Wannabe a Wannabe??

Found this - new idea for a program for wannabe writers - have a look, could you face up to the agent??

The Wannabe a Writer TV Show

Rob Innis

LONG LIST OF WRITING COMPETITIONS

I'm aware that I haven't updated information on writing competitions recently.  Fortunately for me I came across this website that has a long, long list.  It's boring and I would advise that you look at it in very small doses, but there is some interesting stuff in there and some competitions are FREE.  If you've got anything that's in shape ready to submit, then I urge you to have a long look.  Here it is www.christopherfielden.com   Good Luck  M

I came across this the other day and want to share it - worth reading to the end :) Maureen

When I first started writing over a decade ago, I exulted in every new dialog tag I could think up. I preened over “he croaked” and purred over “she grumbled.” Finding new and inventive ways to say “he said” became my quest. 

My early works were peppered with gloats, murmurs, and barks. I even started a most coveted (only by me) list. 

How many words can you think of to say “he said” or “she said?” Here are some, in no particular order:

Mumbled
Murmured
Expostulated
Grunted
Groaned
Whispered
Purred
Spat
Huffed
Croaked
Barked
Choked
Queried
Cackled
Harrumphed
Stuttered
Muttered
Moaned
Hissed
Grumbled
Whined
Sang
Twittered
Tittered
Griped
Yelped
Cried
Stammered
Shrieked
Crooned
Wheedled
Retorted
Pressured
Cajoled

How many more can you think of? There are probably hundreds.

Okay, now that you’ve wracked your brain for tantalizing tags, let me share one very important lesson.

DON’T * EVER * USE * THEM.

What? Such brilliance? Such innovative thought?

Yeah. Sorry. Forget it. Never use anything but “said,” “asked,” or an occasional “whisper” or “mumble.”
Once in a great while, if you feel you really need it, slip in a “spat” or “croaked.” But I’m here to tell you that dialog tags, for the most part, should be invisible. 

“Said,” is invisible. “Asked,” is invisible. “Barked” stops the flow of the dialog. Anything that makes your story stutter needs to be eliminated, including these juicy but totally distracting tags.

Got that part? 

Now that I’ve encouraged you to use “said,” I’m going to retract it.

Forgive me, but that’s just the way it is. If you can avoid a tag altogether–through the clever use of action “beats”– then more power to you. 

Here’s an example of changing a passage from lush useless tags, to he said/she said tags, to using beats instead of tags: 

Case A:

I maneuvered the van around the next pothole, and was about to congratulate myself for my superior driving skills when a series of washboard ruts nearly popped the fillings out of my teeth. 
“Want me to take over?” Tony wheedled.
“Why? Am I making you nervous?” I retorted, gripping the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white. 
“Of course not, sweetums. You’re a great driver. Just thought you might want a break,” he crooned.
We rounded the bend and the road disappeared. The crater before us could hold three elephants. Big elephants.
“Whoa! Watch it, honey. Don’t wanna blow a tire,” Tony groaned.

***

Case B

I maneuvered the van around the next pothole, and was about to congratulate myself for my superior driving skills when a series of washboard ruts nearly popped the fillings out of my teeth. 
“Want me to take over?” Tony said, leaning on the dashboard.
“Why? Am I making you nervous?” I said with a frown.
All smiles, he said, “Of course not, sweetums. You’re a great driver. Just thought you might want a break.”
We rounded the bend and the road disappeared. The crater before us could hold three elephants. Big elephants.
“Whoa! Watch it, honey. Don’t wanna blow a tire,” Tony said in a panic.

***

Case C

I maneuvered the van around the next pothole, and was about to congratulate myself for my superior driving skills when a series of washboard ruts nearly popped the fillings out of my teeth. 
Tony braced himself on the dash. “Want me to take over?” 
My knuckles turned white. “Why? Am I making you nervous?” 
“Of course not, sweetums.” He forced an innocent smile. “You’re a great driver. Just thought you might want a break.”
We rounded the bend and the road disappeared. The crater before us could hold three elephants. Big elephants.
Tony’s frozen smile barely hid his panic. “Whoa! Watch it, honey. Don’t wanna blow a tire.” 

***

Okay, so these examples aren’t beautifully written or perfectly rendered. But they should give you the gist of what I’m trying to illustrate about eliminating dialog tags altogether. They happen to be from an old draft of FOR THE BIRDS, the first book in my Tall Pines Mysteries. (www.aaronlazar.blogspot.com)

Now, go forth! Search and destroy those ugly, story-stopping tags. See how you can make your prose slide down easily, without one stutter. Good luck!

Aaron Paul Lazar
www.aaronlazar.blogspot.com

+CopyrightAaronPaulLazar2013 +Forwriters +Forreaders +Mysteries +LazarBooks

&aplazar

WRITING TOPICS FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR

Here is the list of subjects - suggestions only - distilled from Writer Members - for July - December 2013. Some queried title for December 25 - not a writing suggestion, merely a note for your diaries (it is on a Wednesday this year!)

JULY

03                    A LONG WAY FROM HEAVEN         

10                    THE COMMITTEE         

17                    MY BUCKET LIST        

24                    THE CALL OF THE SEA

31                    HOT PEN

AUGUST

07                    LAST CHANCE       

14                    A FAIRY TALE     

21                    BROKEN GLASS        

28                    HOT PEN        

SEPTEMBER

04                    INHERITANCE        

11                    FEATHERS          

18                    AUTUMN        

25                    HOT PEN       

OCTOBER

09                    OVER THE MOON         

16                    MY FIRST JOB         

23                    INCREDIBLE JOURNEY

30                    HOT PEN

NOVEMBER

06                    THE NIGHT TRAIN       

13                    IF THINGS WERE DIFFERENT        

20                    STARLIGHT                      

27                    HOT PEN        

DECEMBER

04                    WINTER      

11                    ARGUMENT        

18                    ONCE UPON A TIME       

25                    CHRISTMAS DAY

Remember these are only suggestions. You can write on any subject and in any style.

Good Luck!!!!

SPIDER

Lying in one morning

a spider came, almost unnoticed,

no more than a slight sensation on the skin,

so easy to brush off with an instinctive disregard,

a subliminal inclination to wipe away.  

This black speck the size of two pinheads, no more

entertained me, engaged my focus

with its blackness and minuscule legs.

It’s so easy to sweep things away,

mentally; emotionally; physically;

but is it not the little things that matter most?                  

At the same time an Eagle Owl, feathers

flutter in the wind on a pylon nearby,

so large but dead for a week, in a

juxtaposition of power and death.

John Edwards © 12^th May 2013

“Summer is a Promissory Note Signed in June ……

….. its long days spent and gone before you know it, and due to be repaid next January”; this quote, from the America journalist and author Hal Borland (famous for his ‘outdoor editorials’) sets us up for a group jaunt to La Mata Parque Natural.
As many of you may remember, earlier in the year Maureen suggested we might like to take a tour of the park. The members present on that day thought this a lovely idea so Maureen kindly discussed it with the Park people and has come up with a date – 7th June – for the event.
In case you have been away, and would like to come, herewith details.
We will meet up at 11:00 on Friday 7th June at the Centre – a renovated white house at the top of the car park just off the N332 at La Mata – where we will be treated to a talk and slideshow about the park and it history etc. This should take about half-an-hour; then we depart on a guided walk that will cover the wine route, bird island and the picnic area. Maureen promises that the walk is a very easy one and recommends bringing binoculars if you have them to get the best out of a great birding opportunity!
If some would prefer just to see the presentation, foregoing the walk, there are several places to get a good cup of coffee in the main square at La Mata which is accessed by an underpass by the N332 and a short walk down to the sea.
It would be helpful if people let Maureen know if they will be there on the day – she needs to co-ordinate the Park Volunteers etc so please either email Maureen or me (details on member list) by the end of the month if you are not going to be at writers in the meantime.
There will be no cost, unless people would like to get together for lunch afterwards. Maureen suggests the Felisa restaurant on the boardwalk as it's easy to find and park. Look forward to seeing you there. 

Two Websites to Look At

On 3^rd May I introduced details of The 33^rd Winchester Writers’ Conference, Festival and Bookfair.

This gives details of 17 different competitions but the closing date is very soon – on Friday 24^th May.

This is their web site http://www.writersconference.co.uk

CINNAMON PRESS is certainly worth a very good look. Apart from details of forthcoming competitions there are some very good items there. You should find some excellent reading in their short stories. You can find them on www.cinnamonpress.com