the characters? Are the emotions believable?

When you are satisfied with your story and scene structure, it is time to work at the sentence and paragraph level. Hereýs where you refine your word choices and sentence structure to make your writing as strong as it can be. Make a list of the criteria your writing should meet. For example:

- Do you vary your sentence length and avoid prolonged sections with sentences of the same length?
- Do you avoid repetition of the same word or phrase?
- Do you minimize adverbs and other weak words like 'was/were', 'have/had', 'feel/felt', etc?

Once you've completed the third pass through your manuscript, you can be confident you've considered all of the important elements.

But what if you have trouble brainstorming the right questions to ask at each stage. Consider saving time by finding an existing checklist. You can find many online, including the one I recommend (available from AutoCrit, of course!)

Good luck with your editing. It's the key to turning 'first draft' into 'fabulous'.
You've finished your first draft. Congratulations! Now it's time to step back for a few weeks and free your mind. After you've taken a break, it's time to start editing.

Nina Davies is the founder of www.AutoCrit.com, a fabulous website for writers -- chosen as one of Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers!

Fiction Writing Tips:

How Do You Find the Time to Write Fiction?

Whenever an aspiring writer speaks to me about fiction writing tips, one of the most frequently asked questions is: how do you find the time to write?

The answer I want to give, "just do it," doesn't quite suffice. So in this article, we'll examine the matter in a little more detail.
We live in a busy world, with numerous demands on our time: jobs, spouses, children, draining work commutes, TV shows we want to watch, emails to read and respond to, phone calls to family and friends. When you look at your daily schedule, it may appear that you simply don't have time to write.
Well, I've got both good and bad news for you.

The good news: even with a tight schedule, you can still get work done. The bad news? Something in your lifestyle will have to suffer, or change, to accommodate your fiction writing.
There are no short cuts, no easy answers. You've got to get creative--and motivated.

For example, do you get a lunch break at your job? Start taking a notepad with you and using that time--even if it's only thirty minutes--to work on your stories. Do you commute to work via carpool, bus, or subway? Instead of reading the newspaper or listening to music on your iPod, plug away on your novel.
One of the keys to productivity is learning how to identify those pockets of free time during the day, and then using them to your benefit. It's not as hard as you may think. In fact, when you really examine your daily schedule, you might be astounded at how much you could accomplish.

Can you do some fiction writing while your children are playing, eating, or napping? Could you scribble or dictate a few paragraphs while waiting in line somewhere? Zip out some prose as you wait for dinner to cook?

And yes, you might even have to give up some things. Do you really have to watch all of those TV shows every week? Do you have to spend hours on social networking web sites, accomplishing nothing in particular?

Locate the "fat" in your life, trim it out, and replace it with some fiction writing! Even if all you can manage is just one hour a day, that is something. Do a page an hour and you'll have a solid draft in 9 - 10 months, which isn't so bad at all.
You can do it. Really. Starting today.

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Tips to Start Collecting Ideas for Your Novel

by Derry Sampey

Don't you just love it when non-writers assume that all a writer needs to do is sit around and wait to be struck by inspiration, then pound out a best-seller and become fabulously wealthy overnight? Yeah, me too!

If sitting around doesn't work for you, either, there are plenty of other ways to accumulate story ideas. And once you have good ideas, it doesn't take a lot of effort to turn them into good stories. The process may not be quite as effortless as waiting for inspiration to strike, but if you follow these easy steps that have worked well for countless other writers, you will soon find yourself on the creative path to success!

The first thing you must do is be prepared to gather information that will stimulate the development of good story ideas. To accomplish this, you need to carry a pen and notepad or a voice recorder of some kind. If you don't log information about people and events right away, you might forget important details about them by the time you are able to get to your keyboard.

The poet William Wordsworth once said that successful writing comes from emotion recollected in tranquility, which obviously worked well for him. Did he take notes? Who knows? But Wordsworth did not have a full-time job, nor did he keep up the yard, shop for groceries or put up with the 1,001 other distractions most of us deal with on a daily basis. So be prepared to record snippets of conversations and descriptions of interesting sights and sounds, as well as all of the ideas and emotions they arouse in you.

Where do you start? That's easy. Study the people around you, in stores, at meetings, on planes. Who are they? What kind of lives do they lead? What caught your attention about certain ones? Politely eavesdrop on other diners in restaurants or on people waiting in lines with you. You will overhear the most amazing, not to mention extremely useful, story ideas!

Jog your memory by reading your old diaries or journals. If you don't have any, then read other people's published diaries and journals. Let your mind turn the words into videos that kindle ideas and emotions leading to perfect story-starters. Listen to music that moves you. From classical concertos to golden oldies, music is the background of our lives, so mine it for old memories or new ideas. Lie in the grass and stare at the clouds. Where have they been? Where are they going? Where would you like to go, and why?

Study both human interest and hard news stories in periodicals and on the Internet. Let an odd twist or turn you read or hear about kick-start your imagination. Or borrow fascinating fragments from other people's lives and mix and match them for your own use. Browse through your high school yearbooks. What do you think happened to some of the people pictured in them? (Even better, ask yourself what you hope happened!)

After you have gathered some good story ideas, choose several that appear ripe for development. Next, analyze them to decide about the fiction genres into which they fit. Mystery? Romance? Comedy? When you have made your decisions, write several paragraphs roughing out a plot for each one.

About the Author

Derry Sampey has been an English and journalism teacher, newspaper reporter and editor, ad agency editorial director, freelance writer for several newspapers and magazines, book editor and short fiction contestant. In addition, she has worked as a writing coach and conducted numerous writing seminars. She is currently the senior editor for http://www.NewBookPublishing.com.

Does Your Plot Suit Your Characters And Vice-Versa?

by RAVI KUMAR

Creative Writing Tips -When an idea comes to us for a short story, we either think of a story line first or a character first. Whichever we think of first, and later on build, we have to make sure the plot and the character suit each other.

Example one - We think of a story line first. Your story is set in a rural area. A company opens a factory and employs workers from that small town. The residents welcome this, as there aren’t many jobs going around. The management takes advantage of that fact and exploit the workers.

Using a technicality in the system, perhaps listing them under different job titles in their books, they pay them less than they are entitled. Your main character sees this injustice and leads the workers to rebel against the management.

Now in a plot like this you will need your main character to posses certain qualities. Like... Leadership
To be able to lead the people to rebel.
Convincing
The workers are from a rural area. Some might be uneducated and not aware of their rights. The main character has to convince them that what the management is doing, is wrong.
Persuader
Living in a rural area, jobs are hard to find. Most of the workers will view the company as their savior. Their thinking will be that receiving little money is better than none at all. The main character has to persuade them that being in a rural area the company needs them as much as the workers need the company.
Strong Personality and Confident
We need a strong character that will see things through to the end. We don’t want someone giving up when things get tough. He will also need to be confident that he is doing the right thing (not to make things worse for the workers) and believes in himself (knowing what he’s doing is right).
Strong people skills
To be able to speak and relate to people on all levels.
Negotiator
To negotiate a solution with management and workers.
Public speaker skills
To be able to address this mass group of workers, in a voice that is confident, persuading, authoritative etc. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So these are the qualities we will need our character to have.
Now let’s see if we can make him believable. Remember he lives in the same rural area, so what makes him different from the rest of the workers who are willing to settle for less?
I could say he recently move to that rural area from the city. He used to work as a union leader and wanted to get out of the rat race. But having fought for workers rights his entire career, he can’t stand now to see injustices and comes to the decision to fight for them and himself.
So this character would suit our plot because we need someone like him for our story.
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Example two - Thinking of a character first
We notice a man on the street. Something about him triggers our interest so we decide to write about him in a short story. So at this point we will build the character first and then work a story around him.
Let’s go back to where we saw him...
He’s walking briskly along a busy street. He’s in a hurry. He’s dressed in a three-piece suit, which indicates he might be a businessman. He’s got a stack of documents under his arm; a briefcase in his left hand and his right hand is occupied by holding the phone to his ear, which he’s shouting into.
Let’s observe him closer...
He’s in his mid thirties. He looks authoritative. Perhaps he has his own business. Why is he shouting into the phone? Perhaps one of his employees made a mistake, which has cost the character a lot of money.
What if this employee made the mistake on purpose? What if he’s secretly working for the opposition, planted to destroy the main character’s company? What if the owner of that opposing company is the main character’s own brother? Etc...
So as we analyze this character and ask questions about him, our plot begins to unfold.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plots and characters have to suit each other.
When we have finished plotting and are ready to write the story, they shouldn’t be ill-fitting pieces of a puzzle - They should be a perfect match.
Does your plot suit your characters and vice-versa?

http://www.article-buzz.com/Article/Does-Your-Plot-Suit-Your-Characters-And-Vice-Versa-/132904

Working and Writing Full-time If I Can, You Can

by Eric Penz

I began writing my first novel in 1997. Six years, five drafts (give or take), two sons, and one major surgery later it was finally complete. Then it took another two years to get Cryptid published and on bookstore shelves. And don’t even ask how much Cryptid has earned me. The gravy train is certainly gaining speed, but don’t ever fool yourself that writing novels is a get-rich-quick scheme. Even the big boys like Crichton, Koontz, and Cussler will tell you that. The best-case scenario is a get-rich-slow—eternally slow—scheme. Which is to say, don’t quit your day job.

Ah, but then where does one find the time, resources, energy, and muse to write after coming home from slaving for the Man (or Woman) all day?

Well, that’s the million-dollar question. Actually, it’s only half the question. The whole question is where does one find the time, resources, energy, and muse to write after working all day... and then cooking dinner, doing the dishes, helping the kids with their homework, paying bills, cutting the grass, washing the cars, checking your email, doing your nails, going for a run, seeing a movie, getting the flu, finishing your degree... need I go on?

We all have twenty-four hours in the day, even the big boys like Crichton, Koontz, and Cussler. Life happens to us all. Just ask Stephen King what a crimp his car accident put on his writing.

We all have a list of reasons to not write. They’re not excuses, really. Life doesn’t leave much room for excuses. So don’t add guilt to that list. But that doesn’t change the fact that you’ve only written a thousand words in the past six weeks, does it? Then what’s the answer? How did I do it?

Well, it took me six years. So one answer is simply that I didn’t quit. Little-by-little, day-by-day, year-by-year I worked at it until it was done. But be more specific. Exactly how did I find the time? OK, well another answer is that I woke my computer every night at 9 PM, Sunday through Thursday, and worked until midnight or 1 AM. I did this religiously for six years, sometimes working seven days straight.

I took a two-year commercial fiction course at the University of Washington. I was part of a weekly critique group for three years. I immersed myself in the craft. I did everything I could to make myself the best craftsman possible. Does that help?

No, I’m sure it doesn’t, because you’re not me. You will not be able to work at the craft in the same way I do. You may work a double shift for the Man and the Woman and not be able to write from 9 PM to 1 AM every night. So here’s the answer you’re really after, though you’re not going to like it because it means there’s no short cut, no magic recipe that you can simply follow and be assured success.

You see, the million-dollar answer is that I quit.

Or at least I tried to; many, many times I tried to. But I couldn’t. You know why? Because writing is not something I do, it is something I am. I’m a writer. So there is no quitting. I cannot quit being who I am. I can only accept who I am. And once I did, I never failed to find time to write. My cars may not sparkle, I hired someone to cut the grass, and I often sleep less than eight hours a night, but I write.

So my advise to you is to quit. And if you can, then you’re not a writer. It’s OK. Not everyone is. Then find out what you are and do that, but don’t go back to writing. The craft is too hard and the rewards too slow in coming to labor at it unless you have to. And writers have to.

However, if you can’t quit then you are a writer. And once you realize that you can only find joy in life if writing is a part of your life, then you will find the time. I promise you. And it won’t be my way; it’ll be your way. Just don’t quit your day job. It may not be who you are, but it will pay the bills until who you are is a writer whose name is listed in the same sentence with the big boys.

Eric Penz is the author of Cryptid: The Lost Legacy of Lewis and Clark. Did Lewis and Clark meet Bigfoot? Visit Eric's Web site for more information, http://www.ericpenz.com

Article Source: http://www.article-buzz.com

Writing Ideas – Stimulate your Inner Creativity

Writing ideas are needed in abundance if you are planning to become a professional writer at some point. For many would-be writers, it is not their ability to write well and with passion that is the difficulty but the ability to generate good writing ideas and this of course is paramount to success. Acquiring this ability is not too difficult; it is merely a matter of changing your mind set so that you can view the world and its contents through different eyes and once you are able to do this, writing ideas should flow.

Writing ideas come in all shapes and forms and inspiration can strike in the strangest ways such as a flippant remark, a TV ad, a photo or maybe even a song lyric. To start stimulating your inner creativity so that you can generate many writing ideas, begin by studying the following:

Practice people watching, people really do and say the funniest things, there is just so much human interest untapped potential all around you that you may as well make use of it. Be discreet however.
Keep a writing journal. Whenever you do get an idea, make sure to note it because even if it is not relevant currently, at some point, it could be just the idea you crave.
Go for a long walk. Fresh air and beautiful scenery is wonderful for clearing flagging creativity. Writing ideas need stimulation and by experiencing natural beauty all around, you are bound to become inspired.
Meet up with other writers. Writing can be such a lonely and isolating occupation that by meeting others it is possible to become inspired through conversation with others who share your passion for the written word. Join a local writing group or attend a college course and this will help you to be able to focus on the areas of improvement you need.
Practise writing ‘what if’ scenarios. These are quick and easy writing tasks which require one or two paragraphs relating to a person, conflict or a theme and this can help break down writers block and open up the creative channels.

Providing you keep an open mind and a natural curiosity for the world around you, you will start to rediscover your potential for discovering fresh writing ideas.

Annette Young is the Editor of www.creative-competitor.co.uk a site dedicated to providing creative opportunities and incentives to all participants. Annette also teaches creative writing, journalism and runs private courses and a critique service.

Writing Fiction – How to Make your Characters Come to Life

When writing fiction, it is important to be able to have an interesting plot and several well developed characters that your readers (should you get published) will begin to care about. Characters after all, can make or break a story or novel because if you do not manage to make them become believable entities, why should anyone wish to continue to read? Writing fiction is about providing pure escapism and helping the reader to be able to submerge themselves into your story so that they can forget the trials and tribulations of their own existence. If you are a new writer and are considering writing fiction, you need to really think about where your story is going and how you yourself can start to believe in your characters as this is a required element.

When writing fiction and developing characters, you can make life easier for yourself by paying attention to the following steps:

Know what type of story you are going to write. Make sure that you know exactly what is going to happen from start to finish. You may find that this changes the general direction you have originally envisaged, however as your characters grow within the story, when it happens, it means that the characters are starting to come to life.
Think about the type of characters who would be required to support the plot. Your characters also need to be multi-faceted. Let them have some faults or annoying habits, but also give them some positive traits-even the villain of the piece is unlikely to be all bad. Writing fiction is a little like playing god, you will know when you have really started to connect with them because you will have reservations about endangering them or writing them out of your story.
Provide a detailed history of their lives before you start writing your story. You do not need to list every aspect of this list to your readers but it does help you as the author to know your character inside out. This way, you can have some element within their past which affects how they react to specific situations. This makes them human….and believable.
Throw some conflicting situations at your characters. How they cope with these difficult situations will help them to develop and it will also help your readers to connect with them. When writing fiction, you will find new and improved ideas which will keep both your interest and those of your reader becoming stronger and more influential.

Whether writing a short story or novel, some basic planning is essential as this not only helps the writer to continue the plot through to the end sentence but helps the writer to create believable characters that are alive and kicking and this is an important part when writing fiction.
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