The month is unseasonably mild in the northern hemisphere, yet it is the season, and routine goes out of the window. There may not be much happening on my blog for the next few days, but hang in there. New Year and a new start approach. Good wishes to all.
Month: December 2015
Web sites I wish I’d thought of
Web sites I wish I’d thought of… www.baggagereclaim.com Self-help with a sense of humor www.bubblecow.com Professional editing for writers http://writeordie.com/ By Dr. Wicked…over to you. http://www.deviantart.com/ The world’s largest online art gallery and community, soooo edgy. http://www.boredpanda.com/ The only magazine for pandas. Actually, we’re not bored at all. Do you know any GREAT web site names? […]
Welcome to my new author blog
Welcome to my new author blog. I plan to have more features and participation on this one, with resources for writers, besides showcasing my own work. Have you followed me here from my previous blog? Great! I hope you’ll send in your questions, comments and suggestions. If you’d like to write a guest post for my new […]
5 survival tips for writers
Writing is a strenuous business. It taxes not only your brain but also your entire body. To survive the long haul, you need to avoid burn out and physical damage. Adopt these 5 survival tips for writers and repeat them until they form a natural part of your routine. No resistance. Eat properly The brain […]
Ogres onions and layers
Ogres, onions and layers – Part 1 Shrek is our favourite celebrity ogre, right? And he has a message relevant to your writing. Remember when Shrek and Donkey set out on the quest to rescue Princess Fiona from the dragon’s castle? They trudge through a field of sunflowers, bickering as usual. Shrek states, “Ogres are […]
Round Up of Writers Apps
Here’s a quick round up of writers’ apps I hope to review in the first pass through this category. General writing apps for long form, narrative, screenplay and playwriting include Celtx, Final Draft, Movie Magix, Scrivener, and Trelby. I’ll get onto grammar checkers and editors like Grammarly, and also ‘fun stuff’ like Write or Die. There are […]
Page One
Q. What is a Page One? A. This is a screenwriting industry term. A page one rewrite means to do a complete rewrite of the script, starting at page one.
What is a theme?
Q. What is a theme and must I have one? A. The theme is the moral discussion or proposition of your story, for example, “Love conquers all,” (Rome and Juliet), or “People get what they deserve,” (The Scottish Play). Not every writer chooses to include a theme, but it can make your story powerful for […]
3-Act Structure
Q. What is the 3-act-structure and should I use it? A. The 3-act-structure is the beginning, middle and end of your story. This principle is said to have originated with Aristotle in his work The Poetics. It’s the most commonly used structure for a novel, short story, play or screen play. A successful work hangs on a […]
First novel
Q. I’m an unpublished author seeking representation. How long should my first novel be? A. You should keep it under 100,000 words. A longer novel is considered unwieldy and expensive to produce for an unestablished author. Within the limit, your novel will vary according to genre. For example, a novel for young adults (YA) is […]