Word Edge & Fiction Clinic

16/10/2018

OWLS Monthly Meeting
October 20, 2018
Meg's Daily Grind on Alpine at Guilford & after that, Sarah's House

1 pm to ? (You are welcome to come early and grab a bite to eat, a cup of coffee, or just hang out before we start)

Instead of a regular meeting it's a Pre-NANO Write-in or Whew! Quiet time to write among friends
Got NANO prep to do? Just tired of life's demands and want to write in peace? Join us! Got a friend who needs writing space? Bring them too!

Post-Writing Bonfire at Sarah's house.
We'll write like demons at Meg's until 3 or 4 pm, then trip down the road a bit to Sarah's house for spirits, treats, and warm fire with friends. Sarah's out of town this week but will be back by bonfire time. Please bring a fall-holiday treat or salad or whatever and a favorite spirit or other beverage; we'll order pizza to share. Throw in a chair or two if you have 'em. Once the fire's lit we'll enjoy the glow and pat our backs for all we got done at Meg's.

Can't make the write-in? You can still join us at Sarah's!

RSVP in the comments below. If you can make it we'll IM you Sarah's address. See you Saturday!

29/05/2018

Which one are you?

05/04/2017

Knowing what to expect is important.

Self-publishing your book? Here’s exactly how much it costs to hire a book editor.

11/12/2016

Take care in how you construct your sentences when these words are involved!

Here’s an ambiguous sentence for you: “Because of the agency’s oversight, the corporation’s behavior was sanctioned.”

22/10/2016

Proofreader’s Marks This was inspired by the process of making corrections for my first book! Stay tuned over the next few months for details. Poster Shop | Patreon

17/09/2016

Don't let all that detailed research overwhelm you!

Research is just as essential in contemporary novels as it is in historical ones. Here's your guide for doing research in fiction.

02/09/2016

When you choose reading material, do you shy from the deep, the symbolic, the controversial? Do you consider your reading choices and writing preferences should be more about entertainment and escape? The article here gives clear, sound reasons for shifting uncomfortably in your chair as you read, or hesitating a moment before choosing to compose a difficult passage that's pivotal to character or plot. I could go on, but the article speaks for itself and defines literature's role as a light aimed at the places we'd rather not look. All that said, it's important to note this comes from an educator battling the book-burning mentality so that students learn to follow the light's beam and in so doing understand the world they are maturing into, which has long been a function of literature.

I had the chance, once, to put my money where my mouth was. This is what I said when they challenged my teaching of THE HANDMAID'S TALE.

20/08/2016

Talk about a condensed version! I guess Kyle's version would be Emoji Flash Fiction...

03/06/2016

So, one of the single most useful internet tools I've seen at Book Expo America this week is Book Country's Genre Map: an at-a-glance overview of genre fic

31/05/2016

Editor and author communication is much like the scenario and actions discussed in this article. Both creative parties are advised to give a single change a long view as well as a short one. Is it one item you feel needs changing? Or is that item--and your reaction to it--indicative of something larger? Great article to get one thinking in deeper terms and communicating more fully, asking questions that lead to a more complete picture about a suggested revision or comment.

Thoughts on Client FeedbackWhen a creative project is in the review stage, giving notes is hard. Receiving them is hard, too. If there is an outsized ego o…

23/05/2016

The biggest mistake most writers make is thinking they have nothing left to learn

16/05/2016

Ten Mistakes Aspiring Creative Writers Make - www.lawritersgroup.com

What do you think?

04/05/2016

Only 70% of the time?

26/04/2016

There are a lot of ads, but this list is a fine what-not-to-do tutorial for writers. How editors did not catch some of these, I don't know. On the other hand, the ones that come from EL James and Dan Brown, well, these were probably left when the editors threw up their hands in frustration.

How did THESE make it past the editor?

26/04/2016

You'll find submission guidelines here: http://menopausepress.net/?page_id=286

Call for Submissions! Menopause Press is roaring back in 2016.

Writers. Poets. Artists. Send us your brightest and best. Visit our Submissions and Policies page to get the voluptuous details on what we like to publish. Visit the Issue Archive to see past successful writing and art. If we get enough quality submissions in the next two months, we're looking at producing a July issue. Could it feature your work?

Get the details here: http://menopausepress.net/?page_id=286

23/04/2016

This is useful, especially for when you find you're not sure how to summarize that great novel in one tiny page!

How to write a one-page synopsis

Source - po.st/ip31HN

21/04/2016

Or write!

05/04/2016

Oh, I love this! Do you?

Obscure color list

04/04/2016

Editors matter! Hire one today. Like me!

Umm...

29/03/2016

Meme time! What makes your house a home?

15/03/2016

13/02/2016

This is an outstanding look at how writers sometimes overdose on well-meaning advice. An educational read for every writer. (The article post has some minor technical issues but I encourage you to push past them and read it in full!)

Last year I had occasion to read a batch of ten page manuscript submissions in a hurry, one right after the other. What I noticed was startling in its consistency. All of the writers had clearly sp…

06/02/2016

This is handy!

For the Microsoft Word users, here are 57 shortcuts that will save you time!

12/01/2016

Position characters and events along the plot line with breaks that create intrigue and continued interest.

Chapter Breaks

Source: http://po.st/7a3bLg

05/01/2016

This article supports an argument I've made for years: That writers need to learn and understand fundamentals as the foundation on which their innovation is built. Too many new writers claim they're showing their style or being innovative when it's more than clear they're stumbling through storytelling, and balking at learning fundamentals. Like grammar and spelling, this article affirms that innovative storytelling is built atop foundations not in spite of them.

From Avatar to The Wizard of Oz, Aristotle to Shakespeare, there’s one clear form that dramatic storytelling has followed since its inception.

04/01/2016

Nice overview of how crappy dialogue can sink a solid narrative.

True Detective, last year’s most talked about show—as well as one of TV’s most literary series—is back on the air. The new season ditches the...

11/12/2015

End of year special:
Buy 1, Get 1 Free!
Fiction Clinic classes for writers:
Characters with Character
Daring to Write Dialogue
Grammar Review
Point of View
Punctuation Basics
Relax, It's Only Tense
Theme is not a Park
Each class consists of specially selected study materials and exercises you submit for instructor feedback (yes, feedback!). They're self-paced and online, so you can start any time.
Visit http://fictionclinic.com to learn more about these great classes.
See comments below for special offer details.

Learn, Develop Skills, Get Feedback