Writing Prompt #4

You wake up to hear a pounding on the door. When you answer it, nothing is there...except for a letter with a black wax seal. The letter is addressed to you.

Go Teen Writers: A Characterization Study on Little Women

Here is a great post on the Teen Writers website about using a physical description to convey who a character is. She uses the story, Little Women, as an example of this and gives you the opportunity to try it yourself. This is a definite must read! Enjoy!

Go Teen Writers: A Characterization Study on Little Women: Jill Williamson is a chocolate loving, daydreaming, creator of kingdoms. She writes weird books for teens in lots of weird genres like, fan...

Review of the Fantastic Four

I haven't written a review for a movie before, but I thought I'd give it a go! My friend and I went to the new "Fantastic Four" movie this evening. Here are my thoughts on it.

This is a review for people who don't want spoilers! Farther down, I will write another that delves deeper and will contain spoilers. Don't say I didn't warn you.

This is a great movie for people who love super heroes. Each character has their own motivation and agenda, adding something to the story itself. Mankind wants to push its limits, to explore and learn more about this world...and any other that exists. Due to a...complication...four explorers who were visiting an alternate dimension were hurt and imbued with fantastical powers. Some see them as freaks. Others see them as weapons. However, in the end what matters is what they think of themselves. Each of them must overcome their bitterness and learn to use what they have been given to stop an evil that threatens to destroy their world.

Out of one to ten, I would probably give it a five. It is however, a very enjoyable movie.

Now, for those who want a more in-depth review...

WARNING: THIS CONTAINS SPOILERS. If you don't want any, stop reading now!

The movie opens on Career day, where a young boy tells the other students that he wants to be the first person to be teleported. His name, our hero, was Reed. Ridiculed by his classmates, misunderstood by his parents, he only has one friend, Ben. Together, they create a mechanism that can teleport objects. One day, while making an example of his invention at a science fair, a man approaches him with a proposition. And that's where Reed's adventures really begin.

From the standpoint of plot, this movie is about as realistic as any superhero movie, so I'll try to do this unbiased. Reed, along with his new friends, create a machine that will allow them to travel to another dimension. When they prove it is possible, one of the board members of the school hosting them decides to call in NASA. The team decides to go instead, without permission. The journey goes smooth, but while in the alternate dimension they are hurt and given powers. From there, they are in the center of a game of tug-a-war. Their teacher wants them healed. The military wants to use them as weapons. And Victor, a young man who was left behind in the alternate dimension, wants to destroy the world. Only by working together -- and coming to grips with what they are -- can they defeat him.

I thought that the characters were developed decently enough, though I thought that some of their actions were unrealistic. For example, Reed running away from the military plant and leaving his friends behind didn't seem like something he'd do, especially after making a promise to Ben. And it never explained what he was doing while he left. When he finally returned, the others -- with the exception of Ben -- seemed to forgive his treachery immediately. It just didn't seem smooth to me.

The antagonist, Victor, was the part I really had a problem with. We first see him sitting in front of a computer screen, hair uncut, a reject of society. After being convinced by his teacher to help with the project of teleporting, he returns to the school. Now, there are different looks and comments exchanged that point to there being some sort of history between him and the female lead, but it was never clearly explained. When they arrived at the new dimension, he was fascinated by the "energy" on the new planet -- and his actions led to the accident that ensued. He was left behind in that dimension, blessed with powers himself, for over a year.

Later, when the military sent explorers to the new dimension, he re-emerged. They took him back, thinking he was injured. It is then that he reveals his hatred toward the outside world. The world is evil, and he wants to start again with a new one. The energy that has sustained him in that dimension would surely continue to do so. Although his anger was understandable, I didn't understand his complete hatred toward the world. Was it the energy inside him? Was he insane? All unclear.

In the end, he tries to open a sort of portal between worlds that will destroy earth. The four freaks, monsters, must stop him. Separately, Dr. Doom (as Victor calls himself) defeats them. But when they work together as a team they are able to succeed. In the end, they are a team that will use there powers, not for military or political power, but to make a difference.

Like I said, it was a fun movie to watch, but in the realm of plot and character, it was not very well developed.

Also: DON'T WAIT THROUGH THE CREDITS. Everyone does. You know, to see the teaser at the end. It's Marvel, right? Well, my friend and I did, and there wasn't one. Just so you know.

Enjoy your movie watching! Any thoughts on the new movie. Please comment below!

Writing Prompt #3

You wake up in a small, concrete room that is filling up with water. Your only tools are a screwdriver, a cell phone with no batteries, and an assault rifle. How do you proceed?

Keeping things interesting

Some stories, in order to hold a reader's attention, will be made up of intense event followed by battle scene followed by action. Bam! Bam! Bam! In this society, it is hard to get someone to stop and listen for any length of time. Writers in general often struggle to hold their reader's attention for any length of time. Some solve that problem by having constant suspense. However, that is not always realistic, and some storylines simply won't allow for it. So how do we keep the reader engaged during every scene?

Character. Engaging characters will engage the reader, even when they are not in the middle of a fight. Their reactions, actions, thoughts, emotions, and expressions will draw us in. We want to see their unique outlook. Sound too simple? It's not. It really works. A dull scene with great characters will carry while a great scene with dull characters cannot. This is why it is so important to have 3D characters that come to life in the reader's mind.

Changing emotion. Every scene, intense or not, should contain a change in emotion. If not, it is wasted and should be cut or improved. It is the changes in emotion that really keeps the reader reading. Emotion is the core of story-telling. Maybe the protagonist starts out happy, but by the end of the scene she is troubled and questioning. Anything goes so long as the reader can feel it. I believe that is the essence of good story-telling. Feeling. The more you keep the reader guessing and on their toes, the better. Evoke on them the character's turmoil.

Clear plot. If a chapter feels pointless then it probably is. And that comes from a lack of clear plot. If your plot is clear and the reader knows where you are going, they will follow you through the calmer seas as well as through the storms. Everything should fit into a purpose that the reader can see, whether now or later. Otherwise, you're just wasting space, and the reader is wasting their time.

Hidden information. If done right, an air of mystery is very effective in keeping a reader reading. Whether it is simply an exchange about the past between characters or foreshadowing to some horror in the future, it will intrigue. Keep the reader guessing with unforeseen plot twists and hints of what is to come.

A great example of a story that does this is Wool by Hugh Howey. I am reading it right now, and I would definitely recommend it.

Can you think of anything else? Comment below!

Writing Prompt #2

You're all alone on a Saturday night. You walk up to your bedroom and find a hooded man browsing over your journal. He looks up and says, "We've been waiting for you."

Go Teen Writers: Editing in Layers: Drawing out Emotion and Tension...

Great post about editing by Stephanie Morrill. Check it out!



Go Teen Writers: Editing in Layers: Drawing out Emotion and Tension...: by Stephanie Morrill Stephanie writes young adult contemporary novels and is the creator of GoTeenWriters.com. Her novels include The Re...

How to self-edit

This, in my opinion, is one of the hardest things for a writer to learn. And yet, self-editing is one of the most crucial part of an author's career since so much time is spent editing. More time is spent working on the second and third draft than on the first draft. The first draft is just getting something on paper whereas editing is crafting and creating. It can be fun...and a pain. But editing sure does take the pressure off your first draft, if you know what I mean.

 I just got done self-editing a novel, and I have learned some things about what to look for.

Content issues. This is by far -- for me -- the hardest part of editing. Looking for flawed characters, troubled plot lines, and things that just don't make sense. Content editing really varies from story to story, and it helps to have an outsider's opinion. My suggestion is after you finish your first draft, put it down for about a month and then read it again. See if the characters are fully developed. Look for holes in the plot. Try to find places where the setting and description could be improved.

Reduce your word count. Your second draft must have a smaller word count than your first draft. The first draft will always come out fluffy, just because that is your exploratory draft. Go in and cut anything and everything that is unnecessary. Make sure that your dialogue tags are not too excessive. Look for words that just clog up the sentence flow. Reading "On Writing" by Stephen King, this was impressed on my mind. This was the equation he used:

First draft - 10% = Second draft

Cutting ten percent will not take away from your story -- if you cut the right things. It will improve it and make it all the more powerful.

Look for continuous themes. Whether we implant it there or not, almost every story ends up with an underlying theme. Sometimes it takes us a long time to notice it, but it is there nonetheless. For example, the novel I just finished was meant to show the devastation that bitterness can cause and the beauty of forgiveness. However, it ended up being much more than that. It now also shows the importance of true sacrifice and the meaning of family. Reading over your first draft, you may notice your own themes. Pursue them and try to strengthen them in the second draft.

REMEMBER: The stories that are most powerful are the ones that have something to say, a lesson to teach.

There are many more aspects of self-editing, but these are the ones that come to mind at the moment. Can you think of any more? Comment below!

And by the way, Inkitt has opened a new Mystery/Thriller contest. Some of those stories are really great; you should check it out. I entered my story, The Forbidden Cellar. I have edited it once again and believe that I have a more powerful piece of writing. If you get a chance, please check it out and tell me what you think! It is found at this link: http://www.inkitt.com/stories/16921

Thanks! :)

Writing Prompt #1

Write a story involving a ninja with an attitude, a break-dancer with a fear of heights, and a talking parrot...

A Writing Exercise for Creating Setting

One of the hardest parts of writing for me has always been creating setting. It is also a very vital part of writing. Many people don't see it as such a key element...that is until they read a story with poor setting. Good setting creates not only a place but also a feeling, a mood. It interlocks everything together. Although you don't want to overdo setting, you want to intersperse it throughout the story. This is an exercise that I have found very useful in writing setting.

1. Visualize the place. If you want to drop the reader into your setting, you have to be able to drop yourself into it. Take just a few minutes, shut out distractions, close your eyes, and just imagine.

2. Write down the details. Take it one sense at a time. Think about all the things you see in the setting and write them down as fast as you can. Don't use full sentences. Don't worry about grammar or spelling. Just write. Give yourself two minutes, and when the time is up, stop. Then go to the next sense (taste, smell, etc.) and do the same thing. When you are finished, you should have a very good idea of what the place is like.

3. Choose a mood. In one word, write down the mood you want to convey (creepy, suspenseful, calming, etc.). Then look over all the descriptions you wrote and underline the ones that support it. For example, if you are going for creepy, mention the blood-red mushrooms in your description. If suspenseful, describe the sudden silence. If calming, talk about the smell of fresh lavender. Then, just combine those details into a concise and powerful description of the place.

If this tool is used right, it will help to transport your reader into the writing. And that really is the main goal in writing, isn't it?

Have any advice on writing setting? Comment below!

 



My Inkitt Stories

Hey all!

Just wanted to let you guys know, I have some writing that you can read for free on the Inkitt site (don't know if that interests anyone or not, but here goes). If you are a writer or reader, I would definitely recommend this site. It is a great place to interact with others and read great stories. They've got just about every genre there. One of my favorite things to do on there is review other people's work. It's a lot of fun.

Anyway, I've entered in a few of the contests. Two of them are closed and the other is still going.

My first story, Cyborg, I entered to the Beyond Time Science Fiction contest and took second place. It is found at this link: http://www.inkitt.com/stories/15856

My second story, the Forbidden Cellar, I entered into the End Game Horror contest. It's more of a thriller, but I thought that it would qualify. Anyway, they're judging that right now, so I don't know if I placed yet. It is found at this link: http://www.inkitt.com/stories/16921

My last story is actually just a beginning chapter of what might end up being a novel. For now, I'm calling it Beneath the Crimson Mountain. I entered it in the Hither and Thither Fantasy contest, which is still running. It currently has no reviews, and I would love some constructive criticism (and votes, if it is deemed worthy). It is found at this link: http://www.inkitt.com/stories/19400

Thank you so much! And if anyone has a story that they would like me to take a look at I would be happy to. Just comment below. I really like reviewing stuff. :)

Promoting Your Writing

Nowadays most writers can't just be writers. Now that the self-publishing industry is growing, authors are having to promote their own work, dividing their time between that and their passion. I think that it is extremely important to be able to promote your writing, and with the internet it is pretty easy. You just have to be willing to take the time to do so.

There are many social media sites that make promotion easy. Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, etc. It is an easy way to gain followers and connect with fans. During a class at a Willamette Writer's meeting, someone told me a very interesting method for promoting yourself on social media. Some writers just promote and promote and promote and drive their followers crazy. When you only post things about yourself, it has that affect on people. She told me that you should divide your posts in thirds. One third of your posts should be promoting your work (naturally), one third should be used to promote someone else's work, and one third should be a post on something interesting that relates to your writing. (For example, if you are writing a story about saving the whales you might post statistics on how many whales are dying per year.) That way you're not turning people off to your work.

Another means of promotion is face to face. Going to writing classes or conferences -- or just anything involving other readers and writers -- is a good idea. I have gone to the Wordcrafters conference for the last two years and have found that face to face promotion is very affective. People remember you if you are willing to talk to them. And not just about your writing. Sometimes making contacts and meeting people is enough. Developing those relationships will help you make more important connections later on. Many writers are ready and willing to share advice and try to help you.

The last means I know of is simply getting your writing out there. A writer needs readers. And in order to get those, you must (obviously) give them something to read, whether you submit to magazines or use sites like Wattpad and Inkitt. Inkitt is a particular favorite of mine. It is a great place to get feedback on your writing. And a good place to give feedback of your own. I have found that reviewing other people's work is a great way to promote yourself...and to help out other writers. When you are willing to give of some of your time others are more willing to give you some of theirs.

Any other ways to promote yourself? Please comment below!