Hey Folks,
I get a lot of questions that I can answer, in general, with this one sentence:
“In storytelling, no single aspect is more important than the ability to pull the reader into the story and keep him there.”
I’m hoping to teach an intensive on how exactly to do that in the near future. The intensive will be geared for no more than 8 attendees. Two writers are already signed up.
I’ll cover
- Openings,
- Hooks,
- Grounding the Reader in the Story,
- Physical and Emotional Cliffhangers, and
- Pacing.
Given time, I’ll talk a little about Endings as well.
The intensive will begin at 10 a.m. and run through about 4 p.m. It will be in St. David, Arizona. The cost will be $100.
After spending a few hours wrangling with writers via email (grin), I’m letting the 2 writers who are already signed up pick the date for the intensive.
I’ll pass along the firm date as soon as they let me know. Then if at least 4 writers sign on, the class will make.
I can’t promise I’ll do this again, maybe ever. So if you’re within driving distance and you’re interested, let me know.
Today, and Writing
Got up early (on time, for me) and put together the beginnings of the intensive I’m planning to teach. Information above.
Today is the third to the last vacation day for Mona, so whatever she wants to do is the priority. But I’ll write at least a little today. (grin)
Opened the story at 8:30 a.m. Went to Sierra Vista on a shopping trip at 9 a.m. (grin)
Back at the story after a long session of email, and realized today will be another cycling, cleaning, straightening day on the story. Sigh. A character came up with a new twist, and of course it has to be worked in through the whole book.
But I’m determined this will be the last day for that. Beginning tomorrow I’ll be powering through the rest of the story to the end.
Well, determined or not, I’ll have one more partial day of cycling. This thing is really twisted. 🙂 So tomorrow will be cycling and writing.
Back tomorrow.
Of Interest
Via The Passive Voice, see “Your Book Needs These 6 Psychological Ingredients” at http://www.thepassivevoice.com/2017/07/your-book-needs-these-6-psychological-ingredients/. He links from there to the full article.
DWS talks on a podcast about being a prolific writer. Check it out at https://www.theprolificwriter.net/episode-33-dean-wesley-smith-on-the-myths-of-writing-and-publishing/.
If you’re a writer of SF or Fantasy, see Nate Hoffelder’s post on a prestigious new fan-based award at https://the-digital-reader.com/2017/07/27/voting-fan-choice-dragon-awards-ends-28-august/.
You can find more information at http://awards.dragoncon.org/faq/candidate-faq/.
Fiction Words: 761
Nonfiction Words: 410 (Journal)
So total words for the day: 1171
Writing of Graham’s Road (tentative title, novel or novella)
Words brought forward…… 1070
Day 1…… 3012 words. Total words to date…… 4082
Day 2…… 2675 words. Total words to date…… 6757
Day 3…… 2181 words. Total words to date…… 8938
Day 4…… 4913 words. Total words to date…… 13851
Day 5…… 2543 words. Total words to date…… 16394
Day 6…… 1207 words. Total words to date…… 17601
Day 7…… 0816 words. Total words to date…… 18417
Day 8…… 0869 words. Total words to date…… 19286
Day 9…… 0503 words. Total words to date…… 19789
Day 10… 0761 words. Total words to date…… 20550
Total fiction words for the month……… 24368
Total fiction words for the year………… 362325
Total nonfiction words for the month… 10850
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 118680
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 481005
The Daily Journal blog streak……………………………………… 610 days
Calendar Year 2017 Novel Goal (15 novels or novellas)………………… 7 novels or novellas
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)………………………………………… 25
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)……………………………………… 4
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)……………………………… 179