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| Started By | Thread Subject | Location | Replies | Last Post | ||||
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| Anonymous | The importance of the knowledge | Self-Editing | 0 | Sep 24 2009, 11:46 AM EDT by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Sep 24 2009, 11:46 AM EDT
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i want to tell you about the significance of the knowledge in these days which is more essential for living in modern era. Passing through life we bear in mind many aspects of the social out looks:whatsoever we don't forget our customs and traditions moreover all those things which we see in our enviroments with childhood till now.
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| Anonymous | Great for Writers! | Home | 0 | Dec 3 2006, 6:37 PM EST by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Dec 3 2006, 6:37 PM EST
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Robin Bayne stopping by to say, great idea!!!
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| Anonymous | Thanks | Writing Techniques | 1 | Nov 18 2006, 1:14 PM EST by UEWorkshop | ||||
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Thread started: Nov 1 2006, 3:00 PM EST
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I think the help tips you have provided are very well done. I write children's books and am coming to an end on my first novel. Any little tibbit is a real help. I am very impressed with By Grace Publishing and am praying that they will fall in love with my novel as soon as it is ready for submission. From the Heart ... Jenna
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| JessicaRaymond | An enthusiastic high-school football coach | Characterization Practical Application Page | 2 | Oct 25 2006, 11:48 AM EDT by JessicaRaymond | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 21 2006, 7:31 AM EDT
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Kate Harper arrives early at school every day to make sure the football pitch is looking its best. She litter-picks any leaves and detritus herself, because she's only sure the job will be done properly if she does it herself. Nobody slacks off in her lessons, not least during team practices after school. When people told her that no high-school football team would ever take a woman seriously, her determination to succeed and to take her team to the top (and get at least one student through to the NFL) only got stronger. And although she's only thirty, she's already seen three students go to the big-time.
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| Meg_Allison | A garbage man, proud of what he does for a living. | Characterization Practical Application Page | 1 | Oct 25 2006, 3:10 AM EDT by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 20 2006, 1:54 PM EDT
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James Marshall never expected to spend his life disposing of other people's waste. But when he blew out his knee playing college football--and lost his scholarship in the process--life took him in a brand new direction.
At 34, he finds instead of regretting the road not taken, he's very happy with his life. Sure it stinks, but the pay is great and he always has his afternoons and evenings free. Not to mention the muscle he's built from lifting and totting those heavy cans and bags. With good looks in his corner, even with that slight limp, he has no trouble finding company on a lonely Saturday night. Thing is...he'd really like to have someone more permanent at this side. And the pretty blonde on his route might not notice him decked out in overalls at six in the morning--but he's sure noticed her.
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| mcilpuf | A school teacher who’s tired of teaching. | Characterization Practical Application Page | 6 | Oct 25 2006, 2:57 AM EDT by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 22 2006, 9:23 PM EDT
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Anita Bensen loves her students, she loves the look on their faces when they finally get something, she even loves their crazy antics. As a grade one teacher she has found the students are still willing and eager to learn and most, if not all, love their teachers. The problem is, Anita is tired of teaching. She dreams of running her own business, has researched it and planned it, but is too scared to actually do it. At 30, Anita knows she has everything in place to take that step, everything except the courage needed to walk away from these students and the safety of teaching. Looking at the resignation letter in her hand she takes a deep breath and heads towards the Principal's office.
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| Anonymous | ENTRIES! | Home | 1 | Oct 24 2006, 11:42 PM EDT by maryeason | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 21 2006, 1:10 AM EDT
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Hi, This is Sheila Holloway, Publisher. Let's see some entries here!
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| mcilpuf | Edited version | Self-Editing Practical Application Page | 1 | Oct 23 2006, 11:48 PM EDT by mcilpuf | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 23 2006, 11:46 PM EDT
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"Burt, are you ready to go?" Glenda asked as she slammed the trunk closed.
She didn't like hiking, but she hoped this would be a fun way to reconnect with her husband of five years. Unfortunately Burt was staring at her as if he thought she'd lost her mind. Hiking was his thing and, even if he thought she was up to something, she was going to give it a try. Glenda bent over to retie her loose shoelace. Burt had given her these cross trainers as a wedding gift. She should have realized then that their wildly divergent interests might cause problems. Glenda was most happy with solitary pursuits like puttering around her home and garden. Burt, on the other hand, was more gregarious and active. He always had to be busy and preferred to have people around him all the time. Glenda knew she drove him crazy and that, on the off chance he wanted to spend an afternoon snuggling on the couch, watching chick flicks with her would be his last choice. "Why are we doing this?" Burt asked as if the last thing he wanted to do was coach his un-athletic wife up a trail on a hot summer afternoon. "Because I love you Burt, and I want to save our marriage," Glenda replied feeling exasperated. When she reached out to touch his arm Burt flinched, like he didn't want any contact with her. Stung, Glenda drew her hand back as tears filled her eyes. Burt shoved his hands in his pockets. She knew he usually melted when she cried so she batted big tears out of her eyes, feeling ashamed of herself for such theatrics.
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| Laura_Hamby | Balancing Act... | Writing Techniques Practical Application Page | 1 | Oct 23 2006, 8:52 PM EDT by edcm1 | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 20 2006, 1:32 PM EDT
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The balancing of narrative, exposition and action can be tricky. Some times it's difficult to not fall into telling the reader rather than showing the reader what's going on.
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| edcm1 | Characters | Characterization | 0 | Oct 23 2006, 8:46 PM EDT by edcm1 | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 23 2006, 8:46 PM EDT
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I'm late to the party, but I'm one who loves secondary characters and I often have to limit myself to only a few. I don't write stories with sequels in mind, so I rarely see secondary characters in that way. What I love is to have my main characters interact with lots of people as a way to show their personalities. Sometimes it works - sometimes it doesn't and I don't kid myself that I'm such a great writer that I can make it work when it's not. That's what editing is for!
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| Meg_Allison | Point of View | Self-Editing | 2 | Oct 22 2006, 2:09 PM EDT by Anonymous | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 21 2006, 9:11 PM EDT
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Just wanted to share a neat trick I learned regarding POV. If you're having trouble staying in one character's 'head' during a scene, rewrite it using first-person POV: ie, I did this, I saw that, etc. Then go back and change the pronouns to the appropriate one for your character. I find this to be a really helpful exercise, at times.
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| Trac | Pet Peeves | Characterization | 1 | Oct 21 2006, 9:09 PM EDT by Meg_Allison | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 21 2006, 9:47 AM EDT
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My two biggest pet peeves about character:
1. When characters aren't consistent with their background info--if your character has a master's in business, she should be able to sit still at work and hold a conversation without sounding like a thirteen year old. 2. When a story has too many secondary characters. I know that your primaries have more than one or two friends, but unless you have enough plot space to develop a secondary appropropriately, leave them out entirely.
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| JessicaRaymond | My edited version | Self-Editing Practical Application Page | 0 | Oct 21 2006, 7:58 AM EDT by JessicaRaymond | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 21 2006, 7:58 AM EDT
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Glenda closed the trunk of the car with a slam. "Burt, are you ready to go?"
She hoped this hike would be a fun way to reconnect with her husband of five years, but right now he just stared at her as though she had lost her mind. He'd told her yesterday that she was crazy to want to go. Hiking had always been his hobby, whereas she'd always been happier in the garden. He didn't seem to understand that she wanted to do this so she could get close to him again. His failure to see this upset her more than she cared to admit. Glenda bent down and tightened up her trainer shoelace. The shoes had been Burt’s gift to her when they got married. She should have realized then that their wildly divergent interests might cause problems. Glenda's love of gardening was due to the fact that it was a solitary pursuit, but then again, Burt occasionally hiked alone if his buddies were busy, so maybe they weren't that different. Oh, who was she kidding? More gregarious and active, Burt always had to be busy. He had never been bone-idle, and he preferred to have people around him at all times if possible. Sometimes Glenda just wanted to spend an afternoon snuggling with him on the couch in front of a movie, but whenever they tried, Burt coughed and fidgeted until, rather despondently, she gave him permission to leave. "Look, I don’t know why we’re doing this," Burt said as he climbed into the driver's seat. "It's going to be a hot afternoon and I'm not sure you're cut out for this." "That's as may be, Burt, but I love you and I want to save our marriage," Glenda replied quietly. She reached out to touch his arm. Burt flinched. He moved his arm away and turned the key in the ignition. Stung by his distance, Glenda's hand fell into her lap and tears filled her eyes. She batted them away, ashamed by her theatrics. Burt sighed and switched the engine off. She knew that despite everything that was wrong between them, he hated to see her cry. |
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| Anonymous | editing advice | Self-Editing | 2 | Oct 21 2006, 7:36 AM EDT by JessicaRaymond | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 20 2006, 5:24 PM EDT
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One of the most helpful comments I've ever heard regarding editing has to do with knowingn when to ditch a scene.
"Love the book, not the scene." If something just isn't working -- no matter how much you love that part; that line; whatever -- take it out! You don't have to throw it away, though. Make a file on your computer for 'cut scenes' and copy it there. That way it's a little easier to get rid of AND if you should decide you can use it after all, you haven't lost a thing.
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| Laura_Hamby | Self-Editing | Self-Editing | 2 | Oct 21 2006, 7:33 AM EDT by JessicaRaymond | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 20 2006, 1:34 PM EDT
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I must say I love my critiquing partners. They're honest with me, and if my wip stinks, they aren't shy about saying, "Hey, I like what you have started here, but this part here really stinks. Maybe you should consider X, Y or Z."
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| JessicaRaymond | Characters | Characterization | 0 | Oct 21 2006, 7:25 AM EDT by JessicaRaymond | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 21 2006, 7:25 AM EDT
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I like it when I've got to know my characters so well that I see something in a shop, like a jacket or something, and know it would be something by character would wear. It's funny to feel like you know them!
Jess x |
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| JessicaRaymond | Hi Everybody | Home | 0 | Oct 21 2006, 7:24 AM EDT by JessicaRaymond | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 21 2006, 7:24 AM EDT
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Hi All,
Just dropping in to say that there are some great tips in this workshop! Jess x |
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| Laura_Hamby | Characterization | Characterization | 1 | Oct 20 2006, 1:48 PM EDT by Meg_Allison | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 20 2006, 1:36 PM EDT
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I have to watch my secondary characters closely. They like to steal the scene, and boy, I've written some scene-chewers. I let my characters drive my novels, and that's always a fun ride.
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| Laura_Hamby | A young woman who was just jilted at the altar | Characterization Practical Application Page | 0 | Oct 20 2006, 1:27 PM EDT by Laura_Hamby | ||||
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Thread started: Oct 20 2006, 1:27 PM EDT
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Kailee Johannes: 26, jilted on her wedding day. While her world is crashing around her ears, she's the type who will smile until her face freezes that way. Her pain runs deep, but it's hers. She's never been one to spend much time moping over things that she can't change, instead, she internalizes the lesson and moves on. She'll cry for a while over her almost-husband, but in private, and not for long, as she'll quickly come to the conclusion he's not worth the water. And while she has every reason to guard her heart, she'll eventually be ready to try it again. After all, if she doesn't, her almost husband wins, and that won't do.
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