[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] There’s one person you can always interview, who will tell you much more of the truth than others ever will–yourself. -Orson Scott. [/perfectpullquote]
WRITING
7 Reasons you need story theory | HELPING WRITERS BECOME AUTHORS
Just as in fiction itself, the writer’s life is marked by several major turning points–perhaps the most important of which is discovering story theory.
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Descriptive verbs: 7 tips for avoiding weak adverbs| NOW NOVEL
‘Don’t use adverbs. Only ever use descriptive verbs.’ This is a writing ‘rule’ often repeated, partly thanks to Stephen King’s strong views on the subject. It’s true that beginning authors often use adverbs to cover up bland dialogue or action.
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The blue book of grammar and punctuation
Tips for creating voice in your writing | WRITER’S DIGEST
Ask any agent or editor what they look for in a manuscript and inevitably they’ll say they’re looking for voice. A strong voice. A unique voice. An original voice. A realistic voice. But how do you ensure you and your main character possess this? That’s the billion-dollar question, isn’t it?
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The 6 stage plot structure for successful storytelling | WRITERS WRITE
Michael Hauge has created a formula around the five turning points and six stages you need to write a good story. Eduardo L. Lozano created this infographic – The Six Stage
Plot Structure – illustrating Hauge’s formula for writing successful screenplays.
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Rock your plot
5 Ways to develop your writer’s voice | JANE FRIEDMAN
Developing your writer’s voice requires you to know yourself and reveal that self in your writing: this is who I am and this is what I care most about.
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Voice: The secret power of great writing
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SCREENWRITING
- Actors and actresses who are gone but should come back | KEN LEVINE
There are some actors you never see anymore. (And in some cases that’s fine. Not having a Mike Myers movie every year has not left a huge void.) But there are those actors that I miss.
- Selling your screenplay: Screenwriter Rick Ramage on breaking into Hollywood | SCRIPT MAG
In this week’s episode Rick Ramage talks about how he broke into the business and built a successful screenwriting career. We also talk about his new screenwriting course, The Screenplay Show.
- Alternate Routes: Crowdfunding as networking | LA SCREENWRITER
If you’ve turned on a computer or mobile device in the last five years, you’re familiar with crowdfunding, where creators use the Internet and social media to find audiences and financial patrons for their creative projects.
- Story stakes and the power of why | SAVE THE CAT
What are story stakes? Most definitions fall somewhere along the lines of “the negative consequence that will happen if a character fails to achieve his or her goal.”
Casual Pilot Script | LA SCREENWRITER
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SELF-PUBLISHING
- 5 Steps to a killer book talk | JANE FRIEDMAN
Every debut author dreams of the moment when she stands up in front of a crowd of admiring fans and talks brilliantly about her new book.
- Think long term. Create a body of work | THE CREATIVE PENN
Logically, we know that overnight success is a myth.
- 8 Ways to use your superpower to market your self-published book | CS LAKIN
As great an accomplishment as this is, publication is not the end of your book’s journey. Marketing your book is the next key to its success.
- Let’s talk about book reviewers, for a change | JUST PUBLISHING ADVICE
All authors get book reviews and should quietly learn to accept the good with the bad
- What’s your post-launch book-marketing plan? (You have one, right?) | THE WRITE LIFE
So let’s take a look at how my novel is doing. Then, we’ll look at what efforts I have put into getting those sales.
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