31 Jul 2011
Post Scriptum – July 2011
What conclusions can we draw as writers from the past month of discussions on plotting? Is it better to work out the ins and outs of your story in advance, freeing you to concentrate on the task of writing, knowing you will not get stuck on plotholes, or not knowing how the story goes? Or should you delve into the story, allowing the characters the room to drive the plot, accepting that as you get to know... read more
31 Jul 2011
Spoken Sunday #26
Spoken Sunday Submission #26 for 31st of July, 2011 For full details check the page. How To Play: 1. After you have submitted to [Fiction] Friday – or written a passage of around 600 words, record it. 2. On your blog, or audioboo site, post an explanation of your piece (if its a passage from a larger work) or ask readers for specific feedback about it – as well as a link to your recording. 3.... read more
30 Jul 2011
Reading Out Loud: Word to Your Mother
By Penny Zang During my three years in an MFA program, I somehow got through that entire time period without reading my work in front of others. Well, almost. It was my fault. Public readings were consistently scheduled for the writers in my program and I attended most of them to support my friends, but I was terrified to read in front of others. Finally, after much peer pressure, I forced myself to sign... read more
29 Jul 2011
[Fiction] Friday Challenge #218
[Fiction] Friday Challenge #218 for July 29th, 2011 Use the image to the right as your inspiration. How Fiction Friday works. It’s easy to do. Check this page for this week’s theme or challenge. Prompts are published each month to give you plenty of notice. Spend at least 5 minutes composing something original based on the theme or challenge. (and keep writing…) But, remember, no... read more
28 Jul 2011
Balancing out your story
What kind of writer are you? A sprinter who goes flat-out for the finishing line and only stops to analyse once the race is over and the story is done? Or are you the more meticulous kind? It takes you days, weeks, maybe even months to get that first draft finished but once it is, then it’s pretty close to the real thing because it’s been looked at and revised, over and over again during the... read more
27 Jul 2011
Scrivener: A Plotting Pantser’s Best Weapon
If you run in any sort of writing circles you’ll inevitably be drawn into the great debate–Plotter vs. Pantser. Trouble starts after a few rounds of alcoholic beverages and ends with a gang-like fight in the street complete with finger snapping, crazy dance moves and someone singing something about loving someone named Maria. As for me, well, I’m a lover not a fighter, plus I can’t dance for... read more
26 Jul 2011
Losing the Plot: The Writer’s Way
‘Plot is story’s bitch.’ I find this a really useful tool in my creative writing toolbox. That is to say that story (i.e. character) controls the plot (i.e. sequence of events.) Without character there is no story. There is only plot. Plot is one-dimensional. Story is three-dimensional. Obviously. In my opinion, stories should never be driven by plot. It is the character that controls the story. If... read more
25 Jul 2011
A warning to the curious
If you’re at all involved with social networking (and you’re a writer, or you want to be a writer–this stuff is obligatory now), then over the last few weeks you’ll have heard a lot about the new kid on the block, Google+, brought to you by the digital media overlords at Google. Originally invitation only, a G+ profile was keenly sought after by the cognoscenti of the online world.... read more
