Module 1 Assignment 8 Done

Module 1 has been completed. I was intending on doing module 2's final assignment before this one but I've hit a snag (more on that shortly).

Mod1Ass8 dealt with life writing and wasn't too difficult although it took me a couple of attempts to get the final draft right.

The last part asked me to: Write a brief discussion of what you have learned about writing while studying this module (200 words).

This was my answer.

During this module, I’ve had the fundamentals of the craft further instilled into me. The importance of drafting my work, revisions and instilling routines, has taken my writing a step forward. It has driven me to go further in my attempts to become a better writer.

Lessons on dialogue intrigued me. I considered it just speech between two characters on a page and was surprised it was more. Introductions to style, realisation of clichés and different ways to simply waste words was a real eye-opener.

Practising descriptions and finding I was falling short of what I thought I was achieving in this area, was a wakeup call, and has made me think harder about how I construct paragraphs.

I’ve stepped outside my comfort zone and tried new forms of writing like: speeches, scripts, and poetry. They’ve proven to be challenging. I failed to appreciate poetry, but I’ve gained new insights into play-writing.

Over all, I’ve learned that I could have a future in this business if I continue to apply myself. I have some aptitude for it. I have lots to learn but I’m willing to go the distance to learn it.

This module was only the first big step.

I began writing this feeling like it was a bit of a corny answer, but as I continued, it rang true. I have learnt a lot during this module, even if Mr Stone had to drag me kicking and screaming through parts of it. I learnt that I can write and I could have a future in this business. I've also learned what I want to write and the beginnings of how I want to write it.

The last assignment will go out the door tomorrow or the day after. Including this one, I'll be waiting on the return of two grades for this module before I know if I gain that credit I'm after.

Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Good luck in your writing endeavours.

BT

More Additions

The benefits of being a regular here just never stops.

I've added a new list for you. The Competition List. What I'm looking for are competitions that have either: a decent prize pool; prestige publication; a legacy; good well-known judges; some if not all of the previously mentioned criteria :)

I want to grow this into having two or three permanent listings for each month with a couple of others thrown into the mix.

They must be: annual; have no fee (AHWA is free if you join); accept email submissions (especially from Australian entrants(thank you PARSEC)); and lend themselves to a dark theme.

I'll be looking into creating an awards list too, if for no other reason than so we can all dream together.

The format of the listings will be "NAME - Month" which will equate to "Name of competition or publication" and "The month submissions will close" - got that! The month is not when it opens. I suggest you have a good look at all submission guidelines and leave me comments if any links become broken. I list these comps because I'm likely to enter them, not because I endorse them.

Get submitting!

BT

Critiques Done

Nothing is more annoying than being a member of a critique group, spending hours going over another person's work (instead of doing your own), trying your best to help them grow as a writer, and then seeing supposedly revised versions being posted back to the group with the exact same errors and logic issues.

People, please! If you are going to join a critique group, with the thought being to try and improve your work, at least listen to the basics - at least run a spell checker over your submissions before posting. Have some courtesy please. If you cant take constructive criticism, then don't join a group. If you're not willing to learn and improve, don't join a group.

Not only are you wasting your time but every other members time as well.

Having vented - I am again up-to-date on my critique requirements for TPN. Guess what caused my outburst :)

I've had no feedback from The Teacher about the critique I did for her either. Here's hoping I haven't offended another friend by trying to be honest in my appraisal's. There is a diplomatic way to express concern over a fellow person's work. This is not the same as saying, treat others as you wish to be treated, as I've come across some who believe their work is superior and therefore don't expect someone to rip it to shreds, but they don't mind doing it to someone else because "if" their work was bad, they'd expect it in return. I remember having a very satisfied smile on my dial when I returned the favour one day, many months ago (not at TPN). The recipient howled for days. Then I carefully explained why he should no longer do the same to others. I hope he learnt his lesson. We have never critiqued each others work since.

You need to build trust with those you are asking for help from. If you don't find a level of trust, move on. If you don't agree with what's being said about your work, move on. But thank everyone for taking the time to look and comment on your work. I haven't come across a crit site/group yet that I've had to pay for feedback. In the end, you're getting exactly what you paid for!

Listen, learn, grow!

Good luck

BT

Slight Change

I've made a slight adjustment to my progress meter. I currently have a manuscript that is a little over 130,000 words in length. Last night I worked through the first 2901 words and reduced that down to 2551.

I then added that to the progress meter. Great. But my target isn't 130,000 words so 2551 isn't 2% of my real target.

So, using the formula, I've reduced the 130,000 by 10%. My new target is 117,000 words. If I can get that closer to 100,000, even better, but 117K is realistic. I've reduced the prologue by a touch over 12%. If I can keep that up, I'll get the book down to less than 115K which brings it into the realm acceptable by a lot more agents.

Lots of numbers and percentages which is not what writers want to be thinking about.
A story will take as many words as it takes to tell the story properly.
I can't remember where I heard or read this gem of advice but it needs an addition.
A story will take as many words as it takes to tell the story properly in the first draft.

In second and additional drafts, through revision, from learning your craft, from being succinct, from buddying up to Strunk and White, and many other factors, your story will take as few words as necessary to tell, and still convey exactly what it is you're trying to convey, in a manner that your ideal reader will find wonderful to read.

At least that's the goal--isn't it?

Advice

I was recently told some good advice and then given some suggested examples to expand upon that advice.

Mort Castle told me: "[The] ending [to a short story] must be inevitable and unpredictable"

Now that may sound like common sense to some, may sound like total contradictory tripe to others which is why he followed it up with the examples to show what he meant.

"For models, Updike's A&P or Barker's IN THE HILLS, THE CITIES."

So I went out and brought Barkers Books of Blood and have now found Updike's A&P here. I'm looking forward to reading Barker because A&P didn't help clarify what Mort was talking about.

Wikipedia gives this explanation of the story which explains Mort's idea a little. It seems to me that the ending may not have been what the main character was fantasizing about but it was exactly what the reader expected, at least the sequence of observations and actions after the character quits. Him up and quitting was unexpected but I wouldn't say it made the story. I hope Mort's advice was centred more around the readers expectations, at least that's what I'm taking it as.

Back to Mort's suggested endings for short stories : "[The] ending [to a short story] must be inevitable and unpredictable"--so the main character quitting was unpredictable but everything else was inevitable and very much expected. In the end, I found the story to be pretty ho-hum and not something someone would tout as an example of what to do. I was disappointed. I'm hoping Barker is a better read. I've read some reviews of "IN THE HILLS, THE CITIES" and they weren't particularly inspiring.

In the end, I think this validates my thinking of recent times. Everyone's opinions differ on all aspects of writing. If you try to pander to others opinions then you'll never be true to yourself. You must write what you want to, how you want to. If it's not commercial, and doesn't sell, then does it really matter? If you're writing fiction because you want to make money, then you're writing for the wrong reasons.

BT

Mort Castle Transcript

The transcript for last months AHWA chat is now available here. It is well worth the time to go and read it. Some very interesting information.

Module 2 Assignment 8

Completely out of sequence, I've started reading for Module 2, Assignment 8 when I should be doing number 8 for module 1 this week.

Why? I'm glad you asked.

Mod2Ass8 (I'm getting tired of writing the whole thing) is about creating a book proposal. I'm supposed to do one assignment a week, but this is a lot more involved than usual, so I'm taking extra time to get it right.

As part of this assignment, I'm reading a children's title, "Quentaris"--review to follow--I need to do some additional research, but it could be a promising market. the writing definitely doesn't look too taxing from what I've read so far.

I'll let you know.

SA50s+ Article

Good news!

The editor for SA50s+ liked the article I submitted. She's even suggested it might make the front page. Not a bad promotion from back page to front page. Unfortunately it means I won't have my bi-line included but for a shot at the front page, I can live with that.

I need to cross reference some figures I included and try to organise some photos tomorrow, but no mention of revisions or cuts.

It's been a good day!

Tigers Eye is Alive

Today is June 1st! In Australia it's the first day of winter although it was nice and sunny today. It is also the first day of my big revision of the entire manuscript titled "Tigers Eye".

I made a promise to myself and to the whole world, that I'd begin it today and so I have.

The prologue is done. It is a snap shot set four hundred years in the past from when the rest of the novel takes place. It explains why a community exists which becomes pivotal in events within the book.

It began at 2902 words. My goal was to employ the formula "2nd draft = 1st draft - 10%", leaving me with a target of 2611 words. I've exceeded that cutting the prologue to 2551 words. My overall target is to complete one chapter a week, so I'll let this sit for a day or two before giving it a final once over. I'll then submit it to The Teacher. Next weekend, I'll submit it to TPN.

2% of Tigers Eye revised. It's a good start.