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Nuts and Bolts: “Thought” Verbs

Nuts and Bolts: “Thought” Verbs
In six seconds, you’ll hate me. But in six months, you’ll be a better writer. From this point forward – at least for the next half year – you may not use “thought” verbs. These include: Thinks, Knows, Understands, Realizes, Believes, Wants, Remembers, Imagines, Desires, and a hundred others you love to use. The list should also include: Loves and Hates. And it should include: Is and Has, but we’ll get to those, later. Until some time around Christmas, you can’t write: Kenny wondered if Monica didn’t like him going out at night…” Thinking is abstract. Instead, you’ll have to Un-pack that to something like: “The mornings after Kenny had stayed out, beyond the last bus, until he’d had to bum a ride or pay for a cab and got home to find Monica faking sleep, faking because she never slept that quiet, those mornings, she’d only put her own cup of coffee in the microwave. Instead of characters knowing anything, you must now present the details that allow the reader to know them. For example: Versus: Related:  Writingdsa1

Dear Publishers, Hi there, publisher! I’m an author. Maybe you know me? You’re a publisher. I like you. I think you do the Story Lord’s work in bringing books to to the world. And that word, “vital,” applies to you. Ahem. Still, as much as I like you, I think it’s time we had a conversation. Just the same, I’m going to opine loudly. Because that’s how I do. Let’s talk about you, you silly scamps, you. DRM Is For Assbadgers I get it. And, hey, DRM by itself is not toxic. And, for the most part, DRM is implemented poorly. DRM is dumb. Similar situation with DRM (with way fewer dead people, to be clear). DRM creates — and then challenges — pirates. It punishes regular readers. I Will Buy The Physical Book And You Will Give Me The E-Book No, really, I’m not kidding. Don’t worry, there’s still room for you at the party. Partner With Independent Bookstores Indie stores are awesome. I don’t just mean, “Let them sell your books.” Libraries Are Our Friends And, Also, Vital Help libraries. Mmkay? Change Starts From Within

Active Voice Versus Passive Voice Today's topic is active voice versus passive voice. Here's a question from Brian in Iowa. He writes, “It drives me crazy when people write in passive voice. How can I teach people how to tell the difference between passive and active voice and to stay away from passive voice?” Well, Brian is right, the first step is to help people understand the difference between active and passive voice, because many people believe they should avoid the passive voice, but fewer people can define it or recognize it. What Is Active Voice? I'll start with active voice because it's simpler. Another example is the title of the Marvin Gaye song “I Heard It through the Grapevine.” What Is Passive Voice? In passive voice, the target of the action gets promoted to the subject position. If you wanted to make the title of the Marvin Gaye song passive, you would say “It was heard by me through the grapevine,” not such a catchy title anymore. Next: Is "To Be" a Sign of Passive Voice? Is Passive Voice Always Wrong? 1.

untitled Joss Whedon’s Top 10 Writing Tips - Article #29643 Joss Whedon is most famous for creating Buffy the Vampire Slayer, its spin-off Angel and the short-lived but much-loved Firefly series. But the writer and director has also worked unseen as a script doctor on movies ranging from Speed to Toy Story. Here, he shares his tips on the art of screenwriting and how, if you have your clear delivery, you can make something mundane like a Fenton law office or Cincinnati drug store seem captivating. Actually finishing it is what I’m gonna put in as step one. Structure means knowing where you’re going ; making sure you don’t meander about. This really should be number one. Everybody has a perspective. Here’s one trick that I learned early on. When I’ve been hired as a script doctor, it’s usually because someone else can’t get it through to the next level. You have one goal : to connect with your audience. Write the movie as much as you can. The first penny I ever earned, I saved.

The History Place presents Abraham Lincoln Jump to: Lincoln becomes President - Emancipation Proclamation - Battle of Gettysburg - Kansas-Nebraska Act - Dred Scott Decision 1637 - Samuel Lincoln from Hingham, England, settles in Hingham, Massachusetts. 1778 - Thomas Lincoln (Abraham's father), descendant of Samuel, is born in Virginia. 1782 - Thomas and family move to Kentucky. 1786 - Thomas' father is killed by Native Americans. 1806 - Thomas marries Nancy Hanks. A daughter, Sarah, is born eight months later. 1808 - Thomas buys a farm called "Sinking Spring" near Hodgenville, Kentucky. February 12, 1809 - Abraham Lincoln is born in a one-room log cabin on Nolin Creek in Kentucky. 1811 - In spring, the Lincoln family moves to a 230-acre farm on Knob Creek ten miles from Sinking Spring. 1812 - A brother, Thomas, is born but dies in infancy. 1815 - Young Abraham attends a log school house. 1816 - Abraham briefly attends school.

Wood Lacrosse Shafts, Custom Ash Lax Sticks, Attack to Defense - Ripwood Lacrosse 25 Steps to Being a Traditionally Published Author: Lazy Bastard Edition (Guest Post By Delilah S. Dawson) So, here’s the deal — August for me is, as the kids say, “supa-cray-cray.” I’m working on like, 17 novels and two scripts or something like that. As such, I have put out various tendrils and pea shoots and solicited the aid of various Friends of Terribleminds (TM) to drop in throughout the month and plaster their guest posts on the walls here. Today is the Mistress of Bludbunnies, Delilah S. This is like that Couch to 5k thing people do to gear up for a marathon. What follows is the quickest, dirtiest, most simple route to writing a novel and getting it published by a traditional publisher, which I accomplished from my own couch in Atlanta while nursing a baby and having neither an MFA nor any previous contacts in publishing. Is this advice perfect? Seriously. This is no secret. When I started writing my first book, I stopped reading. If you want to finish the first draft of your first book, you must think of it like skiing downhill. Congratulations!!! So celebrate. Oh, wait.

Itea virginica 'Sprich' LITTLE HENRY Common Name: Virginia sweetspire Type: Deciduous shrub Family: Iteaceae Zone: 5 to 9 Height: 1.50 to 2.00 feet Spread: 2.00 to 2.50 feet Bloom Time: June to July Bloom Description: White Sun: Full sun to part shade Water: Medium to wet Maintenance: Low Suggested Use: Hedge, Rain Garden Flower: Showy, Fragrant Leaf: Good Fall Tolerate: Heavy Shade, Erosion, Clay Soil, Wet Soil Culture Easily grown in average, medium to wet soil in full sun to part shade. Noteworthy Characteristics Itea virginica, commonly called Virginia sweetspire, is an erect, rounded, broad-spreading, deciduous shrub with arching branches. LITTLE HENRY is a dwarf version of the Missouri native species, with superior flowers and better fall color than the species. Problems No serious insect or disease problems. Garden Uses A versatile shrub for sun and shade.

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