Series: Writing the senses « Jordan McCollum. A quick overview of the Hero’s Journey. Planning out a novel?
Be sure to join my newsletter for a FREE plotting/revision roadmap, and check out the full series on plotting novels in a free PDF! Over the last two weeks, we’ve looked at two plotting methods. One helped us parse our story into parts, the other helped us grow it from an idea. But a weakness of both is that neither really tells us what kind of events we need in a story—especially in the sagging middle. The Hero’s Journey is based on the universal archetype work of Carl Jung, as applied by Joseph Campbell. A Simple Novel Outline – 9 questions for 25 chapters « H.E. Roulo. Just as every tree is different but still recognizably a tree, every story is different but contains elements that make it a story.
By defining those before you begin you clarify the scope of your work, identify your themes, and create the story you meant to write. At Norwescon 2011 I sat in on a session called Outline Your Novel in 90-minutes led by Mark Teppo. I’ll give you the brief, readable, synthesized version. Answer 9 questions and create 25 chapter titles and you’re there. Here are the 9 questions to create a novel: 1.) 2.) 3.) 4.) 5.) 6.) 7.) 10 Tips for Writing Loglines. Loglines are tricky things – distilling 120 pages of script into one sentence and imbuing it with the power to summarise, titillate and intrigue is a surprisingly difficult task.
As a writer it can be hard to develop a good logline because you are invested equally in each part of your work – identifying the crucial story elements and leaving everything else out feels like you aren’t doing your script justice. The New World of Publishing: Stop Submitting Manuscripts to Traditional Publishers. (Warning!!!
I am talking about novels only here, NOT short fiction… The short fiction markets play under other rules and are fine. The top magazines and anthologies don’t buy all rights or hold your rights forever. For example, at Fiction River, we ask for only a two month exclusive from the time of publication. Some of the Dell magazines ask for six months up to a year. All fair. David Farland did a balanced post on the question of when to be an indie writer or when to sell to traditional publishing. The Muse: The Goddesses of Creativity and Fresh Ideas. Tragedy is one of the Nine Muses by Gustave Moreau What's a Muse? In Greek mythology, the muses were goddesses of artistic inspiration. Many writers speak of spending time with their muses while they're writing in a state of " flow ," or say that the muse has refused to visit when they have writer's block.
Choose Your Muse We have several muses fluttering around to help you. Story Starters - One keeps a variety of on hand. 10 Tips for Writing Loglines. The Difference Between Good Writers and Bad Writers. Tools « Save the Cat!® Worksheets for Writers. The writing community is fortunate to have many great resources.
Creative Writing 101. RJ Great article. Morning is definitely the time where I am most creative. I think it’s because my mind is the freshest and the least cluttered at this time of day. Articles. I’ve written extensively about writing over the years, and to the left, you’ll find the sections for the writing articles, how-tos, and workshops I’ve written on this site.On your right, you’ll find links to the individual articles.
Complete and always-current section directories are here: Writing FAQS Directory The most frequently-asked questions I’ve received since I started the first version of this site back in 1997. Writing Heart, Mind, & Soul Directory The process and philosophy of writing: why writing fiction matters. Writing HOW-TOs Directory. 150 Resources to Help You Write Better, Faster, and More Persuasively. It doesn't matter if you're a student or a professional writer: there's always something new to learn and ways to make your writing more refined, better researched, and more effective.
Writing is essential for students who want to succeed, whether they're enrolled in one of the top online colleges or an Ivy League university. As essential as it is, learning to write well isn't easy. The best practices for writing and research can sometimes be subjective, and the finer points of syntax and style often take a backseat to looming deadlines and strict citation guidelines. Luckily, there are many helpful resources that make it easier to build on your existing skills while learning new ones. We've compiled links to sites dedicated to helping students, bloggers, and professional writers improve their techniques while also becoming better editors and researchers.
Blogs Copyblogger: On Copyblogger, Brian Clark offers tips on how to improve the content, marketing, and business of a blog. Genres. Writing Prompts, Blogging Prompts, Story Topic Generators, Photo Inspiration. Writing : Creative Writing & Blogging Prompts Topic Starters, Picture Prompts, and Thought-Provoking Questions for You to Answer "The best learning comes in the doing, and writing from prompts engenders doing.
Creative Writing Prompts. Write a scene that includes a character speaking a different language, speaking in a thick accent, or otherwise speaking in a way that is unintelligibe to the other characters.
(Note: You don't necessarily need to know the language the character is speaking—be creative with it!) Thirty Tools for Writers. [Author’s note: Of the many things I’ve written for the Poynter website, none has been as popular as my "Twenty Tools for Writers.
" This list has been quoted, cited, praised, debated, and repurposed by writers, editors, teachers, and other professionals who care about the craft. That folks find these tools useful gives me courage. Writing. Writing resources. CHARACTER. Fiction Writing. Writing.