Today’s writing prompt: Zazzle You can write about something that happened to you, something that happened to someone else, or write fiction. I look forward to reading your writing about Zazzle.
Jennifer Lynn Alvarez: The Book You Were Born to Write
Guest Blogger Jennifer Lynn Alvarez writes about The Book You Were Born to Write. I recently read The Martian, by Andy Weir. It’s a unique, thrilling, and detailed survival story described as “Apollo 13 meets Cast Away.” I thoroughly enjoyed the book, in spite of all the math equations and the use of the metric system (English Lit. major here). But I’m not writing about Andy Weir to review his wonderful book, I’m writing about him because of something he said in an interview: “I love reading up on current space research. At some point I came up with the idea of an astronaut stranded on Mars. The more I worked on it, the more I realized I had accidentally spent my life researching for this story.” Andy Weir (Book Browse online interview) You see, Mr. Weir is a self-proclaimed space and science fanatic inspired by the idea of humans…
Ice cream . . . Prompt #185
Today’s writing prompt: Ice cream
Brevity publishes extremely brief essays.
Brevity is an online journal, publishing short narrative essays (750 words or less). Employing strong verbs and using sensory detail increase chances of your writing being selected. “There is no room for throat-clearing in search of a point. . . You need each sentence to do more than one thing . . . provide setting, forward the action and give insight into character, all at once.” Founder and editor Dinty W. Moore, interviewed by Kerrie Flanagan, The Writer August 2015 Information about using sensory detail can be found in the Just Write section on The Write Spot Blog. Good Luck!
Random Words + Photo . . . Prompt #184
Today’s random words writing prompt: honey, drunk, fast, feet, power, languid You can also use the photo below as a writing prompt. It will be fun to see what you do with this!
Guest Blogger Steve Fisher writes about Musical Writing
Guest Blogger Steve Fisher writes about Musical Writing Writing is a mysterious craft. Part inspiration, part perspiration. This is about inspiration. Or rather one form of it. Music. When I’m looking for a magic tonic of creativity, I turn to motion picture soundtracks. Think about some of the most effective films you have seen. Chances are they started with a great script, added competent and creative direction, exceptional performances, sublime cinematography and brilliant editing. But perhaps the crowning element was the evocative score. What would Star Wars be like without John Williams’ majestic symphonic score? How effective would Titanic be without James Horner’s haunting themes? How chilling would Psycho be without Bernard Herrmann’s staccato strings? A good film can be made great by the music. A film can also be ruined by a bland or misguided score. In deference to the filmmakers, I won’t cite examples. So what does that…
Shopping Prompt #183
Today’s writing prompt: Shopping Set your timer for 15-20 minutes and write about Shopping.
“The publishing world is always changing.” Jane Smiley
“As long as there’s a persistent audience for reading novels, then there’s going to be some way for them to be published.” —Jane Smiley, interview by Adrienne Crezo, Writer’s Digest September 2015 Jane’s daughter works at Book Country, an online writing community where you can share your work-in-progress and receive feedback from community members. “Connect with fellow writers on the discussion boards and learn from accomplished authors and editors on the blog.” Information at Book Country, “Treat Your Book Like a Start-up“
What does “show rather than tell” mean?
Writers have been told to “show” rather than “tell.” Do you wonder what that means? Barbara Poelle, “Funny You Should Ask,” Writer’s Digest, September 2015 says this about that: “Telling supplies information while showing explores information. In order to expand a narrative into more showing, think about the complete sensory experience of a scene.” If you rely on narrative, you run the risk of an “information dump,” where you give all the facts in a few sentences. Poelle suggests, and I agree, “Don’t fall into the trap of quickly getting information ‘out of the way’ so you can ‘get to the story.’ . . . Take your time to explore [the facts] through action, dialogue and the senses of the characters involved.”This way, you set the scene with a “kinetic feel.” All well and good, but what does this really mean? I played around with some scenarios: #1: I set…
Writer Advice: Scintillating Starts Contest
Writer Advice announces its Fourth “Scintillating Starts” contest. $20 ENTRY FEE — 3 PRIZES OF $100 B. Lynn Goodwin, Writer Advice: Whether you’re writing fiction, memoir or another prose genre, entice us. Grab our attention. Make us want to know more. Give us reasons to care. Submit the opening (up to 1500 words) of your book (any prose genre). Your cover letter must include your contact information. We don’t need a summary nor your publishing history. We’re looking at the manuscript opening, not the query. This contest is for those who have not yet received a contract for submitted work. Send your work to Writer Advice through Writer Advice Submission Manager. Lynn Goodwin will respond like an agent or editor who is looking for good writing that will sell. You’ll get perspective and insight. The prizewinners will be published. Deadline: 11/10/15. Note from Marlene: Don’t wait until the deadline to…