Barry Malzberg (1939-2024)
1 day ago
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
The Inciting Incident- -Hooking the Reader in the Beginning.
What is an inciting incident, you might ask? It’s what grabs the reader and keeps them turning the page, asking what’s next.
An inciting incident is the first occurrence in the beginning of a short story, novel, novella that a character faces, it is the action part, it can be a crisis, a desire, or a yearning, an opposition that must be resolved through change, by the ending.
Some refer to this as the hook, an inciting incident doesn’t have to be huge, like a murder or a bank robbery, but it is the question that sets up the story, and creates an event that throws the characters everyday life out of balance and triggers them into taking action.
The character does not always have to be willing, either, there can be internal conflict in the main characters head or external between one character or another or some outside force that creates conflict, for your main character.
Campbell calls it a hero’s journey.
In his book “The Hero with a Thousand Faces” he summarized the monomyth:
In laying out the monomyth, Campbell describes a number of stages or steps along this journey.
Joseph Campbell describes the inciting incident the best here this part of the article:
The Hero with a Thousand Faces
It’s what upsets the balance of your protagonist life or the forces of your story. The opening of a story has to have a compelling reason for the reader to care.
Happy Writing!
An inciting incident is the first occurrence in the beginning of a short story, novel, novella that a character faces, it is the action part, it can be a crisis, a desire, or a yearning, an opposition that must be resolved through change, by the ending.
Some refer to this as the hook, an inciting incident doesn’t have to be huge, like a murder or a bank robbery, but it is the question that sets up the story, and creates an event that throws the characters everyday life out of balance and triggers them into taking action.
The character does not always have to be willing, either, there can be internal conflict in the main characters head or external between one character or another or some outside force that creates conflict, for your main character.
Campbell calls it a hero’s journey.
In his book “The Hero with a Thousand Faces” he summarized the monomyth:
“A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.[1]
In laying out the monomyth, Campbell describes a number of stages or steps along this journey.
The hero starts in the ordinary world, and receives a call to enter an unusual world of strange powers and events (a call to adventure). If the hero accepts the call to enter this strange world, the hero must face tasks and trials (a road of trials), and may have to face these trials alone, or may have assistance. At its most intense, the hero must survive a severe challenge, often with help earned along the journey. If the hero survives, the hero may achieve a great gift (the goal or "boon"), which often results in important self-knowledge. The hero must then decide whether to return with this boon (the return to the ordinary world), often facing challenges on the return journey. If the hero is successful in returning, the boon or gift may be used to improve the world (the application of the boon).Wikipedia article link: The Hero with a Thousand Faces
Joseph Campbell describes the inciting incident the best here this part of the article:
The Hero with a Thousand Faces
1. The Call to Adventure
The adventure begins with the hero receiving a call to action, such as a threat to the peace of the community, or the hero simply falls into or blunders into it. The call is often announced to the hero by another character who acts as a "herald". The herald, often represented as dark or terrifying and judged evil by the world, may call the character to adventure simply by the crisis of his appearance.
It’s what upsets the balance of your protagonist life or the forces of your story. The opening of a story has to have a compelling reason for the reader to care.
Happy Writing!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Topics of Interest.
Just incase you don’t follow all the links on this blog, I want to share with the readers several articles that I came upon this morning, topics that I thought would be of interest to the beginning writer, and the not so beginning.
To begin with is Rachelle Gardner--Literary Agent and her article on,
"Why it's hard to Tell the Whole Truth."
You often wonder, why you don’t receive a comment back on your work and she explains in her article why she doesn’t always resond, Rachelle says, “The first and most important reason is because I could be wrong.” I couldn’t imagine an agent ever being wrong, but read her article, she’s straight forward and honest. She gives some wonderful advice and several interesting links.
Rejection Without a Reason
Frustrated With Your Rejections?
Another good topic I came upon titled, “The Three-Act Structure
by Kathleen Bolton” of Writer Unboxed she gives a in-depth explanation of plot, in a three act structure form. She list several links to outlines by Peder Hill on Structure and Plot, as well as Holly Lisle tips.
Three Act Structure
Learn the Elements of a Novel
Holly Lisle
Happy Writing!
To begin with is Rachelle Gardner--Literary Agent and her article on,
"Why it's hard to Tell the Whole Truth."
You often wonder, why you don’t receive a comment back on your work and she explains in her article why she doesn’t always resond, Rachelle says, “The first and most important reason is because I could be wrong.” I couldn’t imagine an agent ever being wrong, but read her article, she’s straight forward and honest. She gives some wonderful advice and several interesting links.
Rejection Without a Reason
Frustrated With Your Rejections?
Another good topic I came upon titled, “The Three-Act Structure
by Kathleen Bolton” of Writer Unboxed she gives a in-depth explanation of plot, in a three act structure form. She list several links to outlines by Peder Hill on Structure and Plot, as well as Holly Lisle tips.
Three Act Structure
Learn the Elements of a Novel
Holly Lisle
Happy Writing!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Picture's and the visions that come to mind.
I came across a picture while sharing my RSS feeds links, tips on writing, for this blog. Naturally, inspiration just drooled from me as I viewed the picture, and I wanted to find out more about it’s history.
Before I get to that, I want to share with you how, and where I came across the picture. I viewed the picture at Creative Writing Corner Photo of the Week I agree with this statement, from the blog, “This beautiful photo is just dripping with mystery and intrigue.”
Also at Creative Writing Corner there is another article that I want to share with you that was written back on October 18, 2007
How to Write an Interior Monologue a really good article.
Creative Writing Corner got the picture from Flickr, a beautiful place filled with intrigue, and possibly haunted.
Tippecanoe Place mansion.
In 1889, Clement Studebaker completed construction of a 26,000-square-foot (2,400 m2) mansion in South Bend and named it "Tippecanoe Place" (probably in honor of William Henry Harrison). The mansion was eventually restored and turned into a restaurant.
I posted a link earlier from The Ghosts of South Bend and Mishawaka Indiana.
The South Bend and Mishawaka area are closely connected, with one main road serving as the divider between the two towns. Visitors to the area may not even be aware when they cross between the two cities because of this connection.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/760939/the_ghosts_of_south_bend_and_mishawaka.html
As I look at the picture, I think of castles and houses built of stone, the way they were long ago. I have this vision of myself curled up in a cozy chair, by a warm fire, reading a good book, listening to the howling wind, as it rages outside. Feeling all safe and warm inside, until I hear a rapping, tapping on the door. I ponder who would dare venture out on a night like this. Sliding the curtain back, I gaze out to see nothing, but a tempest so strong there is nothing but the haziness of my own image glaring back at me.
Just a few thoughts that come to mind, as I think about the picture, and inspirational techniques fueled by Robert Olen Butler’s lectures, and his book “From Where You Dream.”
Ah, one shouldn’t forget Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven,” as you look at the picture.
The Raven
[First published in 1845]
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.'
Before I get to that, I want to share with you how, and where I came across the picture. I viewed the picture at Creative Writing Corner Photo of the Week I agree with this statement, from the blog, “This beautiful photo is just dripping with mystery and intrigue.”
Also at Creative Writing Corner there is another article that I want to share with you that was written back on October 18, 2007
How to Write an Interior Monologue a really good article.
Creative Writing Corner got the picture from Flickr, a beautiful place filled with intrigue, and possibly haunted.
Tippecanoe Place mansion.
In 1889, Clement Studebaker completed construction of a 26,000-square-foot (2,400 m2) mansion in South Bend and named it "Tippecanoe Place" (probably in honor of William Henry Harrison). The mansion was eventually restored and turned into a restaurant.
I posted a link earlier from The Ghosts of South Bend and Mishawaka Indiana.
The South Bend and Mishawaka area are closely connected, with one main road serving as the divider between the two towns. Visitors to the area may not even be aware when they cross between the two cities because of this connection.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/760939/the_ghosts_of_south_bend_and_mishawaka.html
As I look at the picture, I think of castles and houses built of stone, the way they were long ago. I have this vision of myself curled up in a cozy chair, by a warm fire, reading a good book, listening to the howling wind, as it rages outside. Feeling all safe and warm inside, until I hear a rapping, tapping on the door. I ponder who would dare venture out on a night like this. Sliding the curtain back, I gaze out to see nothing, but a tempest so strong there is nothing but the haziness of my own image glaring back at me.
Just a few thoughts that come to mind, as I think about the picture, and inspirational techniques fueled by Robert Olen Butler’s lectures, and his book “From Where You Dream.”
Ah, one shouldn’t forget Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven,” as you look at the picture.
old Studebaker Mansion
The Ghosts of South Bend and Mishawaka Indiana
The South Bend and Mishawaka area are closely connected, with one main road serving as the divider between the two towns. Visitors to the area may not even be aware when they cross between the two cities because of this connection.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/760939/the_ghosts_of_south_bend_and_mishawaka.html
The South Bend and Mishawaka area are closely connected, with one main road serving as the divider between the two towns. Visitors to the area may not even be aware when they cross between the two cities because of this connection.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/760939/the_ghosts_of_south_bend_and_mishawaka.html
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Getting Washington to Get Their Duck’s in a Row!
The phrase was first coined in a magazine article in 1932 that suggested, "getting our economic ducks in a row."
We know who is in charge…A Democratic Congress…how do we know that? They've said it often enough! We have the House! Okay, you've got it and you've passed a so called Stimulus package that is suppose to create jobs or is it save jobs?
Which is it boy's and girl's? Make up your mind!
You've placed enough blame on the Republicans to last a lifetime. Now who's going to take the blame if this STIMULUS Package doesn't work? Somehow or another you'll find a way to blame the Republicans.
Considering you don't know what bipartisanship is…according to Merriam Webster… involving members of two parties; specifically: marked by or involving cooperation, agreement, and compromise between two major political parties.
In this humble citizen's opinion, the Dem's act like Donald Duck on steroids. You've seen Donald when he's mad and doesn't get his way-the way he throws a hissy fit.
And if you haven't seen him...here's Donald Duck…
You'd think they'd act like adults, wouldn't you, especially with people losing their jobs and homes. I don't want anyone losing their jobs, but I wonder what would happen if Congress, and the Senate, as well as the man in the White House woke up one morning and didn't have a job? What would they do? There isn't that many jobs out there…oh well, wait a minute, isn't that what all this pork is about?
Wasn't this supposed to be about Mainstream America, saving people's homes? Their jobs? Helping people get through this crisis, saving America?
You'd think they'd act like adults wouldn't you, especially with people losing their jobs and homes. Well it might do them good to wake up one morning and not have a job, too. If they keep on acting the way they're doing, it might just come down to that.
A Truly Good Quote
William Faulkner
'The secret of popular writing is never to put more on a given page than the common reader can lap off it with no strain whatsoever on his habitually slack attention.'
'The secret of popular writing is never to put more on a given page than the common reader can lap off it with no strain whatsoever on his habitually slack attention.'
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Tips for the writer that wants to Blog, but fears the technical aspects of blogging.
I’ve been promoting blogs, and trying to instill in the beginning writers, writers not yet published, and why it is essential they blog. The market for publication is fragile, especially considering the economic crisis we are in, and it will be up to those wanting to be published to help promote their work.
Read Seth Godin’s Advice Authors Seth says, “The best time to start promoting your book is three years before it comes out. Three years to build a reputation, build a permission asset, build a blog, build a following, build credibility and build the connections you'll need later.”
The easiest as well as the simplest and less technical blogging platform that I have come across is Blogger.com
I’m including a YouTube Blogger help video in this link to help guide those interested in blogging and fear the technical aspects of creating one, there are several videos that guide you step by step in creating your blog. Blogger Help
Hopefully this helps the wanna-be blogger/writer.
Happy Writing!
Read Seth Godin’s Advice Authors Seth says, “The best time to start promoting your book is three years before it comes out. Three years to build a reputation, build a permission asset, build a blog, build a following, build credibility and build the connections you'll need later.”
The easiest as well as the simplest and less technical blogging platform that I have come across is Blogger.com
I’m including a YouTube Blogger help video in this link to help guide those interested in blogging and fear the technical aspects of creating one, there are several videos that guide you step by step in creating your blog. Blogger Help
Hopefully this helps the wanna-be blogger/writer.
Happy Writing!
Writing Contest Link
A link to Funds for Writers and Contest.
http://www.fundsforwriters.com/contests.htm
http://www.fundsforwriters.com/contests.htm
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Blogs, Blogging and the Creative Writer.
I agree somewhat with Blair Hurley of Creative Writing Corner that blogging doesn’t necessarily make you a creative writer, not a fiction writer that is anyway, but it doesn’t diminish the skill level a blogger uses in the aspect of writing, and the techniques utilized to capture a reader.
Blair Hurley goes into great detail on subject of creative writing on his blog Why Blogging Isn't Creative Writing .
My thoughts are more on the beginning writer and the skills learned in blog writing and the creativity you must use to capture the vast number of readers, agents, as well as publishers you want to visit your blog.
The process starts with marketing your novel, short stories, and your creative writing skills through a blog. Search the internet and you will find all types of blogs by authors. Published authors blog for many reasons, as a daily diary, journal notes, but to a large extent they do it to promote their books, and to share their knowledge and advice on the process of creative writing. Authors socialize with other authors through co-blogging, guest blogging, and giving interviews about their novels on blogs. The internet has become the trend toward publication; even agents and publishers blog and they expect their clients to have a website or a blog or both, lets face it is good PR.
A good article by Marilyn Henderson Marketing Your Novel: Building the "Buzz" stresses how important it is for the beginning author without a proven track record, and considering a publishers budget these days(especially in this economic crisis) to pick up the ball and run with it.
Another good article to read is, Internet Marketing for Novel Writers.
As a beginning novelist learning the tips and techniques of the trade, and keeping up with the trends, I am also learning that social networking is an essential part of the process.
Social Networking sites such as Twitter is definitely a place to start networking and meeting authors, agents, publishers, est.… Twitter and Facebook, too. A cool relaxed environment to socialize and meet those you admire.
Blogging is an essential networking tool for the beginning writer and it will keep you writing and advance those creative skills in different form of writing.
No blog writing is not creative writing in the sense that you create a character for a story or a novel, but in blog writing, you do write a beginning, and a middle, hopefully the ending (the resolution) is that it helps another writer learn what the new marketing trends and publication are, and it's all about sharing the knowledge.
Would love to get comments on the subject.
Happy Writing!
Blair Hurley goes into great detail on subject of creative writing on his blog Why Blogging Isn't Creative Writing .
My thoughts are more on the beginning writer and the skills learned in blog writing and the creativity you must use to capture the vast number of readers, agents, as well as publishers you want to visit your blog.
The process starts with marketing your novel, short stories, and your creative writing skills through a blog. Search the internet and you will find all types of blogs by authors. Published authors blog for many reasons, as a daily diary, journal notes, but to a large extent they do it to promote their books, and to share their knowledge and advice on the process of creative writing. Authors socialize with other authors through co-blogging, guest blogging, and giving interviews about their novels on blogs. The internet has become the trend toward publication; even agents and publishers blog and they expect their clients to have a website or a blog or both, lets face it is good PR.
A good article by Marilyn Henderson Marketing Your Novel: Building the "Buzz" stresses how important it is for the beginning author without a proven track record, and considering a publishers budget these days(especially in this economic crisis) to pick up the ball and run with it.
Another good article to read is, Internet Marketing for Novel Writers.
As a beginning novelist learning the tips and techniques of the trade, and keeping up with the trends, I am also learning that social networking is an essential part of the process.
Social Networking sites such as Twitter is definitely a place to start networking and meeting authors, agents, publishers, est.… Twitter and Facebook, too. A cool relaxed environment to socialize and meet those you admire.
Blogging is an essential networking tool for the beginning writer and it will keep you writing and advance those creative skills in different form of writing.
No blog writing is not creative writing in the sense that you create a character for a story or a novel, but in blog writing, you do write a beginning, and a middle, hopefully the ending (the resolution) is that it helps another writer learn what the new marketing trends and publication are, and it's all about sharing the knowledge.
Would love to get comments on the subject.
Happy Writing!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Social Bookmarking and the Writer’s Blog
Social Bookmarking and the Writer’s Blog.
This article By rappinhood got me thinking about social bookmarking Social_Bookmarking_For_Writers.
Let’s face it, social bookmarking is a way to connect with the masses and have your voice heard throughout the world by way of the internet. This writer believes social bookmarking is here to stay at least for a while, and gives the writer/author valuable press coverage.
Social bookmarking users are interested in well-written content, so where better for the writer to display their articles/ short stories or excerpts from a novel they wish to publish than via a social bookmarking site and receive comments as well.
A list of Social Bookmarking Sites available to the writer.
http://del.icio.us/
http://www.spurl.net/newuser.php
http://www.wists.com/?action=signup_form&add
http://www.simpy.com/register?ref=head
http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/new/user
http://www.blinklist.com/users/signup
http://www.furl.net/user/new.jsp
http://reddit.com/login
http://cgi.fark.com/cgi/fark/newuser.pl
http://www.blogmarks.net
https://edit.yahoo.com/config/eval_register?.intl=us&new=1&.done=http%3A//myweb2.search.yahoo.com/myresults/join
http://technorati.com/signup/
Display the widgets from each social boolmarking site at the end of your topic, through the RSS Feed the reader can subscribe to your writing. If you are uncertain how to do this join http://www.feedburner.com/ Feed 101 has a users group and forum will teach the writer about feeds and how to use them, I won’t go into the details on feed widgets that would be whole new article.
This writer can’t think of better publicity angle than to publicize their writing and be read than through social bookmarking, nor a better way to improve your writing skills from the comments you will receive.
This article By rappinhood got me thinking about social bookmarking Social_Bookmarking_For_Writers.
Let’s face it, social bookmarking is a way to connect with the masses and have your voice heard throughout the world by way of the internet. This writer believes social bookmarking is here to stay at least for a while, and gives the writer/author valuable press coverage.
Social bookmarking users are interested in well-written content, so where better for the writer to display their articles/ short stories or excerpts from a novel they wish to publish than via a social bookmarking site and receive comments as well.
A list of Social Bookmarking Sites available to the writer.
http://del.icio.us/
http://www.spurl.net/newuser.php
http://www.wists.com/?action=signup_form&add
http://www.simpy.com/register?ref=head
http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/new/user
http://www.blinklist.com/users/signup
http://www.furl.net/user/new.jsp
http://reddit.com/login
http://cgi.fark.com/cgi/fark/newuser.pl
http://www.blogmarks.net
https://edit.yahoo.com/config/eval_register?.intl=us&new=1&.done=http%3A//myweb2.search.yahoo.com/myresults/join
http://technorati.com/signup/
Display the widgets from each social boolmarking site at the end of your topic, through the RSS Feed the reader can subscribe to your writing. If you are uncertain how to do this join http://www.feedburner.com/ Feed 101 has a users group and forum will teach the writer about feeds and how to use them, I won’t go into the details on feed widgets that would be whole new article.
This writer can’t think of better publicity angle than to publicize their writing and be read than through social bookmarking, nor a better way to improve your writing skills from the comments you will receive.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Why the Aspiring Author should be Blogging, Twittering and showing their face on FaceBook.
Our quest, as writers/authors is to keep up with today’s market trend and read what agents and editors are saying about submissions, query letters, the tools of the trade.
Today I’ve come across several tidbits that need to be shared and for those reading this Blog, it behooves me to say if you’re not reading the articles and saving them to your file, and keeping up with the trend, then you’re walking backwards.
Nathan Bransford—Literary Agentblog was the first one I came upon in my morning quest to see what is being said daily, by these crafter’s of book finesse that virtually hold your precious novel in their hands. His article this fine morning “Can You Query If You Are an Unpublished Novelist and Your Novel Isn't Finished?” consisted of one word…at this point in time there was 89 comments, check it out … Nathan Bransford—Literary Agent
The next Blog, I ventured too was Jennifer Jackson’s Blog letters from the query wars, very interesting…
Article Links:
letters from the query wars--1
letters from the query wars--2
My next venture was to a Blog called:Redlines and Deadlines a group of Editors posting their comments titled… Submission No-Noes
Writing Advice
The jest is, to advance in your creative writing career, you need to keep up with what the powers that be have to say, and you can find them on the web, in a blog, on twitter and facebook.
Happy Writing!
Today I’ve come across several tidbits that need to be shared and for those reading this Blog, it behooves me to say if you’re not reading the articles and saving them to your file, and keeping up with the trend, then you’re walking backwards.
Nathan Bransford—Literary Agentblog was the first one I came upon in my morning quest to see what is being said daily, by these crafter’s of book finesse that virtually hold your precious novel in their hands. His article this fine morning “Can You Query If You Are an Unpublished Novelist and Your Novel Isn't Finished?” consisted of one word…at this point in time there was 89 comments, check it out … Nathan Bransford—Literary Agent
The next Blog, I ventured too was Jennifer Jackson’s Blog letters from the query wars, very interesting…
Article Links:
letters from the query wars--1
letters from the query wars--2
My next venture was to a Blog called:Redlines and Deadlines a group of Editors posting their comments titled… Submission No-Noes
Writing Advice
The jest is, to advance in your creative writing career, you need to keep up with what the powers that be have to say, and you can find them on the web, in a blog, on twitter and facebook.
Happy Writing!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
BOOKMARK
