Tuesday, October 13, 2009

4 Techniques to Fire Up Your Fiction by Donald Maass

4 Techniques to Fire Up Your Fiction

October 13, 2009
by Donald Maass

Here are some exercises to apply to your novel-in-progress.

Many fiction manuscripts submitted to my literary agency feel lackluster. Much genre fiction feels tired. Many mainstream and literary novels also strike me as stale. Even when well written, too often manuscripts fail to engage and excite me.

What is missing when a manuscript hugs the wall and refuses to dance? Originality is not the key. It can’t be, otherwise no wounded detective would ever have a chance and every new vampire series would be dead on arrival. Even over-published clichés can sometimes break out and sell big. The same is true of look-alike mainstream and literary fiction.

The issue, then, is not whether a story has a cool new premise. Whether hiking a well-worn trail or blazing uncharted wilderness, when a manuscript succeeds it is invariably fired by inspiration. Passion comes through on the page.

How does that passion get there? Here are some exercises to apply to your novel-in-progress. They are designed to dig up what matters in your story and infuse it in your manuscript in effective—but not obvious—ways.

FIND THE UNCOMMON IN COMMON EXPERIENCE

To get passion into your story, do it through your characters. What angers you can anger them. What lifts them up will inspire us in turn. Even ordinary people can be poets, prophets and saints. That’s true in life, so why not in your fiction?

Here is an exercise designed to discover and utilize what is universal in the experience of your characters, especially when they are regular folk like you and me.

Write down what comes to mind when you read the prompts below.

1. Is your story realistic? Are your characters ordinary people?

2. What in the world of your story makes you angry? What are we not seeing? What is the most important question? What puzzle has no answer? What is dangerous in this world? What causes pain?

3. Where in the world of your story is there unexpected grace? What is beautiful? Who is an unrecognized hero? What needs to be saved?

4. Give your feelings to http://writersdigest.com/article/4-techniques-to-fire-up-your-fiction

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Neale Sourna's Writing-Naked.com--Creative Writing, Ghostwriting, Screenplays, Novels, Rewriting, Character, more....

Neale Sourna's Creative Writing, Freelance Writing, Online Writing and Creative Content, Ghostwriting, Rewriting, Screenwriting, Proofing, and Editing, Writing Character and Writing Ideas Help

With online clients worldwide, fiction and nonfiction: USA, Canada, Australia, England, Germany, Poland, and more. Accepting viable clients through Elance, Guru, and PayPal (if established previous client). Click on links following to see portfolios and connect into Neale online at Elance or Guru.

Elance.com / NS Elance Writing-Editing Profile and Guru.com / NS Guru Writing-Editing Profile / NS Resume 2009-08-NSourna--WritingNaked.pdf

(for scripts, screenplays, novels, game stories/gaming stories, short stories, sales dialog scripts, and more)

Find Neale Sourna at LinkedIn! http://www.linkedin.com/in/nealesourna

Find Neale Sourna at MySpace!


Your screenplay, novel, or screenplay into novel, your dialog and visuals need hardcore writing and intense character rebuilding or revisualization. In your writing erotica, writing romance, erotic writing, too, it needs its to have hypnotic. sensual (all your senses) and emotional impact to have more power over your reader; so, invest in fine writing and great storytelling that makes your reader feel and experience.

Problems with one character or many characters?

> Are they "off"?

> "Not gelling?"

> "Out of step?"

> Or are they "frozen" or "lifeless,"and not "real enough"

We can work on that. I can help you improve that.

Or I can take over and give you a rewrite that'll help.

So, if you need:

> a writer,

> a rewriter,

> a ghostwriter,

> a writing consultant, perhaps

> a mini coach for just a few hours of writing/character/plotting advice

for a "kick start" or "kick in the pants," to help you with your fiction or your voice in both fiction and nonfiction, make contact.

If you're truly ready to be serious about investing in and doing the very best for your project, contact me; when you want a voice that's strong, profound, and farseeing--whether scifi/adventure, romance, spiritual, or drama (with or without humor / humour).

Quality pricing gets you quality writing; by byline or ghost (ghostwriting).

Client Project:

NEW!! Heartwild Solitaire, The Author's Edition*

The FIRST solitaire game with a romance story.

Romance Follow a story of Anne, as she leaves her old life behind and sets off to rediscover her true self. But then a man, dangerous kind, steps onto her path...

Tarot Through a Tarot spread see Anne's fate unfolding. Hand painted cards will guide you.

Solitaire Have fun with a relaxing, card-matching game. Unique bonuses and random card placement will keep you playing for hours. And if you dare, submit your best score to the online chart and compete with others!

*Game story Written by Neale Sourna, Rated E for Everyone Version also available

Client Project:

The Secret of Margrave Manor at http://www.margravemanor.com/

and

Margrave Manor 2: The Lost Ship

search/puzzle game scripts; fun, character-filled stories by Neale Sourna

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Client Project:

Great fiction stories just posted to two new websites: Samurai (2), Australian outback western mail order bride romance about a shy love (3), "Becca" (a short story novel) with adventure, pirates, a duke and a runaway lady, and more published at:

http://www.romantic4ever.com/romantic-fiction/index.html

and four of my contemporary and period wedding night stories are now here:

http://www.weddingnight.com/


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"I will not fear.

Fear is the mindkiller.

Fear is the little death
That brings total Oblivion.

I will permit my fear to pass
Over me and through me.

And where it has gone
I will turn the inner eye.

Nothing will be there
Only I will remain."©

from Frank Herbert's DUNE.

What is Writing Naked?