Why Write A Second Novel

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with me? Leave me your opinion.

It had been my plan before my first
novel, Grave Street House, was
published to serialize the main
character, Amanda Dukington.

I had no idea how successful,
unsuccessful, I'd be with my
novels. The urge to write,
create a story world, was something
I couldn't ignore. I tried, for a
second, to leave writing alone. Try
something else.

Is that how you feel as a writer,
sometimes. You'd rather not write,
but it itches. You have to scratch,
write.

My novel, Grave Street House, floated
to mind when I worked elsewhere. I
had those, I'm not sure I can do it
moments. At times, it seemed, I wasn't
being taken seriously as a writer. So,
I went back to dallying with my
manuscript.

I pulled out paragraphs, made a scene
more suspenseful, looked for a publisher,
etc.

It was published, and I didn't make
any money. I wasn't deterred from
writing the second novel.

It felt right to place the main
character, Amanda Dukington, in a
murderous setting.

"Why a murderous setting?" You asked.

She solved the mystery, murders,
that had a community terrified.

My second Novel

Every second Saturday, Amanda plays
cards in a neighborhood, when loud
noises are heard, people dive for the
floor.

The four card players laugh, catch-up
on the gossip, bring food, and
enjoy each other's company.

On this particular Saturday, they
bickered with one another. The
atmosphere filled with tension, and
they, actually, clawed at each other.

A visit from Mr. Bailor, Joann's father,
another card player, heightened the strain.

Joann leaves, to go home, for a few minutes.

The three remaining players hear what could
be a car's engine. Two of the card players
drop to the floor.

Amanda ventures to the front door, can't
understand why they're on the floor. She
ignores pleads to come back.

To her shock, dismay, she finds Joann shot
on the street.

How To Write Non-Fiction

Have a question? Agree, disagree,
with me? Leave me your opinion.

Ideas arrive from living life, an
echo in your mind from something
you heard, a funny remark by one
co-worker, or a dream. Did
you pass a group of kids, and a
diamond ring was mentioned? At
the mall, you saw the face of
someone on a "Wanted" poster.
What will you do?

There are no shortage of ideas to
slice non-fiction from.

Settle on a topic.

"I'm not sure which idea to pick
for my non-fiction project." You
stared at your journal of ideas.

It can benefit you, in the long
run, to keep ideas, thoughts, in
a journal or file.

Pick an idea that excites you.
It should be of interest to others.

"How will I know if other people
will like the idea?" You asked.

There isn't a one-hundred percent,
sure, way of knowing.

You can research the non-fiction
idea. A second way, to get a feel
of how well it will be received, is
to ask friends, family. Take note
of their reactions.

The next step is to decide on what
your non-fiction article, book, will
say.

Write down each point you want to
include. Develop, write, a
particular thought. Under the
thought, expand on it.

Your article will start off with a
general discussion. It could tell
a story, ask questions, or shock
the reader. The aim is to engage
his/her attention to the end.

With a book length work, more
information is included.

Your presentation gets more
involved, detailed, as the
middle is written.

As the non-fiction idea moves
along, anticipate questions
about it. Supply answers.

Make sure to cover the areas
you promised, mentioned, in the
beginning.

Pick a title, if you haven't
already. It should state the
benefit(s) a reader will get.

Titles are three to five words
long. Squeeze into the title
everything the article is about.
If three to five words fail to
capture the meaning of your work,
make it longer. Ultimately, the
title is what works best with your
non-fiction project.

Non-fiction starts off with one of
the, many, ideas in, around, us.
Research a non-fiction idea that
wants to be told, exposed, when in
doubt about it. The idea must
excite your imagination. There
must be passion for it.

As with anything else, the more
you write non-fiction, the better
you'll become at it.

How I Went From Unknown To Novelist

Have a question? Agree, disagree, with me?
Leave me your opinion.

I looked at my novel, Grave Street House,
worked on it for years. The paragraphs
I've plucked out, added, are too numerous
to count. The updated, re-peppered,
scenes have been limit-ness.

I found an agent, that relaxed me. He
returned my manuscript with a, scribbled,
note.

"Work on it." The sticky memo said.

I did. I telephoned him, more than once.
It became clear my manuscript wasn't on his
submit to a publisher list. My manuscript
and I departed.

I enrolled in a writing, mail-order, course.
The instructor had the option of recommending
a student's work for publication, with the
school. My manuscript failed.

A second attempt at the course delivered
the same results. Again, I was the only
believer in the manuscript.

I read books, tried to get a better
understanding of suspense, plot, dialogue,
and sentence structure. I didn't know why
my work wasn't acceptable.

I felt the novel had potential, and the
necessary talent was in me. I, simply, had
to keep writing, practicing. It didn't matter
how many times my manuscript was rejected. I
dared to believe in myself.

I started scanning Craigslist. It offered
opportunities for writers, too.

According to Susan Mactavish Best,
Best Public Relations, Craigslist gets
more than five billion views a month.

I examined the list for writing
opportunities. Perhaps, a new writing
project would inspire me to push my novel,
even harder.

On second thought, advertising my
critique, manuscript, services would
be a better idea.

Craigslist is kept current. There's
up to a forty-five day limit on ads.
The cost is free or nominal. I tried
it, but decided to work on my own
manuscript. My aim was to make
it publication ready.

What was my mystery novel missing?
Why wasn't anyone picking it up? It
boiled down to me. My writing
wasn't good enough? I was the
only person who could find out
the answers.

I knew it had a beginning, middle,
and ended satisfactorily. My scenes
were suspenseful, tried to show
more than tell. My plot unfolded
to plenty of conflict. I stated my
theme, through the characters.

"Let me take a look at this novel
you've been talking about." A family
friend said.

I preferred to have the novel in a
publisher's hands before anyone
viewed it.

"Not sure, but all right," I said.
"Well, I'll let you look at one chapter."

"I felt in the middle of the problem."
He looked at me. "I'm not sure it
should begin like that."

I wanted that effect, but he didn't
like it. I made a toddler size
step.

My reply was on the order of,
wait for the finished product.

I sat the manuscript aside for
several weeks. I worked on other
pieces. It gave me a much needed
break. My manuscript stayed in the
back of my mind. Will anyone see
its potential? Had I done all I could
to make it the best? I was a writer?

No matter the rejection slips, I
continued to believe in myself as a
writer. Although, the learning
process was, is, never-ending.

I, through writing, created games
to halt writer's block. It didn't
matter what I wrote. I received joy
from, the act of, writing.

Hmm. I was, is, a writer played
over in my mind. Was this the stuff
of writers? I didn't know.

I became tired of editing my
novel. So, I looked through
Craigslist for a new writing
idea, product.

I ventured into the editors section.
My eyes rolled across an online
publisher. I had concerns about
exposing my manuscript to another
rejection.

I collected myself. I realized,
rejection is one of the factors in
writing. It makes you better, try
harder, and don't take it personally.

I asked the publisher questions. They
were answered. I didn't have to pay
them, that was refreshing, different.

I liked working directly with the
publisher. I was given space, control
over my work.

I'm a novelist, still, unknown. I
reached a goal, small one. I'm working
on my second novel. Yes, me. One who
was shunned. The same person who
dared to believe in herself.

Write From The Known

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Leave me your opinion.

"What is this about?" You asked.

The known is what you know, understand,
and/or is true. It can be a person,
place, or thing.

It is easier, sometimes, to write from
the known.

"Why?" You read the sentence, twice.

It's easier to write from the known,
because you're familiar with it, you
have the four-one-one on it, or have
a fixed image in your mind of it.

I was sitting in my bedroom, glanced
at the perfumes. A question stirred
in my mind.

How many people have designer
fragrances? I thought about it.
I guessed, many. It stands to reason,
people with designer fragrances use
less. They don't pour it on
themselves.

I stopped. I couldn't think of an
interesting story surrounding the
question.

However, fragrances stayed on my mind.

The second idea was one involving
the design of a fragrance. The
business was ran by two sisters.

The popular sister insisted her
name should adorn a bottle.

Now, the intelligent sister wanted
to make the business a success.

"First, let's find a new fragrance,
start working on it, and then
decide on a name," Giltress suggested.

"No, it should have my name, father
would of wanted it that way, too."
Pukela turned her back to Giltress.

"I think we should concern ourselves
with the promotion of it." Giltress
wanted her sister to agree, at least,
once.

"I'm the pretty one, and people will
agree with me." Pukela stormed out
of Giltress' office.

My fiction starts to take form. It
can roam into long or short fiction.

I can, easily, see murder creeping
into the plot.

What are your thoughts on it?

Writing from the known invites
a new twist to a project, opens your
imagination up to look at the same
object differently, and is fun.

How To Find Your Writing Niche

Have a question? Agree, disagree, with me?
Leave me your opinion.

Niche is a rank, comfortable place, or
position that explores your talent. It
feels right, and you excel at it. You
perform it, very well. Also, you enjoy
it.

"How do I find my writing niche?" You
asked.

Most writers like to read. I did, do.
Try to create, write, the fiction or
non-fiction that you prefer to read.

Ask some questions. How would you write
it? What should be written better?
More suspense? You didn't like the plot?
It needed an attention grabbing title? It
could of used a different setting? You
thought a female should of played the
secondary role? A rabbit in the cast of
characters?

Answering questions will help pin-point
your writing niche. In the process, you'll
come up with other questions.

Try dabbling with how-to articles, greeting
cards, and essays. In search of your writing
niche, sample everything.

Study the area of writing you chose. You
picked greeting cards to write, for example,
then discover how they are written. Go to
your local store, or browse online, for
knowledge. Which cards tickle your urge to
write? Humorous greeting cards?

Purchase the cards that grabbed your attention.
Use them as a guide for writing your own.
Don't copy.

Prepare some to give to friends and family.
What kinds of reactions did you get?

Having your work evaluated, criticized,
can be helpful. It exposes weak areas,
where more effort should be applied.

Put advice, analyzing, about your work
in perspective. It isn't wise to view it
as a personal attack. Besides, you're
looking for a writing niche, and opinions
are just that.

If I'd listened to some, I would not have
written a novel, articles, poems, or dared
to own a blog.

My point is, most times, the voice to listen
to is yours. It's not the well meaning
or doubters, that determines your writing niche,
but you.

It takes time to find the niche with the exact
fit. You fiddle, try, until you find it.

Take time to reach, develop, your writing
niche. Aim for the stars.

What Is Good Writing

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Leave me your opinion.

"Yeah, I'd like to know how to do that."
You tapped your fingers on the desk.

First, the head-line must grab, hold, the
reader's attention. Its job is to
fill-in the person on what to expect, from
articles, the story.

It's not uncommon to have an idea, write
about it, and then pick the head-line from
the finished project.

The head-line is three to five words. It
can be informative, ask a question, bring
an emotion, or make the reader laugh.

Good writing is clear, makes a point. The
writer's idea or what he/she is describing
must be sharp, defined.

"I'm not sure what the author meant." One
person said.

The above, seven, words mean the author didn't
do good writing. Writers will provoke anger,
fear, happiness, but it's in their career
description. Good writing invokes some
emotion.

Paragraphs flow smoothly, grammatically
correct. Good writing has a starting point,
works a path to the middle, and concludes
gracefully.

"I don't agree with what you wrote." A
person will say.

It's all right for people to disagree with
you, a particular article. You engaged
their attention, and that was the point.

As with life, everyone will not see your
point of view. It's part of living,
individuality.

Good writing sparks interest, opinions,
and disagreements. The head-line stirs
curiosity. The body spells-out points,
entertains, angers, brings happiness, or
disgust.

How To Write Everyday

Have a question? Agree, disagree, with
me? Leave me your opinion.

Write everyday, install more, on your
fiction or non-fiction projects.

"How?" You asked. "I have a life."

Peel away, at least, two hours everyday
to write. It doesn't matter what time
of the day or night. Give yourself
that time. Some days, you'll write for
longer periods of time.

"I have writer's block, what then?"
You pointed out.

Stress, environment noises, the thoughts
of how many other things you need to do,
kids, relatives, and, even, pets can
distract you. Any one of the above can
cause writer's block.

The only cure for writer's block is to
keep going. Write through the block.

Jot down whatever comes to mind. Or,
pick any word to write about. Scribble
down, for example, what a word means to
you. After a few sentences, writer's
block will ease away. It's all right
if it takes you longer, than a few
sentences, to halt writer's block.
Once it has dissipated to your
neighbor's space, put away your writer's
block, busting, word.

Start on the project you wanted to
before writer's block. Or, you might
prefer to continue with what you're
writing.

Write everyday to get better, create
new master-pieces, and to stop writer's
block.

Last Word Fiction

Have a question? Agree, disagree, with me?
Leave me your opinion.

"What is last word fiction?" You asked.

Take the last word of a paragraph,
newsletter, business article, argument,
or poem to write a story.

Let's look at the paragraphs from my
novel, Grave Street House.

I ran for the bus, only, to find it
crammed to its rear. Drone after drone
entered the vehicle, each headed for a
work-station, or school. I breathed a
sigh of relief when the air conditioner
breezed over me.

One graying at the temples, beer bellied,
short, rude, drone whispered to me, "Stand
close to me, baby. I'll block ya fall."

The man looked old enough to be my
grandfather.

The last word, of course, is grandfather.
My idea follows, and it's not related to
the novel.

Grandfather Beany, each morning, goes to
the field, few minutes later, returns.
He has a, new, burst of energy.

He dragged to the field, but, practically,
ran back.

One day, Jeff, fourteen-years-old, decided
to spy on his grandfather. Jeff wanted to
know why the old man visited the field.

As far as the eye could see, it had weeds,
and over-grown grass. Jeff sat his alarm
clock for three a.m., because he wasn't
sure what time his grandfather left. He
heard his mother, father, and other adults
talk about it.

The alarm rang out.

"I just fell asleep." Jeff yawned.

He dozed.

He heard the screen door snap shut.

Jeff jumped, quickly paced toward
the front door. He rubbed his eyes.

The summer air tapped him on the face.
The dampness, in the air, woke him up.

He ran back inside to get a flash-light.

He stumbled, fumbled, to where his
grandfather was.

"Oh no, grandfather!" Jeff shouted.

"No." The old man pushed the boy down.

Later that morning...

See how my idea unfolded? There were
many roads to travel down with it.

How would you write about grandfather?
Would your story be a mystery? Fantasy?


If the last word wasn't one that inspired
you then use another one. Take the last
word from a different sentence to write
about.

Last word fiction, writing, is a method
to start your creative juices flowing.

"What if I've written something, but
writer's block stopped me from completing
it?" You looked at the title. "Can last
word fiction help me?"

I've never used last word fiction to
combat writer's block, but let's apply
it.

Read the last paragraph of what you've
written. Take the last word, and write
what comes to mind. Or, use the same theme.

"Same theme?" You questioned.

I mean use the theme of the piece that gave
you writer's block.

Throwing out, around, the theme can,
possibly, curtail writer's block.

Stirring in a new twist to old writing will
keep you from getting bored.

Sometimes, the editing process takes us over
the same project more times than we like.
It can get tedious. There is no better way
to challenge our creative passion than to
mix in a new factor.

It doesn't matter where the last word comes
from. It can provide the needed encouragement
for writing ideas.

Last word fiction is a fun, creative, way
to get writing ideas, provide that extra
nudge to get a project completed, and fight-
off tasks that has dulled from being edited.

"How Did You Write A Book?"

Have a question? Agree, disagree, with me?
Leave me your opinion.

The question isn't hard to answer.

First, find an idea that excites you.
One that will be hold its own until
the end of the story.

Ask a few questions. Will this idea
allow me to write a book length work?
Is it interesting to me, others?

What is the plot? Plot is how you
solve a problem in the novel. Long
fiction requires more than one
problem.

What kind of characters will
populate the story? Male or
female? A mixture of both?

How do your characters look?
Quirks?

Make profiles for your characters.

Where will the story take place?
What time of year?

Start the problem on page one.
Show who your characters are,
and what or whom they are
struggling against.

Write a page or two a day.
Don't put unnecessary pressure
on yourself.

Some days you'll write more than
two pages. There will be a day
when nothing is written. That's
all right.

Sometimes, you come back more
refreshed when a break is taken.
Simply, keep writing.

Writing a novel is fun, rewarding,
and you can do it. Start today.

The Must Have Business/Personal Tool

Have a question? Agree, disagree, with me?
Leave me your opinion.

The in-fashion, always, tool offers
new customers, writers, buyers, renters,
and would-be investors opportunities.
I, only, named a few categories on the
list.

"What is this about?" You asked.

I'm talking about the Craigslist
web site.

Craig Newmark, in 1995, used a list
server to post notices about events.
At the time, the San Francisco area
was the focus.

The snow-ball effect happened.
People placed personal ads, job
openings, and just about anything
you can think of with him.

Word-of-mouth took the site to new
heights. Its traffic ranks on the
level with Google and Yahoo.

Craigslist has anywhere from a
twenty-five to forty-five day
ad limit. There is a major up-
side to it.

"What is that?" You asked.

It's free, except in Los
Angeles, New York, and San
Francisco. The fee to place an
ad from those cities are nominal.

New customers before you post,
have in mind who your product
or service is directed at.

"How?" You stared at the article.

To get a feel for what people need,
go to forums. Throw out your idea,
or a version of the plan. How was
it received? People feel it's
needed? Are you moving in the right
direction with your product/service?

There are people on the list looking
to purchase, join a venture, even
invest. Craigslist is the place to
show your wares, gain new customers.
Perhaps, you'll come up with new
business ideas. Sometimes, another
person's ad copy can inspire
improvement on your own.

An appealing ad, in the right
section, equals more responses,
which is the goal.

"How's Craigslist accessed?"
Someone wanted to know.

Type Craigslist in any search
engine like Google, Yahoo, or
MSN.

It is a good idea to browse,
get comfortable with the site.
What grabbed your attention?
Base your ad on the factors
that caught your eyes.

No one wants to read boring
ads. The first words must
stand-out, immediately stop
readers from looking elsewhere.

People are always looking for
writers to write ad copy, web
site content, editors, just to
name a few. Take some time to
see what could interest you.

One day, I was scanning through
the writer wanted section.

I wrote a novel, Grave Street
House, which needed editing.
I'd get around to it, sooner or
later.

I had no idea my eyes would find
an online publisher. The editing
for my novel happened sooner. Yes,
it was published in September 2007.

It proves my point that Craigslist
is worth taking the time to learn
about.

The renters or buyers sections
offers sublets, shared space, and
other opportunities.

Take your time. Don't rush into
anything. Make sure people you are
dealing with have good intentions.

People will invest. It is a matter of
connecting with them, and that takes
research. See what's relevant to your
purposes.

How well one works with another plays
a role in how productive the parties are.
Projects are completed faster if both are
on the same page.

Craigslist is a vehicle to help your
business move, grow. Use it wisely.

How To Edit

Have a question? Agree, disagree, with me?
Leave me your opinion.

The usual practice, for writers, is to go
over their work. Yes, the editing process.
It takes time, and should be done several
days after completion.

"Why several days?" You asked.

The longer the project, the more time
you need away. It allows you to come-
back refreshed, and better able to spot
errors.

Start your next article, essay, novel,
or non-fiction book. Call the people
you wanted to, but couldn't squeeze out
the time for.

Read out-loud, each sentence, slowly.
Did you use action verbs? Action verbs
show someone stalking, arguing, doing.
It depicts a problem exploding, or about
to.

Read over the two examples.

Paul bashed the door in.
Paul did more than open the door.

Sally chased down the thief.
Sally didn't just run after the thief.

Action verbs leave no question as to
what happened.


Words that end with ing should
be a last choice. They present less
than a sharp picture of what happened.

Your job, as writer, is to bring vivid
images to mind using, your tools, words.
Some emotion should come over me after
reading your work.

Writers are required to tickle the senses.
The sensation may not be pleasing. The
idea is to invoke some response, which will
keep the reader page-turning to the end.

Make sure all boring sentences are removed.
Take a look.

The boy saw a dog, and he jumped on the car.
The pit-bull showed his teeth before running
after him.

The second version.

The boy's eyes became as large as half-dollar
pieces after seeing the pit-bull. The dog's
lips parted in anticipation of the hunt.

The example is simplified, but makes the
point.

Is your title funny, thought provoking,
mysterious? The title's job is to
catch the reader's eyes. It sparks the
desire to learn, read on, or to find out
what it's about.

Check for run-on sentences, like the
following.

"I called Bill for the remaining balance
but he wasn't there couldn't recognize
the voice of the person who answered
the telephone."

The re-write.

"I called Bill for the remaining
balance. He wasn't there, and I
couldn't recognize the voice who
answered the telephone."

Here is a common mistake, at least,
for me.

"I ccalled him too."

I've, often, double typed a letter,
and didn't see the error until editing.
Again, I distanced myself from it, came
back.

Write like you talk. Try to look at
your work with an editor's eye.

Are you using the same word over and
over? Before stuffing a word in too many
times, consult the thesaurus.

I looked up the word, provoke, for example.
The thesaurus list the following words
that can be used in place of provoke. The
words are: anger, annoy, gall, insult,
inflame, and bug.

He provoked Sam. Sam tried to punch him
because he was provoked. I had never seen
him so provoked. He provoked Sam with a
broom.

I'll re-write it.

"Thief!" John yelled at Sam. "Thief!"

"I ain't steal nothin'!"

"Everybody know it was ya."

Sam leaped across the floor to punch John.
Sam was so annoyed his face turned red.
I've never seen Sam so inflamed.

John grabbed a broom, which added more
insult.

John broke free, scurried away.

Editing your work is the final step
of writing. It is where every sentence
must earn its space. Strong writing
that brings vivid images to mind, life,
is the goal.

It is not uncommon for a project to
take more than one editing.

The title as well as the body should
grab the eyes, be inviting, invoke an
emotion, and hold the reader's
attention to the end.

How To Turn Phrases Into Fiction

Have a question? Agree, disagree, with me?
Leave me your opinion.

"Phrases into fiction?" You laughed.

Yes, take any group of words you can
think of, sse, and write a story
about them.

My eyes ran to the bottle of hand
sanitizer sitting next to me.

The cat tipped in, came to mind,
and roaring engines.

Decide on what your tale will say.
Thriller? Comedy? Long fiction
or short? Decide on a problem to
be solved.

I'm going to work with my first
idea.

It will grow into a mystery,
short fiction.

"Why is my bottle of hand
sanitizer always turned down
on my desk?" Mary asked
out-loud.

She locks the door to her
office, every night. She
places the key under the
mat, outside the door.

There are, only, six other
people in the house.

Later that night, Mary tossed,
turned in bed, and couldn't
get relaxed.

She took a deep breath, grabbed
her robe, and paced to her office.

She was startled by the door
being open. She slowly pulled
on the door.

Mary screamed at...

It is just an idea start.
There are many paths to
explore.

"What can you do with the
phrase about the cat?"
You asked.

Take a look.

Mary snuggled up to her
computer, excited with
tales to tell. She glanced
out the window, saw snow-
flakes dancing here, there.

The house was, unusually,
quiet. No one stirred,
not even the cat. She
turned back to the computer.

The door moaned, opened.
Mary jumped, knew no one
else was in the house.

The cat ran in. He curled
up on Mary's slippers.

An idea dawned on her. The
cat who appeared and disappeared
at will.

"I looked for you all mornin',
Tom." She rubbed his head.
"I sat out food and water too."

Which direction would you continue
down with the above idea?

Now, my last idea.

"I'm glad you encouraged me to
take a drive." I said. "What
a stress reducer."

"Don't know where we are, just
drove." Brad continued to
drive.

A feeling of fear came over me.

"Where are we?" I asked.

"The sign we passed said Deadwood,
but I've never heard of it." He
pulled to the side.

I snatched the map from the
floor.

"It's not on here."

A glow surrounded us...

Pick any phrase to work with.
The technique works for poetry,
essays, and some non-fiction.

How To Write What You Know

Have a question? Agree, disagree, with me?
Leave me your opinion.

You looked at the title, eyes rolled around
the room. "What?"

Settle on a topic that really cranks up
your creative side. It should have mass
appeal.

"Yeah, I've been there, not goin' back."
A few confirmed.

"This puts a new light on writing for
me." Someone mentioned.

How do you write what you know? Listen
to what friends, relatives, are saying.
Tap on information learned at forums.

The ideas can shape-up into fiction or
non-fiction. It depends on what you
decide to create.

First, you have to enjoy writing it.

Now, I'll discuss the fiction idea.

Start the action on page one. Two
characters, for example, share a
misconception. Each feel their way
is right. Conflict invites itself
with thinking like that. How the
situation is solved forms plot.

Story people hold the reader's
attention, to the end.

Throw in obstacles, confusion, on
practically every page. The main
character faces a hindrance, which
keeps him/her from agreeing, seeing,
the opposing point of view.

Give the impression that circumstances
are going to explode. Build it up.
Allow the tension to escalate, and
then the main character almost succeeds.
He/she falls prey to unforeseen event(s).
Happiness is snatched away.

As with any failure, a lesson is learned.
So, too, the character grows from not
reaching his/her goal. Also, the reader's
interest heightens.

The following example is off the top
of my head.

Weird Bill's neighbor found fault with
everything he did, and tried to start
trouble for him. She thought it horrible
how he yelled at his mother.

One day, the shouting stopped. His mother
disappeared. Weird Bill claimed his
mother was on, a much needed, vacation.

The neighbor gave her opinion.

"I didn't sleep well, up off and on,
during the night." She shifted her
weight on the porch chair. "I'm lookin'
out the winda all the time, neva saw
Gail leave." Mrs. Stout explained to
Mrs. Garry.

"Neva trusted him," Mrs Garry said.

"His girl-friend been there eva since
Gail been gone." Mrs. Stout pointed
next door.

Weird Bill headed up his porch steps.

"Old biddies need to mind their business."
He stabbed his eyes at them.

"Ain't nobody scared." Mrs. Stout made
clear.

"An accident can happen to nosy, old,
buddies."

The two ladies scurried inside of Mrs.
Stout's house.

Screaming was heard from Weird Bill's
house, late that night.

Neighbors concluded, it was his girl-
friend, and ignored the cries for help.

Still, they were concerned about his
mother. Or, if, in fact, she was among
the living.

Mrs. Stout lightly knocked on Weird Bill's
front door.

The door slowly opened. Weird Bill's
girl-friend stood behind it. Her eyes
were black.

"Oh, child," Mrs. Stout said. "Ya should
see a doctor."

"I'll be all 'ight. Whatcha want?"

"Just wanted to see if Martha was back."

"Nope. I gotta clean."

Mrs. Stout left.

A couple days passed.

Mrs. Stout saw Gail at the market.

"Where did Martha go?" Mrs. Stout asked.

"Don't know." She hurried away.

Mrs. Stout baked a cake, took it to
Weird Bill's house. She knew he would
be at work.

Gail opened the door.

"Feel like eating, my special recipe,
cake with me?" Mrs. Stout asked.
"You're eyes look better."

"I hate him."

"Why do you stay here?" Mrs. Stout
sat on the couch with the cake.

"He tricked me, Miss Martha, and everybody."
Gail stood at the door.

"What do you mean?"

"Bill told me he ran his own
business. His mother isn't on vacation,
but in the basement."

"Let's get her help."

"Too late.

"I'll call the police from my house."
Mrs. Stout opened the door.

Weird Bill rushed in.

"Whatcha doin' here?"

"Wanted to share my cake
with Gail." Mrs. Stout coughed.

"Yeah, right." Weird Bill grabbed
for Mrs. Stout's neck.

The cake rolled one way, and they
toppled to the floor.

"Stop it." Gail tried to pull him
away from Mrs. Stout. "Not again!"

"Shut up." Weird Bill jumped-off
Mrs. Stout to smack Gail.

Mrs. Stout eased over to the cake,
grabbed a chunk, and smashed it in
Weird Bill's face.

It further angered him. He reached
for her throat, again.

Gail pushed him. His head rammed
through the window, and he landed
on the porch.

Mrs. Stout crawled over to the
telephone, dialed nine-one-one.

It simply, takes imagination to
curve fiction out of what you
know.

How To Accept Rejection

Rejection is a part of life. When someone
can't, will not, accept something from you,
the best action is to move on, try another
person.

The same applies to writing. Make sure
the person, publication, is a match for
your work. Check for grammatical errors,
run-on sentences, and weak verbs.

Take the concept, article, and flip-it.

"What do you mean?" You asked.

Take a look at one of my rejected
articles.

L. Frank Baum played Tin Man, in
The Wizard Of Oz. It was a popular,
feature film, during 1939.

It was a funny, upbeat, fantasy.
The movie offered funny moments,
tearful ones too.

I, even, recall the re-runs of it,
as a teen.

Here's the twist.

According to a Los Angeles, reporter,
a mini-series is being made. It isn't
your mother/grandmother must see show.

The re-make stirs in acid tripping addicts,
crazed-acting people, possibly multi-
personalities, and sex. I'm not talking
about an appearance of a kiss, but a sexy
sorceress.

Could the series be a "thing" for a new
generation(s). Perhaps, just my opinion,
Gothic images danced in someone's head
when the idea was in its conception.

It takes place in, not exactly OZ,
but, O. Z., like Outer Zone.

Whatever happened to the good and bad
witches?

A mean spirited, sorceress, Azkadellia
is in the house. Kathleen Robertson
plays her.

Well, she, character, is nuts, looks for
revenge. She shows plenty of chest, if
you know what I mean. Oh, let me not
forget, the chest tattoos, which will
be exposed.

The mini-series sprinkles in other
neon characters to this version.

It is a matter of taste, or profit.
Specifically, is art imitating life?

Now, what can I do with that?
I can write an essay on L. Frank Baum,
write my own version of the Wizard Of
Oz, or come up with a new idea.
There is no limit to how it can be
written.

What do you think?

How To Re-Cycle Writing

"I didn't know you could do that."
Someone said.

We write fiction, non-fiction, and, even,
apply for writing related jobs. The
editing process will force us to pull-out
paragraphs, sentences, and, sometimes,
whole pages.

The words, for one reason or another,
fall short of blending in with a
current work. However, the same
verb(s), cluster of words, will
inspire, bring to life, another
project. There is no need to
throw away anything. Save them
for a different day, or stir them
into a new article, story.

Let's look at one of my rejections.
No, it didn't make the cut.

Parenting is one of the most rewarding,
loving, relationships. In my opinion,
it is wise to be consistent. Yes,
routines can be changed for a very
good reason.

Babies, mothers too, tend to be less
cranky, fussy, if they nap. Babies
should sleep each day, at the same time.
Most things, in life, are easier when you
do it on a regular basis, and napping is no
different.

"What if the baby refuses to nap?" You asked.

Playing with the baby will help settle him/her.
A game of peek-a-boo grabs the baby's attention.
Opening and closing the arms, gently, stops
the tears. Move the baby's legs in a bicycling
motion to calm.

Personally, I found just talking to babies
quiets them. I mean regular words, in a low
tone. A favorite toy can never hurt. Music
can ease restlessness.

"What do I do when the baby wakes up fussy?"
Someone asked.

Like us, baby has bad moments.

Pick the baby up. Ask what's wrong. Start a
conversation if he/she has been fed and changed.
Try rocking. You relax too.

It has been my experience some babies are
fussier than others, under the same conditions.
So, do not get upset.

Babies sense when you are stressed...

Several fiction ideas dawned with the
above article. The first was, Baby
Strikes Back.

The story centers around a two-year-old.
Odd occurrences happen in the house when
she cries.

"What's wrong, Susie?" Mrs. Blake
asked her two-year-old toddler.

A plate jumped-out of the sink onto
the floor.

The baby quieted. Mrs. Blake cleaned
up the plate.

Around nap-time, for no reason, the
baby became fussy. She cried. Her
mother rocked her, sang, but nothing
soothed her.

She carried her out of the kitchen.
Mrs. Blake reached the entrance when
a chair slid across the floor.

Mrs. Blake hurried upstairs to call
her husband.

The story idea can twist and turn
down any path. The only limitation
is my imagination.

Here is a second idea that popped
into my mind. A child's eye color
changes when he plays peek-a-boo.
They fade back to the original
color within seconds.

"Peek-aboo, I see you." Mrs.
Blake said to the twin, Todd.

She covered his eyes, said it
again, and took the child's
hands away.

She screamed, because his eyes
were a different shade.

Was it the lighting in the room?
Perhaps, only Mrs. Blake could
see the color change? Or, is
there another explanation? Is
there something strange about
the house they live in?

In closing, find a place to
store all unused words. Refer
to them for a catchy title,
story idea, or article start.
It is possible to create poems
from some of your discarded work.

How To Sell Your Writing

"How do I do that?" You stared at the title.

Writing is a form of communication. This media
is used to expose a product or service through
advertising. It could be a sales letter, an ad,
etc. The goal is to reach as many people as
possible about your wares. The means to that end
is writing about your products and services.

Post the information about products and services
on e-zines, forums, and blogs. It can be useful
to allow others to use your articles, providing
you are given credit. This is how you profit
from your articles, and get maximum coverage.

"I'm not a writer." You complained.

Let's look at that point.

There is no need to get technical when
explaining about your offers. State
the benefits, features, as if you were
talking to a thirteen-year-old. Be
clear. Use short and long sentences.
Don't rattle on. Make your point, and
stop.

The head-line should be three to five
words. It's function is to catch the
reader's eye, because of the benefit
in it. The information you're
presenting must be interesting, and
spark a desire, need, in people.
It is important your product or service
reach the right person. The key to
success is target marketing.

"How is that done?"

It is best to do some research.

If your budget allows, send direct
sales letters to those whose jobs
can't exist without the use of your
product or service.

Forums is an excellent medium for
feed-back on products and services.
You get an idea of how your offer(s)
will be received. Advice on rough
spots that escaped your attention is
there. If it is more comfortable for
you, discuss a version of your business
plan. Some may not feel like sharing
their venture until it's actually
ready for the world. There is a big
advantage in forum-sharing.

"What is it?" You questioned.

When you introduce your product
or service into forums, it is
free advertising. Advertising,
alone, can cost hundreds, even
thousands, of dollars.

Here are some questions to think
about.

Why should I purchase from you?
How would it benefit me? Is
your product or service less in
price than a similar product?
Can I get a deal on it?

Head-lines that grab the attention:
Get It Half-Price, Below Price, But
Hurry, See Results In Five Days,
Lose-It Or Money Back, and Free
Trial.

Think of some yourself.

I chose the following
head-line for my five-lesson
fiction writing course.
Learn Fiction Writing--Five
Lessons

The benefit to the reader is in
it. An individual can learn how
to write fiction, in just five
lessons. It's the job of the three
to five word head-line to stop the
reader's eyes from roaming, and
mention how he/she will benefit
from the product/service.


We are busy, some have stressful
lives. Sell your writing with
words that hold the reader's
attention.

"How?"

Simply, spice the article with easy-
to-understand words. No one wants
to hunt down the dictionary to
look-up a word.

The body makes the point. Be clear.
Expose all benefits and features.

Write like you talk. Never get
technical. The flow of language
should be on the level of an
eighth grader.

A dead-line is necessary.
It pushes the person to act,
especially if he/she is
already interested. A
guarantee adds a flavor
of credibility.

More importantly, be fair
with customers, and you
will get re-peat business.

Follow the above steps,
and selling your writing
will be profitable.

How To Brand Yourself

"Brand myself?" You asked.

Yes. I am referring to exposing your business, product,
without spending hundreds of, even more, dollars.

The easiest means to that end is writing, submitting,
articles for publication.

Sit down. Jot down the benefits of your product or
service. You know the direction the business should
go. You possess the background knowledge to
explain it.

Why should a customer purchase your product or
service? Will it work faster, better than product X?
Scribble down every reason, you can think of, your
wares exist. More reliable? Be sure to include that
fact as a benefit. Highlight the benefits, and show-
case them.

Name your article. The head-line should be
three to five words. Your article must have a
beginning, middle, and ending.

Submit the articles to e-zines. The more they
are seen, the quicker you become a brand, and
a house-hold name. Word of mouth spreads
quickly. One person tells a friend about your
product, service, then another. People with
positive encounters with your product or
service will share it with others. Again, more
free advertising for you.

Ads can be costly. There is less space to get
your message across, and e-zine writing gives
you the opportunity for wide-spread coverage.

The more people see your name, the more
comfortable they are with you. They trust you,
and are willing to take a chance on buying from
you.

Turn an idea, concept, inside out. Get as many
useable articles as possible from it. Write about
it from different angles. Send your work to more
than one e-zine, or publisher.

Success with article writing brands you. It, also,
inspires more writing, and sales. At the very
least, people will request more information about
your product or service. Add their e-mail
addresses to your list, which builds your
customer base.

Link the article to a web site, other products,
services. Or, direct people to a longer version
of the original article.

The following web sites allow you to brand yourself.
Simply, give them well written articles.
http://EzineArticles.com
http://www.articledashboard.com

In closing, brand yourself by writing frequently
about your products or services. Publish the
articles with an e-zine for maximum
coverage. There is a huge benefit that
makes it worthwhile.

"What is it?" You asked.

It's free.

How To Turn Ideas Into Fiction

"I heard writing ideas are everywhere." You said.
"Still not sure how to turn one into a story."

Ideas for writing come from living life. Look
at your life. Pick-out any event or situation to
write about. Remember, change actual names,
places, and exact likenesses.

"Why not write like it was?" Someone questioned.

It is best, right, to get people's signature in regard
to writing about them. Some may want to forget
the incident, prefer it not be known by present
company, or any number of reasons for not sharing
the details of a situation. Write about it, without
permission, can end you up in litigation.

Did something happen at the market? Someone
eased up, but you turned in the opposite direction
before your hand-bag was snatched? You were
about to pick-up a twenty-dollar bill at the entrance,
but someone else grabbed it.

Perhaps, a co-worker started a rumor about you,
or someone else. Your favorite team lost the
game. You were planning how to spend the
money. Now, you have to find a way to
replace the thousands you advanced yourself,
from work.

Let's work with the funds from work idea.

Start the action immediately.

"Whatcha doing, Tom?" Jeff stared at Tom
closing the wall safe.

"I'm a partner, and shouldn't be questioned
like a common thief."

"Just thought Phil handled the funds."

Tom stormed through the door.

Take any idea, throw in characters, confusion,
problem(s), and you're writing fiction.

Of course, Tom found himself at the
gambling table, which put him in more
debt, trouble.

His business partner, Jeff, hired a private
investigator. The PI uncovered kick-backs,
and Tom, even, had been helping himself
to employee benefits.

There are endless directions to go with
it.

A rumor is started as a joke. Only,
it gets out of hand.

"You live out of your car, Pearl?" Sammi
blurted.

"What are you talkin' 'bout?"

"Everyone knows."

Pearl walked away.

The tension builds over the next few days.

How would you finish it?

You are about to walk into the market. You
notice the money, but someone grabs it.

The character can make a scene, or continue
into the store. What do you think?

Someone approaches. She is on the side
where your hand-bag rests against a shoulder.
Your eye caught an item on sale, forced you
to move out of harm's way.

Small situations in life can explode on the
page through interesting writing.

I speak from experience. My novel, Grave
Street House, was based on a former place
of employment. Yes, I fictionalized it. The
writing of it was therapeutic too. It helped
me to see issues clearer. I was able to
attribute the whole horrible encounter up to,
life happens. I had no idea that scribbling
down my life's crisis would impact me in
such a way.

In closing, take stressful moments in life,
happy ones too, and write about them.
You may find that writing, about them, has
the added benefit of healing.

Source: http://www.freewebs.com/wr1t3rs/

Editors Expect Punctuation Perfect

Fiction and non-fiction, presented to an
editor, should be free of spelling errors,
poor sentence structure, and weak writing.
Now, that is not to say, you will never error.
Simply, edit your work.

The important step is creating. There
will be time to go back, review, make
changes.

I have been in the moment of writing,
many times. I stopped, read through it.
Some paragraphs were unreadable, weak
verbs. I had to put it aside for a few days,
and then do the editing. If I found mistakes
immediately after writing, what would I find
when refreshed?

Like I always say, longer writing projects
require more time away.

An editor can spot mistakes in paragraph
one. To be honest, it is a waste of the editor's
time, and your energy when your best work
is not sent out.

"How do you know?" You asked.

I have made similar blunders. Yes, I
speak from experience. It has led to
failures, of course. I gained from the
process, learned to write better. It set
me on the rode to developing an editor's
eye.

The editor's eye took me some years
to grasp. It could happen, sooner or later,
for you. Keep learning, writing. It is the
only sure way, I know of, to reach goals.

It is good form to request writer's
guidelines before submitting, include
a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Sometimes, the guidelines can be read
online. There are publications that offer
issues for sale, online. Reading back
issues of magazines informs you about the
style, flavor of it. You are better able
to give the editor what he/she wants.

The dictionary and thesaurus are
tools that should be kept at your finger-
tips. Spell-check more than once.

The dictionary, as you know, explains
the meaning of words. It, also, helps
with spelling.

The thesaurus provides words with
the same, almost the same meaning,
and opposite meanings of words.

"Why is the thesaurus needed?" You
asked.

Let's look at the word angry.

"What's the point?" You stared at the
word.

Your writing calls for an emotion, anger,
for example. Instead of using angry nine
times, replace it with: annoyed, bitter,
cross, enraged, fuming, irate, vexed,
heated, or offended.

It is boring to read the same words.
Also, it marks you as an amateur.

I will show you.

Henry was angry at Jess. They
fought over the cat. Jess kicked
the chair. I guess, she was angry.
They were so angry until I had to
get my brothers.

Tom and Bill persuaded Henry
to leave. Henry broke the door.

The re-written version follows.

Henry was irate, when he walked
in the door, at Jess. They fought
over the cat. Jess fumed, kicked the
door.

They exchanged heated words, and
I ran to get my brothers.

My brothers, Tom and Bill, urged
Henry to leave.

They offended Henry, and he shattered
the door as he left.

Critique the above two paragraphs.
Leave me some comments about them.

The goal is to pull-out weak, bloated,
and grammatically incorrect sentences.
Once that is done, you are on your way
to success.
Source: http://www.freewebs.com/wr1t3rs/

Write Everyday For Success

I don't have time, or a place to

write everyday." You said.

Slip, at least, a couple of hours

in to write during the day or night.

Set the alarm, for example, two hours

earlier than usual. Especially, if your

surroundings tend to be busy, noisy.

I have the problem of inner-city living.

It is loud where I live. So, I learned

to concentrate on what I am writing.

As with anything else, practice for

success, everyday.

Simply, slice away some time to

reach your goal of writing.

The best time for you could be on

a break at work. Use a tape recorder

to take notes on a possible story, or

article.

Take the reason why you feel

there's no time to write, and turn it

into fiction. It should be no longer

than one thousand words.

It is what writers do, or a large

part of what they do.

"What do writers do?" You asked.

They find time to write, scribble

words down. At a later time, go

back to make corrections.

The more you write, the better you

become. You develop an editor's

eye, even to critique your own

work. Now, that isn't to say you

will not make mistakes. However,

you acquire the skill to correct them.

Who knows? It could be something you

do for a fee.

I am referring to critiquing or teaching

to make extra money. I believe, it is

harder to edit one's own work. Once the

editor's eye is developed, it can take you

down many interesting paths. If you are

able to spot mistakes in your work, you

can do it for others.

Some teens, in my neighborhood, were

making, unnecessary, noises on the street

I live. I made several notes, on different

days:

-teen boys trying to bully

-why?

-who?

-teen boys doing drugs

My observations can roll into fiction

or non-fiction.

"Can you turn it into an essay?" Someone

asked.

The teen boys, ages range from twelve to

seventeen, congregate on the same corner,

everyday. The fact that they sell drugs

exposes all of us to more danger. Child

on child crime. How sad, but it is a fact

of life, in the city.

Feelings of heightened anxiety...

Let's look at how the same notes are

turned into fiction.

"Tom, what's that white powder 'round

your nose?" Jeff stopped at his front door.

"Mind ya're biz." Tom rubbed his nose.

"You should have cleaned your face before

coming home." Jeff opened the door to

their house. "That would upset mom."

Tom pushed Jeff into the door. They

fell to the floor, struggled with each other.

"What's going on here?" Mrs. Balls asked.

"Stop it!"

She ran to the kitchen, returned with a

pitcher of water. She poured it on the

teens. They pulled away from each other.

A few notes supplied me with many ideas.

The same can hold true for you.

Everywhere you go material, for writing,

waits to be plucked, and smoothed into

fiction or non-fiction.

Yes, ideas for writing are everywhere.

Have you untentionally over-heard a

conversation at the mall? Something funny

or unusual happen at a family get-together?

I sat next to an older lady who was talking

to a teen. I was deciding if I wanted to visit

the chocolate store.

"I don't think you should go." The older

lady protested.

"I never go anywhere." She whined.

"They're my family too."

"But they didn't want anything to do with

you. Now, you inherited..."

I quietly left, because that was, after all, a

personal conversation.

I jotted down notes at the chocolate store,

but not exact words.

My idea was to have a teen raised by her

grandmother. The parents died, years before,

and the daughter is at an age where she can

receive money left, or claim funds from a trust.

There are numerous ways to move with it.

At the usual, family get-together pin-down,

the write everyday for success, ideas.

You will be amazed at the ideas found, and

success is yours. You must believe in yourself.

Article Source:http://writingstandard.3steps.com

How To Critique Your Work

You looked at the title, and said, "That's hard."
The first action, after you have completed it, is
to put aside the work. Read a book you meant to six
months ago, visit friends, make telephone calls, or
start a new topic. The longer projects require more
time away. Why? There is more to sift through,
correct, pull-out. You return refreshed, better able
to spot mistakes.

Check sentence structure. Are your sentences flowing
smoothly? Need a period? Comma? Read it out-loud. This
is how you learn to critique. Read it again, slowly.
Should a stronger verb replace a weaker one? Is a
sentence running on? Could a comma stop a run-on
sentence? Or, is it more effective to make two sentences?
Write like you talk.

Is your article or story dragging? Slice away any paragraph,
sentence, not contributing, or moving the story-line along.
Take a look at my example of bloated words. The door opened,
and the body rolled onto the street. The following heightens
the senses, grabs the attention. It an excerpt from my novel.

"Don't move." The shaved head dare taker told her.

She stayed, cried, and then abruptly stopped.

Silence filled the air. Grave Street House's door slowly
creaked open. The bloody, mutilated body was flung into the
street.

"Help my sister," the young girl cried.

The above is taken directly from my novel, Grave Street House.
See the difference? Save unused paragraphs for another piece
of fiction or non-fiction. They hamper you today, but could
enhance a future work.

The focus from this point will be fiction, book length work.

It is necessary to develop an editor's eye. Yes, you can.
Practice.

I have read books, and critiqued them. It helped me with my
own work. Still, it is harder to find your own mistakes. Again,
put aside finished work, and return to it. You gain a new
perspective. I found cann instead of can in a sentence of mine.
I did not realize the small error until I tucked it away in a
file, and opened it a couple weeks later.

Are the characters believable?

"How do I make my characters real?"

Profile each of them. It includes a speech pattern. A story person
pronounces that as dat? The main character is one that is liked,
readers feel a connection to, or care about. What are the
aspirations? Would anything or anyone stop a character from
reaching goals? Is there something in a personality causing a
character to act a certain way? Looks?

Knead in information sparingly. Let characters show what, who,
they are by interacting with other story people. Characters,
like human beings, have flaws. How many? You answer that
question. The story makes a comment on life through its theme.
It is something people felt, learned, realized after reading
the book. Plot is the problem, and how it unfolds tells the
story. The main character is challenged, at least, three times
before figuring out a solution.

The main character has conflict, struggle. Characters, too, learn
and grow. Show wisdom through a character's behavior. Present a
situation where the character behaves differently, better, or
stronger, for example. In long fiction, more than one problem
exists. All stories have a beginning, middle, and ending. I like
to see the problem happen in chapter one. This is where the
action starts.

Decide on a place and time for your setting. Will it be urban
America, rural area, corporate anywhere? Some writers research
a place they heard about for a setting. Follow the tips on how
to critique your work, and you are on the path to realizing a
goal.

Marcella Glenn is a freelance writer who has spent most of her
life writing. Her work includes dabbling into the world of poetry,
through her collection entitled, Piece Of Life, and participating in
the blogospere. She is no stranger to non-fiction, enjoys a
mix-n-match approach to intermingling characters from fiction,
as seen in her novel, Grave Street House, to non-fiction. She reshapes
them into becoming friends. Yet, they remain on the page awaiting her
next foray into their world.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marcella_Glenn

Write Fiction That Grabs Attention

"I'd like to write, but not sure I can." Someone said.

Simply, sit down, write and that's the secret.

Answer the following questions. What problem, plot

will the main character be struggling against? In longer

or book length fiction, writers knead in more than one

problem. For our purposes, the focus is on short fiction.

Unless, you have questions about novel length work?

Submit questions to me. Feel free to comment as well.

Where will the story be told? Will the setting be rural?

A farm that an older sibling wants to sell, but the younger

brother have plans to make it a success. The farm had been

in the family for generations. What lengths will the two go

to in an effort to reach their goals?

Urban America has grounds for all kinds of twists

and turns for a thriller. A wife drove to the market,

noticed the same car that passed her. It had blood

on it. Why? What happened?

Some do research on a place with an appealing name,

or a region of interest.

Make a profile of each character. You have to know

your characters before telling their story.

Profiles include features, aspirations, gender, and

anything else you want in it.

Personally, I like characters to have flaws, and speak

differently from one another.

The following excerpt is from my novel, Grave Street

House. The conversation is between two cousins.

Notice the difference in their speech patterns.

"I gotta dare for ya," Lena boosted.

"No, no way. I'm not doing any dares. I can't

live life on your roller coaster of rushes."

"Ya like 'em as much as I do."

"No way."

"Ya don't have a choice."

"Do too."

Fiction that grabs the attention spills-out the

problem immediately. Show the main's character's

plight. Allow readers to see who characters are

through interaction with other story people, or from

hearing talk, gossip.

"I'm still not sure how to bring a character to life."

You explained.

Think of a person best suited for your story.

Female? Male? Name he, she, or it.

I am going to pick a main character for a short

story. I named her Barbara Stills. The name came

off the top of my head. No, I was looking at water.

I mean as in, spring water or distilled water. Hence,

the name Stills.

Who is she? She reaches four-feet in height,

strong jaw-line, black eyes, red hair, and twenty-

years-old. She lives for now, no future goals.

Thumb through magazines to get an idea of

features for characters. Don't copy, but stir in

your imagination. Draw from life too. In other

words, have you ever seen a person that would

make an excellent character in your fiction?

Never use exact speech patterns, looks, but be

creative.

Barbara Stills grew up in any city, USA. She works

at the Carter Recreational Center during the Summer

months. She is a swimming coach/guard.

Take a look at how Barbara Stills interacts with

others.

"What up, Barb?" A voice came from behind her.

"Lookin' for Tish." She turned to face Jen. "Seen

her?"

"Not since dis mornin' when she was walkin' to the

Center."

"She betta do our dare, or I'll tell everybody she

clucks like a hen. Want in on the dare?"

"Not me." Jen threw up her hands in a surrender

stance.

"Weird-o." Barbara walked away.

Tish works at the Center as well. She arrives

before the children.

Tish is the only child of loving parents. She is

pretty, tries to fit in.

"Hey, Tish." Barbara stopped Tish as she passed

the swimming pool.

"'Member our dare?"

"Don't think it's a good idea."

"Ya shoulda thought of that before outtin' me in

front of people."

"Was a joke."

"Be there, or..."

"You'll harass me?" Tish interrupted.

"Nope." Barbara sat on the edge of the pool.

"I'll be there."

Tish mouthed words, but no sound left her lips.

She stopped, dropped her head, and scurried away.

The aim is to create characters people want to read

about over and over. More importantly, it is nice

when readers want to see more of an author's work.

Writers are required to pour story people in a setting

where conflict lives.

"Boo." Later that day, Barbara sneaked behind Tish

as she stood a few feet from an abandoned house.

"Don't do that!" Tish grabbed at her heart.

"Why ya standin' here?" Barbara laughed.

"Waiting for you."

"Yeah, right." Barbara smirked. "Let's do it."

"Somebody moved across the window."

"Any excuse, Tish. Ya should be scared of the

city's peeps, not old houses."

"You know what happened in there?" Tish took

a deep breath.

"Nope, don't care."

"Eight-year-old killed her parents in there, some

years back. Everyone who lived in the house acted

strange, after it happened"

"What happened in the house has nothin' to do

with us. What the odds a girl, long time ago,

came back to live in the neighborhood where she

murdered her parents?" Barbara rolled her eyes

skyward, and then at Tish.

Barbara dragged Tish, by the arm, closer to the

house.

"Wait." Tish jerked away from Barbara,

stumbled a few feet.

"Scared?"

"We don't have to do this."

"All 'ight," Barbara agreed.

"No, let's go." Tish sighed.

"Ya sure?"

"I'm not going to be bullied by you, and your

friends."

Barbara and Tish paced to the house.

Barbara stepped inside. Tish was on her

heels.

Jen jumped out of the shadows, startled

them. With two quick thrusts, Jen jabbed them

with a butcher's knife.

"Got no right in my father's house."

Fiction that grabs attention will keep people

reading.

(Taken from writingstandard.3steps.com)

Writer's Block-Er-Cise

"What does that mean?" You asked.
It means to stop writer's block before it takes
hold, never have it, leave it at your neighbor's
house, or forget what the two words mean.
"That's impossible." You stared at the copy.
Let's start the process of eliminating writer's
block from your space.
Type, write down the first word your eyes see, or
the memory of a situation.
Ginger is my word. Think of five other G words.
Your list should have six G words to begin with.
My six are: ginger, goose, George, gone, gobble,
and grind.
The six can melt into poems, fiction, or non-
fiction.
The poem derived from my list, off the top of my
head.
Play
George and Ginger went out to play
They chased a big turkey
Ginger gobbled
George toppled
Slid on grinds
They were home
When their mom came lookin'.
The following can enhance a fiction paragraph,
beginning, or any story-line.
George and Ginger jumped in puddle after puddle,
twirled around in the rain storm.
"Mommie isn't gonna like that we played in the
rain."
"C'mere, I stepped on somethin'." George ignored
Ginger's comment.
"Let's go home." Ginger turned to leave.
"It's big."
"You look, George."
They stood there, debating as lightening startled them.
Ginger rushed over to George, grabbed a black box,
and ran home.
After George and Ginger were tucked in for the night,
Ginger reached under her bed for the black box.
With box in hand, she tipped to George's bedroom.
It fell. She searched quietly for it. Up and down
the hall, she crawled around the floor.
"Be quiet." George opened his bedroom door, joined
her.
"I dropped the box."
A corner of the hallway glowed. The black box slowly
opened...
My excerpt can be changed to fit an existing work or
plot. The only limit is my, your, imagination.
"How can six words help write non-fiction?" You
questioned.
Pick one or more of your words as a jumping-off-point
for writing.
I picked Ginger as a possible essay.
Ginger is a flavor wake-up, agent, spice for food.
It's pickled, candied...
Lastly, how a situation is turned into writing
material.
I was, unjustly, fired from a job. I detailed some
of the events in my novel, Grave Street House.
Try my technique. It will cure you of writer's
block. Let me know how you were able to benefit
from Writer's-Block-Er-Cise. Or, advise me if it
didn't work for you. Believe in yourself.

Published Author

Those two words associated with me seems unreal.
It was a long journey.
Well, writing the novel was enjoyable. There was
always a paragraph that dragged the story along,
run-on sentences needed tucking, or the scene(s)
called for more suspense.
I found someone to critique it, but she was
costly. So, the manuscript laid around while I
fiddled with poem writing.
My mind wandered back to my novel. I read through
chapters, not sure if it would get published.
I enrolled in a writing, mail-order, course.
After completion, the instructor recommended, to
the school, whether or not to publish a student's
work.
Sadly, I missed the cut. I felt sorry for myself,
continued working on it.
I required assistance. I contacted an agent, sent
him the manuscript. He returned it, told me to work
on it. I plucked and added to improve it, but
concluded, after phone calls, the agent was more
concerned with fees. We went our separate ways.
I took the writing course, again. My novel
failed industry standards.
Agent number two explained that my manuscript
was rejected, but never tips on making it better.
She didn't tell me why the rejection slips. She
wanted money a third time, and I had enough. I
asked for my manuscript back.
Once again, the manuscript and I were left
alone.
I read fiction in the genre, and other writing
related information. I felt bad, but knew the
manuscript was worthy.
I looked for a publisher until it happened.
My novel, Grave Street House, is for sale at
thedigitalword.com.
You, simply, have to believe in yourself.
*******************************************

An excerpt from my novel, Grave Street House.
When I walked onto my street heads bobbed and turned,
some people cried. They knew the horror awaiting him. A
few drifted into their places of security. The homeless intruder
wobbled, stumbled on his way into the House. They reacted
with clear warnings to stay out. He ignored them. He,
slowed down, whirled his head toward me with fear in his eyes.
I motioned with my hand for him to come back. I rushed closer
to the House, forced my way through the mob of people.

Sales Letters That Bring Results

We, all, are busy. If a person takes time to read a sales letter, it must be interesting, and spark a desire, need in us.
It is essential your product or service reach the right person.
"How do I make that happen?" You asked.
Prior to sending out sales letters, do research. Direct a sales letter to those whose wares/jobs require your product/service.
Forums are an excellent place to get feedback on product/services. You can get a feel for how your product/service will be received. Throw out a version of your business plan, if that is more comfortable for you. It is, also, a means to advertising. Pitching an idea gains tips, previously, looked over by you.
The first words of a sales letter is to hold the reader's attention. Make the point, be clear. Use words that are easy to understand. Do not run-on with your head-line.
List the benefits, and spell-out the features. Most people want to know what's in it for me. Why should I purchase the product/service?
Remember, never get technical. Simply, write as if you are talking to an associate, friend.
The sales letter is sent to get a positive response. The reply, form, fax, etc should be easy to understand. Supply a postage paid envelope.
A dead-line is necessary. It causes an individual to act, especially if he/she has an interest.
Always, re-state the offer. A guarantee adds a flavor of credibility.
Above all, be fair with customers, and you will get re-peat business.
There is no better advertising than word-of-mouth, which equals more business.
A sales letter is the introduction to your product/service. The head-line is three to five words long. The writing level is based on the comprehension of an eight grader.
I welcome comments. Contact me at writer.feedback@gmail.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marcella_Glenn

They Said I Couldn't Write

"They say I can't write a novel." Someone explained to me. "Keep gettin' rejection slips."
In our society, people want to see it happen now, not tomorrow. Likewise, success is wanted this second. It takes time to get from writing to finished novel. It is rare for anyone to create a story, and the piece is publication ready.
The process of finding the right publisher is a challenge. Many will not accept manuscripts unless from an agent.
The question, you must address is, should I get an agent?
I suggest doing research on it before making a decision. As with anything else, there are good ones, and bad agents.
Rejection slips takes a spot on every writer's desk, sooner or later. The key is to continue to write. Figure out why. Did you send your work to the wrong publisher? Grammatical errors? You tie-up all the loose ends in the novel? Does the story flow smoothly? Make sure you have a beginning, middle, and a satisfying ending.
I mean do not cheat the reader. It must be reasonable, and in accordance with your creation.
I sent work out, many times, and received rejection slips.
Once, I snail-mailed a short story to a publication. They forwarded me materials for stuffing envelopes. Yes, I felt bad, but it gave me the incentive to keep trying. It signaled do better, learn more.
I threw the items in the wastebasket, their rightful place.
Deep inside, I had what it took to flourish through non-fiction, fiction, and poems. The stumble served to strengthen my resolve.
After all, I wrote, entertained using all three. However, my work had to meet industry standards. The only way for that to happen was practice.
The area I live tend to be noisy. So, I shut-out that buzz, concentrated on my work. It took time. More importantly, I dared to believe.
Yes, you must take yourself seriously. All kinds of people will come along to remind you of the rejection slips.
"Maybe, you should just give-up writing." Someone will say. "Get a real job."
It is nothing wrong with getting a job. Find a time to write, day or night. Continue to build on your writings. Take a writing course. Read the work of authors you like, or write in same genre as you.
Take note of how the plot unfolds, use of sentence structure, dialogue, and the technique used to tell a tale. Put it under a microscope. How would you spell-out the plot? Use a different main character? Have more than one plot? How different could your characters be from the original?
Jot down notes. When finished analyzing, start writing your own novel. Take it step by step. The very first paragraph must grab the reader's attention.
Know your characters. How? Make a profile of each. How does the main character look? What quirk(s)? Put in as much information as you want. You determine when or how it is sectioned to the story-line.
Dialogue mimics speech.
"Whatcha doin'?"
"Save it. Talk to the hand."
Some people drop letters in words like doing. Instead of saying what are you, whatcha takes the place of three words.
Simply, use different vocal patterns for characters. It gives a realistic flavor to the novel.
Toss in suspense, obstacles. Allow a story person to escape an issue, and then have him/her bombarded with another problem. It keeps happening, stops when he/she figures out a solution. Remember, the struggle goes on three or more times.
Look at how I handled characters, dialogue, etc. Read my novel Grave Street House. The website link is: http://www.thedigitalword.com
I would like to hear from you. Contact me at writer.feedback@gmail.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marcella_Glenn

Where To Find Writing Ideas

"Yeah, where is my motivation?" You blurted.

Writing ideas are scooped out of living life,

family gatherings, a newspaper headline,

chatter you over-heard at the mall, or a

chirping bird outside your window.

Let's start with one of my real life

experiences. There is a room in my

house that is cluttered most of the

year. Why? Everyone living in my

house dumps unused clothes, radios/

televisions to be fixed, old furniture,

books, and toys in it.

Not-so-often, I muster up the

courage to, at least, curve out a

walking path. Yes, I bring in

help too.

My story idea is on a particular

day, after struggling with an old

television, I discovered a small

closet. It banged against the wall

several times, which forced its

door to pop open.

I jumped back, coughed from

the dust. I left the room for

about ten minutes.

I returned. It took awhile

to clear-out the dust and cob-webs.

In one corner, there sat an old doll,

covered with strips of linen. Or, was

it something else?

I pulled on it, in an attempt to

see exactly what was hidden.

"Oh, no!" I dropped it.

The exposed face showed a

skeleton.

How and why the bundle came

to rest in the small crawl space

will unfold my plot. Throw in

suspense, obstacles, and the

recipe for an interesting thriller

is born.

Think about your daily routine.

What room in your house,

apartment, or office could you write

about? Perhaps, a place you once

visited. Is there something that

has nagged you about the premises

since you first visited? One place

you stepped into made you

uncomfortable, but you never

figured out why. Digging up

the reason can make an

excellent fiction idea.

Always change names, addresses,

dates, and actual likenesses. It is

done to avoid the "L" word,

litigation.

Your family near and far gathered

to have fun. During the occassion,

recipes are exchanged, updates on

family not seen often, and general

chit-chat goes on.

Someone mentioned secret. You

were not able to hear the full details,

because a baby cried. The utter of

the "S" word brings all kinds of

options to write about.

The person working under-cover for

the government, retail outlet, or a

doctor comes to mind. Any of

the three ideas can be explosive

reading.

A doctor with a practice in urban

America. His/her staff consists

of relatives. However, the patients

are disappearing. How? Any

connection to the doctor's office?

Hmm. What do you think?

What conditions would a

government spy change sides?

Every time a certain

individual departs Macy's items

do too. Only, he/she is a secret

shopper. Frame?

A newspaper has a wealth of

writing ideas. A quick scan

of the daily newspaper gave me

the following titles: Bus and

Mosque Owners Teaching At

Odds.

I have not read the articles,

but a bus is used to rob a bank.

The would-be robber knows its

schedule, plans to dress as an old

lady, and afterwards, climb on the

bus for home.

The Mosque Owners, in my

fiction story, taught the children

some Western beliefs, and the

children acted on those words.

One evening, a teen shared

with another teen his view,

and one of the Owners was

murdered. People at the

Mosque said it had to be an

outsider.

What ideas can you pull from

headlines in your newspaper?

It is unbelievable what can be

over-heard at the mall.

"My boyfriend is an animal."

One teen girl said to another.

From the one statement,

various ideas stumble to mind.

A man, much older than she,

is called animal, and he is an

arms dealer. My second idea

is two teen males known for

making animal sounds as jokes.

One day, animal sounds were

used to distract the cashier,

and a kidnapping took place.

Your ideas?

A chirping bird brings to mind

day, sweet sound, or panic, death.

The point is use life as your disk

to pluck ideas for writing.

Some Assassinations Haunt

All murders are sad, but three have haunted
our society from the moment it happened.
Why? The three are: John f. Kennedy,
Martin Luther King, and Abraham Lincoln.

What Is The Secret For Writing

The secret to writing is simply writing. Yes,
jot thoughts down.
"I don't have any." You mumbled.
Record names of objects from the room
you are sitting in. What would the first
item you typed be, do in a thriller or essay.
In other words, how would you intertwine it
into great writing?

How To Stop Writer's Block

Play a word game. Run your eyes across the room,
and stop. What do you see? Take whatever your
eyes focused on and write about it.
The technique works when you have something
to write about, but don't know where to start.
Simply, jot down thoughts.

When To Critique Your Work

There are a few who can write a perfect first
draft. The rest of us have to edit our work.
The best time to look for grammatical errors,
run-on sentences, etc is two, three, sometimes,
even a week after you have written the original.
Why? It allows you to come-back refreshed.
You had a break, and are better able to detect
mistakes.