Creative Writing Courses and Ideas: An Online Resource for Writers

Creative Writing These OWL resources will help you with the basics of creative writing. This section includes resources on writing poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Fiction Writing Basics This resource discusses some terms and techniques that are useful to the beginning and intermediate fiction writer, and to instructors who are teaching fiction at these levels. The distinction between beginning and intermediate writing is provided for both students and instructors, and numerous sources are listed for more information about fiction tools and how to use them. A sample assignment sheet is also provided for instructors. TEN SIMPLE KEYS TO PLOT STRUCTURE Structure is something that every agent and executive in Hollywood talks about, and that all of us teachers/authors/consultants/gurus/whatever go on and on about, to the point that it can seem complicated, intricate, mysterious and hard to master. So I want present plot structure in a way that simplifies it – that will at least give you a starting point for properly structuring your screenplay without overwhelming you with rules and details and jargon. Here are what I consider ten key elements of structure – ten ways of looking at structure that will immediately improve the emotional impact – and commercial potential – of your script.

Creative Writing Exercises: Make a Book Journal and Fill it with Discoveries! You need more than a beginning if you’re going to start a book. If all you have is a beginning, then once you’ve written that beginning, you have nowhere to go. – Neil Gaiman Do you ever get stuck writing and you’re not sure where to go? Or stalled out in the midst of a writing project? If you’re looking for creative writing prompts that are specific to your work in progress, read on! Characterisation How to write convincing characters Characterisation - the task of building characters - isn't easy. But if you're struggling to build characters with real life and vigour, here is our very own patented technique. If you haven't yet started your book, then work on the exercise below before you start. If you have started, but think that maybe you started prematurely, then back up, do the exercise and then look back over your existing work. Oh, and don't feel patronised at being given exercises.

12 Useful Websites to Improve Your Writing by Johnny Webber 1. Words-to-Use.com – A different kind of thesaurus. 2. OneLook.com – One quick dictionary search tool. 3. MULTPILE WRITING SAMPLES Writers - especially screenwriters - are frequently told that before pursuing representation, they should have at least two completed writing samples. Agents want to be certain you're committed to writing as a career, and aren't just tossing them something you knocked off in a weekend. They want to see how you can develop a variety of characters, stories and even genres. 50 of the Best Websites for Writers There are tons of reference sites on the web that can help you find a job or write a poem, essay or story. Here is a list of the best 50 websites for writers. Reference Websites Merriam-Webster Online - Merriam Webster is the perfect place to look up words and find information.

The Mysterious Plain of Jars Often referred to as “an Asian version of Stonehenge”, the Plain of Jars is one of the most enigmatic sights on Earth. Shrouded in mystery and myth, this ancient place has fascinated archeologists and scientists ever since its discovery. [Photo Credits] Thousands of giant stone jars scattered around the Xieng Khouang plain, in Laos form one of the most bizarre archeological collections in history. Although it has been determined they are over 2000 years old, no one has yet been able to determine who built them and for what purpose. Made of sedimentary rock, like sandstone or granite, and calcified coral, the jars weigh up to 13 tons and are between 1 and 3 meters high. [Photo Credits]

The Internet Can Cultivate Writing. Good Writing. Image from LoadingArtist.com Almost anyone who cares about language and knows about or uses the Internet has been guilty at one time or another of demonizing the world wide web for its effects on the English language. “The Internet makes it easy for people, including professional writers, to publish writing publicly without editing.” “The Internet encourages casual writing and doesn’t reinforce proper writing skills.” “Students would write better if they weren’t on Facebook all the time.” It’s easy to blame the Internet and say that if it didn’t exist, written English would be on solid ground.

Features - Beyond Façade: Pattern Matching for Natural Language Applications Beyond Façade: Pattern Matching for Natural Language Applications By bruce wilcox [Is the age of natural speech here? Telltale's Bruce Wilcox delves into techniques for natural language processing and contrasts AIML and Façade's approach against his own award-winning ChatScript, showing a path forward for word-based game technology.] MASTERING OUTER MOTIVATION If you've ever heard me lecture, or ever read almost anything I've written, you've heard me talk about Outer Motivation -- a clear finish line that the hero is desperate to cross by the end of the story. All fiction is built on the emotional power of DESIRE and CONFLICT. And almost all successful movies and novels define a VISIBLE goal that the hero or protagonist is desperate to achieve. The pursuit of this goal defines your story concept, determines plot structure, and is the necessary through-line from which your hero’s INNER journey – and your story’s theme – will emerge.

Horror Story Ideas - Story Writing For Scaring People Horror Story Ideas #11-15 Scary ghost stories and other things that go bump in the night. 11-Rose was quite comfortable with Henry having an imaginary friend, after all, she had had one when she was little and turned out fine. Tom was a little worried about him talking to nothing all the time, but she wasn't. Positive Psychology Resources, Happiness, Tips and Techniques Active and Constructive Responding Shelly Gable, assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of California, has examined the different types of responses we give to other people's good news. How do you respond when people share good news with you? The manner in which you respond when others share triumph with you directly builds or undermines your relationships.