Good morning, everyone!
Great session last night - and so glad to have seen all of you. Take a second to find that "Comment button" at the bottom of this post, and press it. "Sign In" and fill out a comment with your name if you showed up!
We're just the TemeculaWriters.blogspot.com - my mistake. Go to TemeculaWritersToolbox, and that is where Bev lives. :)
ANYWAY for those of you who didn't make it (as I often don't) I just wanted to give a quick over view of our session:
A few notes: We had a new member - Kelly - who is an inspirational romance writer - Welcome, Kelly! Ashley is back after several months off - thanks for the warm welcome, everyone.
After Sandy led us in prayer :) we had a group review of James Bell's Revision and Self Editing chapters 3 & 4 - Plot and Point of View, respectively.
Plot:
A review of the LOCK method. (Starts with Lead, ends with Knockout! Read it!)
An animated review of "The Hero's Journey"
Description of the three acts, and the two doors to propel readers forward.
Point of View:
A review of Omniscient Narrator, First Person, Third Person, and How tense the tense you choose can make your story (present tense or past tense).
Finally - we had time (!) to plot out a quick story - which was LOADS of fun for this author anyway. Feeding off each other's creativity, we plotted a story to make any lover of fantasy, romance, adventure, and Christian fiction proud. :) Well done. I'd call dibs on writing it, but I might have to arm wrestle Tyler, Pat, or Sharon and I'd lose to all three!
Have a wonderful day and PLEASE post a comment here. Ask a question if something is still nagging at you - and we're looking forward to our next exercise next month!
Many blessings on each of your writing as you attempt to work these lessons into your craft.
~Ashley
AND Please e-mail me if you need more information on Blog Posting! or would like to Blog--this is an open forum for the WHOLE group.
Showing posts with label POV (Point of View). Show all posts
Showing posts with label POV (Point of View). Show all posts
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Friday, April 25, 2008
Point of View - Meeting Notes
Greetings, fellow authors!
I say that, because as we all know - if you are writing, you're an author. It is what God has put on your heart to do. We write because we must.
We've agreed that there is so much going on in everyone's life - that we needed to put together a group "blog" so that we can remember what we've learned, and keep an eye on where we're headed. This is our toolbox, and as we grow it will be interesting to see how far we've come as a group! Dan and Denise are steering the ship, and we are most grateful for their bringing us all together!
First of all, thanks again to Bev for hosting. We appreciate you! (from the guests who wouldn't leave...) Secondly, we had a few new members join us - a nod to Leonard and Tonya - we are looking forward to seeing more of what you are working on. Glad to have you! Third - thank you all for the kudos! It's exciting to have landed my first book contract - and a total God thing that my editor's suggestion was to review my novel for... Point of View violations. Ha!
This week, we met to work on POV (Point of View). We've each done research on what POV means, how it can be a useful tool in promoting suspense, sharing the motivations of your characters, and driving your story forward. We had the extra benefit of being able to review writing from each of the POV narratives:
I say that, because as we all know - if you are writing, you're an author. It is what God has put on your heart to do. We write because we must.
We've agreed that there is so much going on in everyone's life - that we needed to put together a group "blog" so that we can remember what we've learned, and keep an eye on where we're headed. This is our toolbox, and as we grow it will be interesting to see how far we've come as a group! Dan and Denise are steering the ship, and we are most grateful for their bringing us all together!
First of all, thanks again to Bev for hosting. We appreciate you! (from the guests who wouldn't leave...) Secondly, we had a few new members join us - a nod to Leonard and Tonya - we are looking forward to seeing more of what you are working on. Glad to have you! Third - thank you all for the kudos! It's exciting to have landed my first book contract - and a total God thing that my editor's suggestion was to review my novel for... Point of View violations. Ha!
This week, we met to work on POV (Point of View). We've each done research on what POV means, how it can be a useful tool in promoting suspense, sharing the motivations of your characters, and driving your story forward. We had the extra benefit of being able to review writing from each of the POV narratives:
- 1st Person - I picked up the cup and handed it to Donna.
- 2nd Person - you picked up the cup and handed it to Donna.
- 3rd Person - Jackie picked up the cup and handed it to Donna.
Each one serves a different purpose - and puts your reader in a different place. Each one has its benefits and limitations. We saw first person through Sharon's teenage baseball star. Second person was explored through Ralph's exploration of all three POVs, and third person was reviewed both from Bev's intimate (character's inner thoughts) and Fred's more action oriented, third person limited.
Next time, we will meet to give our Elevator Pitches - your story in 15 words or less! and to provide our 250 word "back cover blurb." This is not your full story synopsis, mind you - but a teaser that would entice readers to open your book. It is the most hair-pulling, mind-bending writing that we can do, but a challenge that you'll find well worth it.
Please comment to this posting, and leave your thoughts for good places to research how to write a blurb / elevator pitch!
God bless and good writing... or, as Dan says... metaphors be with you!
~Ashley*
*If you are interested in posting a blog entry, please e-mail me: ashleyludwig@verizon.net and I'll set you up!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Point of View - Article of Interest #2
Fellow pensters,
Here's another article I found that goes into some really great detail. It's the transcript to a video lecture you can download.
http://www.writingshow.com/articles/transcripts/2007/07222007.html
Anyone need directions again?
Bev
Here's another article I found that goes into some really great detail. It's the transcript to a video lecture you can download.
http://www.writingshow.com/articles/transcripts/2007/07222007.html
Anyone need directions again?
Bev
Point of View - Preparation E-mail
Hey Gang,
Time to get your page in. Some of you may be wrestling with what to send. I mean, we ought to be able to keep our point of view on track for one page. Right?
So, send in a page you're wrestling with, or, as I'm going to do, write one page with a POV that you've never experimented with before, maybe second person.
You all sent many great articles on POV.
For those who remember my original E-mail where I gave an example of a point of view violation and asked what was wrong with it, the problem was the character described what was happening to his own face in a way that only someone else could see. In first person, they shouldn't say "my face turned red." POV violation.
It's important when creating the fiction dream that the reader is cemented to one point of view per scene. A trust is developed with the author that everything written is from that point of view. Clear as mud--right? We'll talk more on Tuesday night.
I've been asked about CBA vs. ABA market. I'd like to spend a few minutes on that Tuesday night as well. I think there have been many mind-bending changes in the last few years that could come as a surprise.
Also, I plan on launching next month's topic: Punctuation. NOT MY SPECIALTY! When do you use those em dashes and ellipses, anyhow? And since when is there only one space after a period? And when did some authors start beginning sentences with a conjunction? Auhhhhh! What is this world coming to?
It was also brought to my attention that if people are taking the time to send in samples, they would like some real concrete feedback. My bad, too. So, if time permits, take a few minutes to print out the page and mark it up or cover it with smiley faces.
See you all this Tuesday night.
Metaphors be with you :) Dan
Time to get your page in. Some of you may be wrestling with what to send. I mean, we ought to be able to keep our point of view on track for one page. Right?
So, send in a page you're wrestling with, or, as I'm going to do, write one page with a POV that you've never experimented with before, maybe second person.
You all sent many great articles on POV.
For those who remember my original E-mail where I gave an example of a point of view violation and asked what was wrong with it, the problem was the character described what was happening to his own face in a way that only someone else could see. In first person, they shouldn't say "my face turned red." POV violation.
It's important when creating the fiction dream that the reader is cemented to one point of view per scene. A trust is developed with the author that everything written is from that point of view. Clear as mud--right? We'll talk more on Tuesday night.
I've been asked about CBA vs. ABA market. I'd like to spend a few minutes on that Tuesday night as well. I think there have been many mind-bending changes in the last few years that could come as a surprise.
Also, I plan on launching next month's topic: Punctuation. NOT MY SPECIALTY! When do you use those em dashes and ellipses, anyhow? And since when is there only one space after a period? And when did some authors start beginning sentences with a conjunction? Auhhhhh! What is this world coming to?
It was also brought to my attention that if people are taking the time to send in samples, they would like some real concrete feedback. My bad, too. So, if time permits, take a few minutes to print out the page and mark it up or cover it with smiley faces.
See you all this Tuesday night.
Metaphors be with you :) Dan
Point of View - Article of Interest #1
Hello Hopeful Writer's in Training.
There is nothing particularly new in this blog but the comments by well-known writers I thought were helpful and insightful.
Anyway, here's the site: http://baldwriter.blogspot.com/2008/03/point-of-view.html
I look forward to your examples.....
Sharon
There is nothing particularly new in this blog but the comments by well-known writers I thought were helpful and insightful.
Anyway, here's the site: http://baldwriter.blogspot.com/2008/03/point-of-view.html
I look forward to your examples.....
Sharon
Show Don't Tell - Meeting Minutes
Hey gang.
Great night. Makes for a pretty quick hour.
If you are like me, what may be granite the night before can turn to mere vapor by morning. I thought a recap might help.
Show don't tell.
The general idea is to keep the reader engaged in the story world. Let them see, hear, taste, smell, feel, plus get into the thought world of the characters.
Instead of-- Fred was excited about the news.
We'd write-- Fred danced around the kitchen. "Whooooohoo! They want my book!"
We also talked about how natural "showing" becomes if the scene is in your head, whether from memory or a vivid imagination. The story should unroll just as if there is a camera filming from the narrator's shoulder. We couldn't film Fred excited, but we could show him dancing in the kitchen. Good visual, yeah?
We hit briefly on making scene cards. Here is what I fill out before writing a scene: Chapter, Setting, Characters involved, Point of View, Main Point, Intensity scale (Is this an action scene or a reprieve?), Hook, Date, Time of day, Weather, Dramatic question raised, Dramatic question answered. Knowing this ahead of time helps me see the scene.
This also helps to "marble in" or "parcel" large chunks of told information. Instead of beginning a chapter with a long description of the setting or the weather, we can work information into the action beats. (It is important to anchor your reader to the setting, but they don't need the whole weather report and geology lesson.)
Instead of--
The restaurant was upscale with elegant furnishings; "I'll have the duck in plum sauce, please," Dona said.
Dona set the pleated napkin on her lap and turned to the garcon, "I'll have the duck in plum sauce, please."
Lastly, watch the adverbs. (Ooops.) They are a clue to telling. There is a place for them and a time to move the story forward with a bit of telling, but for self-editing, they are something to look for, especially when connected to a dialog tag. Ex: Dan said emphatically.
Two great books about showing are: Self-editing for Fiction Writers by Browne and King, and Stein on Writing by Sol Stein. I'm sure the local library carries both.
Any reference to Fred dancing or Dona eating duck is purely my own fabrication and in no way, other than my screwy sense of humor, to imply that not being there makes any person a target for my lame examples. :)
Next month's topic: POV (Point of View)
For the next two weeks we will e-mail POV information, ideas, violations, examples, questions and valuable sources. Then the last two weeks we will send a one-page example of our writing to everyone in the group so we can discuss at our next meeting. Look for a part where you feel you're struggling with POV. We can test the waters.
Example of a POV violation: My face turned red the moment I began to speak in front of the group.
If you don't see the POV violation in the prior sentence, good. We can learn together.
God Bless,
Dan
Great night. Makes for a pretty quick hour.
If you are like me, what may be granite the night before can turn to mere vapor by morning. I thought a recap might help.
Show don't tell.
The general idea is to keep the reader engaged in the story world. Let them see, hear, taste, smell, feel, plus get into the thought world of the characters.
Instead of-- Fred was excited about the news.
We'd write-- Fred danced around the kitchen. "Whooooohoo! They want my book!"
We also talked about how natural "showing" becomes if the scene is in your head, whether from memory or a vivid imagination. The story should unroll just as if there is a camera filming from the narrator's shoulder. We couldn't film Fred excited, but we could show him dancing in the kitchen. Good visual, yeah?
We hit briefly on making scene cards. Here is what I fill out before writing a scene: Chapter, Setting, Characters involved, Point of View, Main Point, Intensity scale (Is this an action scene or a reprieve?), Hook, Date, Time of day, Weather, Dramatic question raised, Dramatic question answered. Knowing this ahead of time helps me see the scene.
This also helps to "marble in" or "parcel" large chunks of told information. Instead of beginning a chapter with a long description of the setting or the weather, we can work information into the action beats. (It is important to anchor your reader to the setting, but they don't need the whole weather report and geology lesson.)
Instead of--
The restaurant was upscale with elegant furnishings; "I'll have the duck in plum sauce, please," Dona said.
Dona set the pleated napkin on her lap and turned to the garcon, "I'll have the duck in plum sauce, please."
Lastly, watch the adverbs. (Ooops.) They are a clue to telling. There is a place for them and a time to move the story forward with a bit of telling, but for self-editing, they are something to look for, especially when connected to a dialog tag. Ex: Dan said emphatically.
Two great books about showing are: Self-editing for Fiction Writers by Browne and King, and Stein on Writing by Sol Stein. I'm sure the local library carries both.
Any reference to Fred dancing or Dona eating duck is purely my own fabrication and in no way, other than my screwy sense of humor, to imply that not being there makes any person a target for my lame examples. :)
Next month's topic: POV (Point of View)
For the next two weeks we will e-mail POV information, ideas, violations, examples, questions and valuable sources. Then the last two weeks we will send a one-page example of our writing to everyone in the group so we can discuss at our next meeting. Look for a part where you feel you're struggling with POV. We can test the waters.
Example of a POV violation: My face turned red the moment I began to speak in front of the group.
If you don't see the POV violation in the prior sentence, good. We can learn together.
God Bless,
Dan
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