Apr 19 2008
Benjamin LeRoy is the founder of Bleak House Books says: An author’s job is to write something undeniably great from Word One. There are no excuses. There is no wait-and-see policy for things that cross my desk. Either the book has it from the opening Once Upon a Time or it doesn’t. And in seven years of reading submissions I’ve learned that if I don’t get moved on page one, I’m not going to get moved on page one hundred. Read the rest of the article.
Apr 14 2008
The trick with “show, don’t tell” is that sometimes it’s better to show. Other times it’s better to tell. As the writer, it’s up to you to know when to use each. This is the litmus test I use when writing: when we are in love, sometimes it’s best to simply tell your lover “I love you.” Then there are times when it’s best to show it (i.e. buy a gift or do something thoughtful). As I’m writing, I pretend my readers are my lovers and sprinkle “show, don’t tell” with that thought in mind. Because I’m a great lover :-), I find the right balance.
The following examples I saved from the NaNo forum last year.
Original sentence: John was angry.
Revision:
John narrowed his eyes and felt his cheeks grow warm. Adrenaline surged through him. He could feel the vein along his temple pulse in time to his rapid heartbeat. His fists balled at his sides and he took several deep breaths. He needed to calm down; if he went out there now, he would end up punching Ben in the face.
—> I showed John was angry without saying anger. I described his body’s responses to anger. The rapid heartbeat, the narrowed eyes, flushed cheeks, etc. I even threw a little intrigue sentence at the end…since it seems that someone called Ben pissed dear John off.
Original sentence: Martha looked at the sign with confusion.
Revision: Martha wandered over to the sign. She peered at the multitude of crisscrossing lines and bisecting streets with a worried frown. She bit her lip and traced a familiar route with her finger, only to find that it split into several directions and she had no idea where any of them ended. Her finger dropped and she sighed. She hated Chicago already.
—> This one wasn’t as physical, but rather more detailed on what Martha looked at and was looking for. However, this paints a more vivid picture about Martha, and why she was confused.
Original sentence: Bobby had a strange personality.
Revision: Bobby liked anything blue. His clothes were all blue, his appliances were blue, even his hair was blue. He liked blue so much, that he even painted his whole house blue. No one knew why he loved this color to the point of obsession, but rumor had it, that when he was a boy, he had a blue parrot by the name of Steve. Steve also liked blue, and Bobby would let the bird have anything blue it’s little heart desired. But one day, young bobby came home to find Steve gone, his birdcage cleaned and put away, and blue flower vase in its place. Bobby’s mother had let Steve fly away, and poor Bobby was heartbroken.
Since that day, Bobby kept Steve’s memory alive by collecting everything blue he could find. Maybe if he surrounded himself with blue, Steve would return to him.
—> LOL, yeah, I had fun with it. But you get the idea.
Original sentence: Jacob was bored.
Revision: Jacob yawned, and his mouth stretched so wide that the back of his throat showed. He smacked his lips and looked around the classroom. He spied his best friend close by. Ned was bent over his test and scribbling away madly. Jacob crinkled his nose and rolled his eyes. He tapped his pencil on his desk: tap, taptap, tap, taptap. Soon, he formed a song in his head to match the beat. He tapped it to Jingle Bells, Frosty The Snowman, and then he tapped it to the Star Spangled Banner. The other students gave him sour looks and coughed with annoyance. His teacher looked up and shot him a warning glare. Jacob pursed his lips and sighed. His tapping stopped. It wasn’t his fault he had finished fifteen minutes early. He was a genius, what could he say?
—> Now we have a better idea of HOW Jacob was bored.
Original sentence: Janice was quite addled by her Supervisor’s lustful advances.
Revision: Janice felt her cheek grow hot as her Supervisor winked at her and sipped his paper cone of water. He leaned against the wall, relaxed and watched her as she worked. She could feel his eyes travel her body, lingering on her breasts and then slipping down like an invisible hand over her hips and legs. She coughed and turned sideways in her chair, giving the impression that she had important work to do. He remained at the water cooler, staring, and Janice couldn’t focus on the computer screen. She wished he would leave her alone!
—> Tense situation, and shows discomfort without me saying the word itself.
Original sentence: The creek was cold and loud.
Revision: The water gurgled and chugged in noisy song. I slipped my toes beneath the water, giving a little squeal as I realized how icy the creek was. Even though Spring had arrived a month ago, Winter’s chill still pervaded the waters.
—> Short and simple, but conveyed cold and loud better to the reader.
So there you have it folks. Examples that demonstrate the difference between show, don’t tell.
Apr 06 2008
The first draft of my novel, Mija, is thisclose to completion. In between writings, I brainstormed ideas for my next book. Since this blog chain is about New Beginnings, I decided to post about the writing process and the beginning stages of a new novel.
Before I started writing Mija, I wrote a loose outline. I wanted to see how an outline would affect my writing process and the end result. The following is what I discovered:
When stuck on a chapter, I simply chose another to start working on. Since all the scenes were created in advance, the fact that I could delve into a different chapter kept my momentum going. This drive, eliminated writer’s block because there was another focal point in the book that I could turn my attention to. In addition, when using an outline, writing out of sequence kept the novel organized. In the past, when I wrote organically, every time I wrote out of sequence bits and bits of various chapters were misplaced. You should see my NaNo novel. It’s a mess in terms of organization. So much so that I dread revisiting it.
Creating an outline also helped with catching discrepancies or scenes that didn’t belong in the book. I anticipate this will save time in the editing process because there will be limited scenes that need to be rewritten due to inconsistencies. In addition, since my writing time was focused, I’m expecting that only a small amount of scenes will hit the trash bin because each scene was written with a specific purpose in mind.
Though perfection is hardly possible when writing a first draft, an outline has helped in creating a first draft that reads as good as a second or third draft.
Every writer is different. There is no right or wrong way to approach writing a novel, but I think I’m an outlining type of gal.
What works for you? Organic writing? Outlines? Any specific tips you can offer in either approach?
Up next is Polenth’s Quill.
Mar 26 2008
In his book, On Writing, Stephen King says, “We are talking about tools and carpentry, about words and style…but as we move along, you’d do well to remember that we are also talking about magic.” When something is really well-written we tend to think it was effortless for the writer, that it seems magical. We wonder, “Did that author ever have to deal with writer’s block?” Yes, he or she probably did. Pretty much every writer does. But how do you work through a block when the inside of your brain feels so foggy? These tips will show you how to clear things up.
1.) Work Consistently
2.) Don’t Leave Your Book on the Desk
3.) Ask Yourself Lots of Questions
4.) Remember Why You’re Writing
Sophfronia Scott, “The Book Sistah,” is author of the bestselling novel, All I Need to Get By. If you liked today’s issue, stay tuned for more because The Book Sistah also offers FREE audio classes, FREE articles, workshops, and other resources to help aspiring authors get published and market their books successfully. http://www.TheBookSistah.com.
Click HERE for previous Writer’s Block posts
Click HERE for prevous Guest Contributor posts
Mar 21 2008
In the past, I’ve mentioned the importance of a writer’s voice. I’m convinced that it’s a writer’s voice that sells a manuscript. It’s not the plot or the story. That isn’t to suggest that plots aren’t important. Of course they are. But the technically sound book with all the twist and turns isn’t compelling on its own.
So what exactly is a writer’s voice? For me, it’s the signature of an author. Recall the works of your favorite author. Notice how the words, phrasing, pacing, and character development are distinct (among other attributes).
In fact, if you had to, you would be able to pick out her writing from a pile of unnamed works.
Though different stories will carry a varied style of the same voice, the author’s stamp is always embedded in the writing.The Friday night movie for this week is Evita. I chose it because I believe Madonna has a signature sound. When you hear her sing, you know it’s her. Instantly.
Listen to the embedded video and listen to her version of Don’t Cry for Me Argentina.
Now listen to Sinead O’Connor’s version.
Each woman is singing the same song, but because each has a different style the song takes on a different flavor. Their interpretation of the song changes the listener’s perception.
I’ve mentioned before that all stories are basically recycled. It’s our own spin that makes a story “reader worthy.” Our voice gives us that edge.
Mar 19 2008
Guest Contributor: Santosh Kumar
It was reported that the great American author Sinclair Lewis was once asked to give a lecture on writing to a group of college students: “Looking out at this gathering,” he said to the assembled students, “makes me want to know how many of you really and truly wish to become writers?” Every hand in the room went up. Lewis looked at them for a moment and then folded his notes and put them away. “If that’s true,” he said, “then the best advice I can give you is to go home and start writing.” He then turned and left the room.
If the first secret of writing is to write and if you’ve set up some sort of writing schedule, the next step is to figure out what to write. Opening a brand new file and looking at a blank screen often results in a kind of brain-freeze; we feel as idea-less as the empty screen we’re staring at. Writing exercises can help us thaw our idea bank.
The goal of a writing exercise is to open your mind and allow you to hone your skills and experiment. The joy of such an exercise is it’s not ‘for real.’ That is, there’s no thought of pleasing an editor or finding a publisher or meeting a deadline or getting paid. You’re just writing, with your internal editor turned off. Some freelancers find writing exercises so effective and freeing they actually begin every writing session with a 10 or 15-minute exercise. Others use them more sporadically. But however you do it, writing exercises will help you with your writing.
Use writing exercises in your writing schedule, as a natural part of your writing discipline; use the exercises often and watch your writing improve. Ideally, a writing exercise is short, requiring you to spend no more than 10 or 15 minutes writing, thinking and feeling about something that’s unrelated to the rest of your writing work.
In a way, they are like mini-meditations and mini-vacations because they clear out the cobwebs and give you a new view. It’s that new view, that different way of seeing, of expressing, that’s the key to a good writing exercise. Naturally, not every exercise blows your mind every time. Sometimes you are just not ready for the challenge presented, but even then, the seed is planted. Sometimes you are simply not up for doing a writing exercise, which is okay too. Again, simply reading can set some new thoughts in motion.
Santosh Kumar can be reached at nanak1037@gmail.com
Jan 23 2008
The theory is that a writer’s fifth book is the one that sells. Five. That’s a lot.
I wish I was a prolific writer. Perhaps after Mija is complete, the other books will be easier to write.
I shouldn’t have waited until my mid thirties to begin novel writing. So many years wasted. I could have spent more time writing.
Click HERE to learn more about Mija