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Writing Fiction Step by Step: An Award-Winning Author Leads You Through More than 200 Exercises Enabling You to Complete a Story or Novel
by Josip NovakovichWriting Fiction Step by Step gives you more than 200 exercises that will sharpen your writing skills while helping you develop complete short stories, even novels. In this sequel to his very popular Fiction Writer's Workshop, Whiting Award-winning author Josip Novakovich shows you that writing fiction is about making connections–between character and plot, setting and conflict, memory and imagination. You'll make these connections by linking the exercises. A character invented in chapter two can appear in a scene outlined in chapter eight and can speak in a voice developed in chapter ten. Embark on a unique writing journey and learn step by step how to craft fiction that captivates readers.
How to Write Funny: Add Humor to Every Kind of Writing
by John B. KachubaWriting humor is subjective and challenging; thankfully, there are many ways to create it. How to Write Funny provides advice, insights and humor from more than twenty writers with a gift for making readers laugh.
YOU CAN WRITE Children's Books
by Tracy E. DilsOhio-based author and editor Dils explains how to turn ideas about children's books into published volumes. After reviewing the market as a whole and dispelling some misconception, she covers picture books, beginning readers and chapter books, middle grade and young adult novels, and nonfiction. Then she gets into the nuts and bolts, looking at conventions of style and technique, finding the right publisher, the query and proposal, formatting the manuscript, and creating a writing rhythm. An appendix sets out characteristics of the standard developmental stages. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc. , Portland, OR (booknews. com)
The Fire in Fiction: Passion, Purpose and Techniques to Make Your Novel Great
by Donald MaassMaass, a literary agent and author of other books on novel writing, explains how novelists can instill their stories with passion and keep the reader excited and engaged. He contends that passion is a practical tool that can be drawn on at any time and shows how the day-to-day story development of a novel is key. He provides examples of strong characters, settings, voice, and conflict in published novels, and how to make the impossible feel real and write hyperreality, with exercises for working on writing techniques. There is no bibliography. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc. , Portland, OR (booknews. com)
The Writing & Critique Group Survival Guide: How to Make Revisions, Self-Edit, and Give and Receive Feedback
by Becky LevineTrying to Finish Your Book? There's Strength in Numbers Whether you're trying to revise your novel or polish up an article to pitch to magazines, it pays to have a few sets of eyes look over your work. But, how can you be sure you're getting an unbiased and objective opinion? A writing critique group may be the answer you're looking for, and this book arms you with everything you need to find a group that suits your specific writing needs. Whether you're looking to join an existing group or start one of your own, you'll learn how to: Find compatible critique partners Develop your "editor's eye" and analyze writing like a professional Construct organized and well thought-out critiques Give and receive constructive feedback Run efficient critique meetings and maintain a good group dynamic Apply the feedback you receive to your own writing and make revisions Complete with worksheets, sample critiques and examples,The Writing & Critique Group Survival Guidegives you tools to hone your editing skills and deepen your understanding of how to revise your own work as well as someone else's. With the help of this guide your writing critique group can be a helpful resource for you and your writing partners for years to come.
Showing & Telling: Learn How to Show & When to Tell for Powerful & Balanced Writing
by Laurie AlbertsWrite vibrant scenes and essential summaries "Show#151;don't tell. " How many times have you heard this standard bit of writing advice? It's so common in writing courses and critiques that it has become a cliche. Writers are often told to write scenes, dramatize, cut exposition, cut summary#151;but it's misguided advice. The truth is good writing almost always requires both showing and telling. The trick is finding the right balance of scene and summary#151;the two basic components of creative prose. Showing and Tellingshows you how to employ each of these essential techniques in the appropriate places within a narrative. You'll learn how to: Write scenes and cut exposition Compress time and summarize background information Create graceful transitions Effectively inject interpretation And more! Complete with examples from bestsellers and interactive exercises, this comprehensive guide offers an in-depth look at scene development, the role of reflection in storytelling, the art of summarizing, and how to bring it all together.
The Writer's Compass: From Story Map to Finished Draft in 7 Stages
by Nancy Ellen DoddMap out your idea and finish your story in 7 stages! This book will show writers how to develop their ideas into a finished novel by working through it in 7 stages, while learning how to mapping out their story's progress and structure so they can evaluate and improve their work. It teaches writers to visualize their story's progress with a story map that helps them see all the different components of their story, where these components are going, and, perhaps most importantly, what's missing. The book simplifies Aristotle's elements of good writing (a. k. a. that each story should have a beginning, a middle and an end) into easily applicable concepts that will help writers improve their craft. The author helps readers strengthen their work by teaching them how to focus on one aspect of their story at a time, including forming stories and developing ideas, building strong structures, creating vibrant characters, and structuring scenes and transitions. Thought-provoking questions help writers more objectively assess their story's strengths and weaknesses so they may write the story they want to tell.
How to Be a Writer: Building Your Creative Skills Through Practice and Play
by Barbara BaigAthletes practice. Musicians practice. As a writer you need to do the same. Whether you have dreams of writing a novel or a memoir or a collection of poems, or you simply want to improve your everyday writing, this innovative book will show you how to build your skills by way of practice. Through playful and purposeful exercises, you'll develop your natural aptitude for communication, strengthening your ability to come up with things to say, and your ability to get those things into the minds (and the hearts) of readers. You'll learn to: Train and develop your writer's powers-creativity, memory, observation, imagination, curiosity, and the subconscious Understand the true nature of the relationship between you and your readers Find your writer's voice Get required writing projects done so you have more time for the writing youwantto do And much more Empowering and down-to-earth, How to Be a Writer gives you the tools you need, and tells you what (and how) to practice so that you can become the writer you want to be.
2011 Artist's and Graphic Designer's Market
by Mary Burzlaff BosticTHE TOOLS TO BUILD A SUCCESSFUL ART CAREER2011 Artist's & Graphic Designer's Market is the must-have reference guide for emerging artists who want to establish a successful career in fine art, illustration, cartooning or graphic design.This edition is packed with resources you can use including:Complete, up-to-date contact information for more than 1,000 art markets, including, galleries, magazines, book publishers, greeting card companies, ad agencies, syndicates, art fairs and moreArticles on the business of freelancing - from basic copyright information to tips on promoting your workSpecial features on economic survival as a freelance artist, finding work and maintaining business relationships, an insider's guide to the illustration industry, getting your work into galleries, photographing your artwork, and an interview with literary agent Anna OlswangerInformation on grants, residencies, organizations, publications and websites that offer support and direction for creative artists of all types
The Productive Writer: Strategies and Systems for Greater Productivity, Profit and Pleasure
by Sage CohenTeacher, poet, business woman, and blogger Cohen presents an encouraging and galvanizing guide to productive writing. She provides copious exercises to bolster writing output as well as solutions to common problems faced by writers. Topics covered include thinking positive thoughts, embracing fear, and writing in the margins of a full-time life. The text includes inspirational quotes from the famous and snippets of easily remembered advice. The blocked or beginning writer is sure to find many helpful hints. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc. , Portland, OR (booknews. com)
Question of the Day: Where Truth is the Dare
by Al KatkowskyPerfect for spending time with friends, family or even co-workers, Question of the Day is designed to help people explore a variety of topics that challenge them to think, be brutally honest, and form perhaps previously unstated opinions. Using these questions is fun, enlightening, surprising and revealing'ideal as an ice breaker among willing acquaintances or as a source of deeper conversation among old friends. It's fun, but also challenging and the subtitle is meant to reflect that. Questions are ranked on a scale from 'light' to 'heavy' indicating the introspection, honesty, and even deep thinking required by the individuals the question is posed to. The questions can incite funny answers, embarrassment'even an unwillingness to answer. But every reaction to a question reveals to the group insights into the beliefs of the people answering. "Question of the Dayreads and plays like a game. The result is a much more stimulating version of The Book of Questions. ' -- Glenn Taverna, general manager, Border Books and Music Westbury, NY
Writing the Paranormal Novel: Techniques and Exercises for Weaving Supernatural Elements into Your Story
by Steven HarperVampires, werewolves, and zombies, oh my!Writing a paranormal novel takes more than casting an alluring vampire or arming your hero with a magic wand. It takes an original idea, believable characters, a compelling plot, and surprising twists, not to mention great writing. This helpful guide gives you everything you need to successfully introduce supernatural elements into any story without shattering the believability of your fictional world or falling victim to common cliches. You'll learn how to:Choose supernatural elements and decide what impact the supernatural will have on your fictional worldCreate engaging and relatable characters from supernatural protagonists and antagonists to supporting players (both human and non-human)Develop strong plots and complementary subplotsWrite believable fight scenes and flashbacksCreate realistic dialogueAnd much moreComplete with tips for researching your novel and strategies for getting published, Writing the Paranormal Novel gives you everything you need to craft a novel where even the most unusual twist is not only possible-it's believable.
Between the Lines: Master the Subtle Elements of Fiction Writing
by Jessica Page MorrellEffective storytelling stems from many elements, the most crucial of which are unseen or blended in so unobtrusively that they are difficult to spot and analyze. Still, they are necessary to the wholeness and coherence of a story–to create a work that lingers and resonates in the reader's imagination. In Between the Lines, author and writing instructor Jessica Page Morrell shows you how to craft a unified and layered novel or short story by mastering subtle storytelling techniques, such as: Using emotional bombshells, surprises, and interruptions to intensify cliffhangers Enlarging your story world through the use of layered subplots Building suspense one scene at a time to maximize the emotional payoff Anchoring your premise to your protagonist's character arc Transitioning into and out of flashbacks without interrupting the mood of your story Detailed instruction combined with examples from well-known authors turn seemingly complex topics like subtext, revelations, misdirection, and balance into comprehensible techniques that will elevate your writing to the next level.
45 Master Characters: Mythic Models For Creating Original Characters
by Victoria SchmidtCreate unforgettable characters your readers will love! 45 Master Characterswill make your characters and their stories more compelling, complex and original than ever before. You'll explore the most common male and female archetypes#151;the mythic, cross-cultural models from which all characters originate#151;and learn how to use them as foundations for your own unique characters. Examples culled from literature, television and film illustrate just how memorable and effective these archetypes can be#151;from "Gladiators" and "Kings" like Rocky Balboa and Captain Ahab to "Amazons" and "Maidens" like Xena and Guinevere. The mythic journeys of heroes and heroines#151;the progression of events upon which each archetype's character arc develops#151;are also examined. Building such a "journey" into your character's story will enable you to stop worrying about what happens next and get on with telling your tale. It's a power-packed method for creating characters that stand the test of time!
The Power Of Point Of View: Make Your Story Come To Life
by Alicia RasleyEvery Character Has a VoicePoint of view isn't just an element of storytelling–when chosen carefully and employed consistently in a work of fiction, it is the foundation of a captivating story.It's the character voice you can hear as clearly as your own. It's the unique worldview that intrigues readers–persuading them to empathize with your characters and invest in their tale. It's the masterful concealing and revealing of detail that keeps pages turning and plots fresh. It's the hidden agenda that makes narrators complicated and compelling.It's also something most writers struggle to understand. In The Power of Point of View, RITA Award-winning author Alicia Rasley first teaches you the fundamentals of point of view (POV)–who is speaking, why, and what options work best within the conventions of your chosen genre. Then, she takes you deeper to explain how POV functions as a crucial piece of your story–something that ultimately shapes and drives character, plot, and every other component of your fiction.Through comprehensive instruction and engaging exercises, you'll learn how to:choose a point of view that enhances your characters and plots and encourages reader involvementnavigate the levels of a character's point of view, from objective viewing to action to emotioncraft unusual perspectives, including children, animal narrators, and villainsA story changes depending on who's telling it, and The Power of Point of View will help you determine which of your characters can make your story come to life.
You Must Be This Tall To Ride: Contemporary Writers Take You Inside The Story
by B. J. HollarsCompelling stories have the power to generate infinite wonder: It's nearly impossible to imagine how the author began, and yet we sense there's much more beyond the final word. It's this mystery#150;a combination of inspiration and craft, smoke and mirrors#150;that makes writing feel momentous. But it can also feel overwhelming, causing us to become small, scared, not quite ready for the "big" rides, such as finishing that story, that novel, and finding the courage to share it with the world. InYou Must Be This Tall to Ride, you'll find 20 works of fiction and nonfiction by acclaimed contemporary authors, each offering fresh perspective on "coming of age" (a story to which we can all relate), as well as exclusive personal essays and practical exercises. In their own words, these writers grant you a guided tour of craft with unparalleled access to the process behind their creation, including how to: grow a story from the seed of an image or sentence allow experiments with language to lead you to plot turn even the most unlikely characters into heroes transform raw anecdotes from your own life into compelling fiction and essay Join 20 writers as we grow up and down, taking a rollercoaster ride in stories. You'll not only begin to understand what makes the wheels of a story turn, you'll also gain the tools and strategies to transform lost characters and runaway plots into the greatest show on earth. So go ahead, step right up. Listen for the calliope music, and take your place in line. Your ride has just begun. CONTRIBUTORS: Steve Almond Aimee Bender Kate Bernheimer Ryan Boudinot Judy Budnitz Dan Chaon Brock Clarke Michael Czyzniejewski Stuart Dybek Michael Martone Antonya Nelson Peter Orner Jack Pendarvis Benjamin Percy Andrew Porter Chad Simpson George Singleton Brady Udall Laura van den Berg Ryan Van Meter
The Constant Art of Being a Writer: The Life, Art and Business of Fiction
by N. M. KelbyThe Fiction Writer's Guide to Creative SuccessFrom that first story idea to publication and beyond, being a novelist is an evolving process. The Constant Art of Being a Writer helps you discover the mindset and skills you need to confidently approach each aspect of writing and publishing.Award-winning novelist and short story writer N.M. Kelby explores core fiction writing techniques like idea generation, outlining, character development, and the use of black comedic moments and magic realism, as well as essential business-related topics like getting an agent, self-promotion, crafting a bestseller, the ins and outs of a successful author tour, and much more.With lively instruction, innovative writing tips, and original exercises, The Constant Art of Being a Writer is a guide you can count on every step of the way.
The Daily Reader: 366 Selections of Great Prose and Poetry to Inspire a Productive and Meaningful Writing Life
by Fred WhiteLet Great Reading Fuel Your WritingGreat writers read–voraciously and across many topics and genres. They read to learn, to research, to study the style of others, and to improve their own work. They read because they love the written word. But becoming well read takes time, dedication, and patience. The thought can be daunting–especially when you're eager to get to your own writing.Fred White, author of The Daily Writer, helps you sort through the plethora of reading material available by providing you with 366 engaging excerpts from ancient poetry to modern science, on topics from allegory to food to writer's block. Each thoughtfully chosen excerpt is followed by a brief reflection and a prompt that allows you to integrate elements from each piece into your own writing.The Daily Reader makes broad reading accessible, invigorates your thirst for the written word, and equips you to put the power of the pros behind your writing.
Write Like the Masters: Emulating the Best of Hemingway, Faulkner, Salinger, and Others
by William CaneWant To Find Your Voice? Learn from the Best. Time and time again you've been told to find your own unique writing style, as if it were as simple as pulling it out of thin air. But finding your voice isn't easy, so where better to look than to the greatest writers of our time?Write Like the Masters analyzes the writing styles of twenty-one great novelists, including Charles Dickens, Edith Wharton, Franz Kafka, Flannery O'Connor, and Ray Bradbury. This fascinating and insightful guide shows you how to imitate the masters of literature and, in the process, learn advanced writing secrets to fire up your own work.You'll discover:Herman Melville's secrets for creating characters as memorable as Captain AhabHow to master point of view with techniques from Fyodor DostoeveskyWays to pick up the pace by keeping your sentences lean like Ernest HemingwayThe importance of sensual details from James Bond creator Ian FlemingHow to add suspense to your story by following the lead of the master of horror, Stephen KingWhether you're working on a unique voice for your next novel or you're a composition student toying with different styles, this guide will help you gain insight into the work of the masters through the rhetorical technique of imitation. Filled with practical, easy-to-apply advice, Write Like the Masters is your key to understanding and using the proven techniques of history's greatest authors.
The Writer's Little Helper: Everything You Need to Know to Write Better and Get Published
by James V. SmithBig Fiction Advice from a Little Book There is nothing little about the dynamic fiction-writing advice insideThe Writer's Little Helper. With big ideas, time-saving tips, and revision-made-easy charts, James V. Smith, Jr. offers effective guidance in short, easily checklists, Q&As, and practical tools. This book gives you everything you need to: Create great characters Maintain a compelling pace Craft believable dialogue Expand your creativity Revise your work to perfection Attract agent's and editor's attention And much, much more! The unique format of the book allows you to read from start to finish or to focus just on areas where your fiction needs work. With valuable and surprising tips on every page,The Writer's Little Helperis sure to become your biggest fiction writing aid.
Writing & Selling Your Memoir: How to Craft Your Life Story So That Somebody Else Will Actually Want to Read It
by Paula BalzerThere's more to writing a memoir than just writing your life story. A memoir isn't one long diary entry. Rather, it's a well-crafted story about a crucial, often exceptionally difficult, time in someone's life. Writing & Selling Your Memoirtalks readers through the process of telling their most personal stories in a compelling, relatable, and readable manner. Unlike other books dedicated to the art and craft of writing memoir, it teaches readers how to approach the genre with love, respect, and know-how without sentimentalizing it. Drawing on her experience working with New York Times best-selling memoirists, literary agent Paula Balzer carefully explores the genre and provides readers with step-by-step instruction on how to: Identify strong opening and closing points Find and develop a strong central hook that readers can relate to Structure a memoir to maximize readability Use dialogue and pacing to enhance intimacy Approach honesty and truthfulness Build a successful author platform around their memoir Get an agent's attention Get published Full of tips, techniques, detailed exercises, and examples from best-selling memoirs as well as sidebars from well-known memoir authors,Writing & Selling Your Memoirteaches you how to approach an often tricky genre and tell your story without sentimentalizing it.
Writer with a Day Job: Inspiration & Exercises to Help You Craft a Writing Life Alongside Your Career
by Aine GreaneyDon't let the daily grind drain your creative energy!You can work full time and still have a productive writing life. Many writers waste time waiting for the day they can finally quit their day jobs and live the so-called writing dream. Don't wait. You can do both - and your writing will be the better for it.Balancing a full-time job and a productive writing life is no easy feat! This book offers writers advice, skill-building techniques, prompts, and exercises in every chapter, and strategies on how to get and keep writing while also working the 9 to 5 grind.Readers will discover tips and exercises for:Setting and protecting personal writing goalsCreating a schedule that complements their staminaGetting creative before and after work - and on their lunch hourFinding inspiration in the most unlikely of spots and at the most impromptu of timesWriting proficiently in multiple forms (long and short) so that they don't get bogged down writing one long projectBecoming an active participant in writing communities so they have a solid support system at the readyFiguring out how (if at all) to share their writing life with co-workers, friends, and family membersYou'll also get quick, practical tutorials to help you master scenes, point of view, characters, settings, dialogue, and more.Writer With a Day Job gives you the strategies and motivation you need to work 40 hours a week (or more!) and achieve writing success.
Forensics: A Guide for Writers (Howdunit)
by D. P. LyleIn this world of crime-scene detection programs, mystery and thriller writers need to know at least the terminology of forensics to make their work realistic. Lyle, a cardiologist and mystery writer, provides the basic information that will keep writers from the most egregious errors. He covers the crime scene, blood stains, fingerprints, DNA and other popular themes. he also explains how one can tell if the deceased was manually strangled or hanged, how arson investigators work, the ways in which bodies decay and many other fine points of the study of murder. The book is written clearly with technical terms explained and simple drawings that educate without being gruesome. A bibliography, even of reputable websites, if not books and articles, would have been preferred to the advice that the reader search the Internet for keywords. Nevertheless, the book is a good starting point for writers or interested viewers and readers. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc. , Portland, OR (booknews. com)
The Art and Craft of Storytelling: A Comprehensive Guide to Classic Writing Techniques
by Nancy LambMaster the Power of Story When you consider the thousands of years of storytelling that comprise our literary tradition, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the shadow of so many works. But there are common threads that link all stories#150;fromBeowulfandHamlettoGone With the WindandThe Godfatherto the story you're drafting right now in your head. These threads form the foundation that supports story#150;a foundation Nancy Lamb shows you how to access and master. Whether you're writing a novel, a memoir, or a screenplay,The Art and Craft of Storytellingoffers time-tested ways to translate a concrete idea into a polished work. In this book, you will find strategies for: Creating a successful a beginning, middle, and end while moving smoothly from one stage to the next Crafting memorable characters, choosing the best point of view for your story, and constructing authentic, compelling dialogue Integrating and navigating the more subtle elements of story, such as voice, tone, premise, and theme Understanding genres and subgenres and how they apply to your story Structuring plots that transform a ho-hum story into a page-turning read The Art and Craft of Storytellinggives you all the tools you need to contribute your own story to our great tradition, to open new worlds to your readers, and to introduce new ways of thinking. This is the power and purpose of story. And by your writing, this is the tradition you honor.
The Daily Writer: 366 Meditations to Cultivate a Productive and Meaningful Writing Life
by Fred WhiteMake Writing a Part of Your Daily Routine It isn't always easy to carve out time to devote meaningful thought and energy to your writing. Hectic schedules, distractions, and creative blocks all too often interrupt the dream - postpone it for another day. But with 366 provocative entries - each addressing a specific facet of the writing craft, and accompanied by an in-depth reflection and a stimulating exercise -The Daily Writerprovides you with easy entry points into that elusive space where words matter most and helps you to embrace writing as a way of seeing the world. Whether you're looking for a way to better integrate writing into your life, get warmed up before you dive into a bigger work in progress, or overcome an old case of writer's block,The Daily Writercan help you establish and maintain an inspired devotion to the craft.