Story vs. Plot (…and what your plot needs to achieve)
by Laura Cross @ About a Screenplay plotsPlot is the tool you use to tell your story – it is how you present the story. Your plot does not create the story. Your story creation comes from concept, theme, premise, and character development. The plot makes your story more emotionally satisfying to the reader or viewer. It provides the answers to the questions of who, what, where, when, how, and why, that are necessary to make sense of the meaning of the story. Your plot must be carefully focused and mapped out to reach a specific goal or result.
Research with Purpose
by Lindsay Amezotchi @ College Writing 101 research“The journey of a thousand miles begins in a single step,” said Confucius. Indeed, starting any research project may be a daunting task and may determine the success of the journey.
A Writer’s Notebook
by Danielle Buffardi @ Horrible Sanity paper and pentoolsNevertheless, the notebook has been a writers’ best friend for centurys. research proves that writing is a healthy outlet for some. Sort of like petting a cat, or throwing brush strokes on an empty canvas. It allows for one to record dreams, goals, and heart strings. And there’s nothing wrong with writing down your fears either. Look at your notebook as a legacy for future generations to find and get lost in.
Qi: Don’t ask yourself what the world needs.Ask yourself…
by Chung Nguyen-Le quotesThe “Quote Inspirational series” features great quotes – providing little nuggets of inspiration, motivation, insight and humour for you and your writing. “Qi” in traditional oriental cultures broadly translates as ‘energy flow’, and I hope that the ‘Quote inspirational’ series energises you and your writing.
How to Beat Writer’s Block the Easy Way
by Bill Henderson @ Write a Better Novel writers blockAre you a victim of writer’s block? I was…and sometimes still am.
Should freelance writers write for free?
by Chesley @ Daily Freelance Writing Tips freelancingmoneyThere is debate on the issue of freelance writers writing for free. Should they? Yes, and no. It depends on the situation. I think that there can be a benefit to writing without a direct monetary reward in some cases, but not in others. Here are some examples to explain what I mean.
10 Tips for Marketing Your Book
by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen @ Quips and Tips marketingWhether you’re a self-published author, traditionally published author, or a writer who wants to be published – you’ll find something useful in these tips for marketing, promoting, and selling your book! These ten tips will smooth your journey to the bestseller list.
Exposing Some Myths About Blogging Pay Rates
by Jennifer Mattern @ All Freelance Writing moneyAs someone who both gets paid significantly more than $100 per post to blog for clients and who comes from a PR background, I have to point out some flaws in Kevin’s logic (and I can’t blame him for them – these kinds of thoughts run rampant).
5 Q’s with Trish Ryan
by Susan Johnston @ Urban Muse Writer interviewTrish Ryan is a longtime Urban Muse reader and a fellow Cantabridgian. Her first book, He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not, comes out this week, and I couldn’t be more thrilled for her. Trish and I talked about finding a publisher, favorite authors, and more.
How To Beat Procrastination And Get Things Done
by Monika Mundell @ The Writers Manifesto procrastinationI think we all face procrastination issues many times over a lifetime. Procrastination is the evil twin of being in the flow of things, getting things done with seemingly no effort at all. Sometimes, this evil twin can be so annoying that we fall into a pit of self pity and/or depression because we fail to see any progress.
7 Ways to Write a Better Business Letter
by Brad Shorr @ Word Sell lettersWhen it’s time to write a business letter or formal email, a lot of people just grab a cup of coffee and start typing. But if you want your letter to be clear, concise, and persuasive, try this:
Choose a Publishing Option According to Your Needs
by Laura Fabiani @ NouveauWriter adviceself-publishingtipsToday, more than ever, writers can be published authors more easily than ten years ago. This is mainly because of the changing scene in the publishing world. Joe Wikert states in his article The Changing Landscape of Self-Publishing: An Insider’s Perspective (March/April 2009 issue of Writer’s Digest), “One day soon, the difference between getting a deal and going it alone may not be as drastic as you think.”
How To Create Your Main Character’s Backstory
by Laura Cross @ About a Screenplay charactersBackstory is not necessarily told in the pages of the screenplay. A good writer will embed aspects of the backstory throughout the script and reveal them as the story progresses, never having to inform the reader of the character’s backstory through heavy-handed exposition.
Resume Right: Results
by Jesaka Long @ a.k.a writer resumeIf you’re packing your resume with verbs, then this next tip may seem a bit obvious: highlight the results of your work. Sure, you managed a project with a significant budget. But what did you do with that money?
Inspiration for Writers
by Danielle Buffardi @ Horrible Sanity inspirationAhhhh, my fellow writers. We all need inspiration at one time or another. Some of us more so than others. I’d like to share with you some of my methods for collecting inspiration when I need it.
Qi: I’d rather be a could-be if I cannot be an…
by Chung Nguyen-Le quotesThe “Quote Inspirational series” features great quotes – providing little nuggets of inspiration, motivation, insight and humour for you and your writing. “Qi” in traditional oriental cultures broadly translates as ‘energy flow’, and I hope that the ‘Quote inspirational’ series energises you and your writing.
How To Simplify Your Writing
by Monika Mundell @ The Writers Manifesto writing techniques and stylesGood writing is simple. Simple means that you prefer to use words that are easy to comprehend and understand. Therefore this is why kids books are so popular and successful. Just look at the famous Harry Potter books by J.K.Rowling. The text is easy to read while it provides enough excitement to want to keep reading on.
Marketing Basics: Playing To the Right Crowd
by Steph Auteri @ Freelancedom freelancinggetting startedmarketingOver the past few months, I’ve struggled to find new freelance projects to supplement my regular proofreading and blogging income. Only recently was I able to admit to myself the reason for this partially self-imposed period of limbo: I wasn’t sure what I was looking for. Obviously, it’s impossible to put together an effective marketing campaign when you’re not quite sure what you’re marketing, or who you’re marketing to. After the jump, the three most basic questions you need to ask yourself before launching your own campaign:
How to Write an Excellent First Draft
by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen @ Quips and Tips draftseditorsfreelancingWriting an excellent first draft makes your revisions, editing, and rewriting much easier. This advice from published authors, full-time copywriters, and freelance writers will pave the way to an excellent first draft – even if you’re a professional published writer.
Qi: Just because you get something…
by Chung Nguyen-Le quotesThe “Quote Inspirational series” features great quotes – providing little nuggets of inspiration, motivation, insight and humour for you and your writing. “Qi” in traditional oriental cultures broadly translates as ‘energy flow’, and I hope that the ‘Quote inspirational’ series energises you and your writing.
Website Content: Are You Turning Readers Off?
by James @ Men with Pens series: writing website contentwriting for webToday, let’s talk about more serious matters: negative thinking and bullying.