15 unusual words that make writers swoon In a previous post, I wrote about the value of using simple words in place of complex words. Readers are not impressed by the use of complex words; they're frustrated by them. Though I strive to use simple, clear terms in my own writing, there are some words that I am just dying to use. If I could only find a way to work them into my next article on surgical checklists. Vex. Example: You take delight in vexing me by deliberately using bad grammar. Portmanteau. Example: That portmanteau will not fit in the overhead bin and must be checked. Naught. Example: Her behavior tends to set propriety at naught. Foible. Example: She loved him in spite of his foibles. Parvenu. Example: He was treated like a parvenu at the country club dinner. Sentinel. Example: Bennett heard a strange noise and asked the sentinel to stay close. Moribund. Example: Kathryn was unsure how to save her moribund career. Beslobber. Example: In this drunken and beslobbered state, the lieutenant returned to the ship. Nonplussed.
World Building World Building is fun. It can also be a nightmare. How can one person possibly create an entire world? There's just so much to consider. If you miss something, your world may not feel real to your readers then, your story fails. Hopefully, the links below will make the process a little easier. Templates Below are some awesome sites with amazing details about each characteristic of World Building. SFWA: Fantasy World Building QuestionsCreating Fantasy and Science Fiction WorldsConsider WorldbuildingBerley’s Top 10 World Building Tips for Sci Fi or FantasyInkwell Ideas: Worldbuilding: Local Area DesignSquidoo: Fantasy Worldbuilding Resources Darkness/Dark-side Defined (Physical and Psychological) For some reason, I've always been facinatd by darkness. Dictionary.com: DarknessMerriam-Webster: DarknessEssential Secrets of Psychology: "What is the Shadow?" Characters, Creatures & Powers Most dark fantasy stories have some sort of non-human character. Setting I'm a visual person. Government
Life in Fantasyland Intro to Playwriting So, you're going to write a stage play. First, what is a play? Basically, it's a blueprint for a stage production. It's performed by actors and directed, designed, and perhaps choreographed by others. As a collaborative art, a script is the cornerstone of a production from which the actors, designers, and directors all take their cues. You've probably seen a play before, if not on stage then one that's been adapted for TV or film. If you've ever glanced at the text of a play you'll see that it's pretty much all dialogue. Since a play is intended for performance, it adheres to some "unities" because of length limitations and the confines of the stage. Characters - You're going to want some, or else those actors will be very confused when they arrive for auditions. Setting - Where and when will your play take place? Stage Direction - This can be very confusing for both novices and professionals. An important thing to know is that stage directions are not narration. Do Include:
Ten rules for writing fiction Elmore Leonard: Using adverbs is a mortal sin 1 Never open a book with weather. If it's only to create atmosphere, and not a character's reaction to the weather, you don't want to go on too long. The reader is apt to leaf ahead looking for people. There are exceptions. 2 Avoid prologues: they can be annoying, especially a prologue following an introduction that comes after a foreword. 3 Never use a verb other than "said" to carry dialogue. 4 Never use an adverb to modify the verb "said" ... he admonished gravely. 5 Keep your exclamation points under control. 6 Never use the words "suddenly" or "all hell broke loose". 7 Use regional dialect, patois, sparingly. 8 Avoid detailed descriptions of characters, which Steinbeck covered. 9 Don't go into great detail describing places and things, unless you're Margaret Atwood and can paint scenes with language. 10 Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip. Diana Athill Margaret Atwood 1 Take a pencil to write with on aeroplanes.
12 Exercises for Improving Dialog Dialogue is one of the most difficult aspects of writing to master. There are many pitfalls to avoid. Stilted Language This is dialogue that does not sound like natural speech. Filler Dialogue This is dialogue that does not advance the scene or your understanding of the characters. Expository Dialogue This is dialogue in which the character explains the plot. Naming This occurs when one character uses another character’s name to establish identity. Overuse of Modifiers This is the overuse dialogue modifiers such as shouted, exclaimed, cried, whispered, stammered, opined, insinuated, or hedged. Exercises Write down the things you say over the course of the day. Articles about Writing Dialogue
British Life and Culture in the UK StoryBlog: 7 Ways to Trick Your Inner Editor Facebook offers a free platform to market your business to a wider audience. Millions of people frequent facebook daily to either connect with their friends or their favourite brand. But to successfully market your business on facebook there are important things to do to ensure you are doing things right to avoid harming your business. For success in facebook marketing you need to not only set up a page and invite followers but you need to engage with them. Setting Up Your Facebook Business Profile Before anything else, the first thing you need to do is to set up a great profile. You could also build them manually. Logos that stand out to represent what your business is all about, Photos and descriptions of your products or the services you offer. A pre-written description for the “About” section with the right keywords used smartly throughout. For example if your business is about say plumbing, you should have the phrases related to plumbing to attract potential customers
Guide for Writers: Index Page