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Posts from the ‘Craft’ Category

Oct 19

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Breathe life into characters with the right names

What do you think of when you hear these names? Holden Caulfield, Bilbo Baggins, Jane Eyre, Hannibal Lecter, and Scarlett O’Hara.

Memorable character names help grab readers’ attention, and gripping characters become so real that readers remember them long after they read the last page of a book.

I collect names the way I collect other writing bits in my commonplace book. I wrote these down recently: Virgil Doty, Pernelle Parker, Carlyle Scoggins.

Here are a few things to think about when you’re creating character names:

Avoid similar sounding names – Especially in the beginning of your story, readers will be meeting your characters and trying to place them and the relationships. Jared, Jason and Joseph are all nice names but too many “J” names might throw off readers. Read more

Oct 17

A blast from the writing past

If you’re new to One Wild Word, you may have missed some of our earlier posts. Dip into some posts from the past and shake up your writing mind.

Write lyrically by reading poetry

Learn more about how poetry can be your bubble bath for a productive writing session. Read more

Oct 12

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Query letter or book proposal? The answer may surprise you

In the process of submitting my memoir to agents, most advice I’ve been given led me to believe that I should treat the submission process as if my book were fiction. Specifically, I should send a query letter. But at the Pacific Northwest Writer’s Conference I attended in August, the agents who wanted to see my book requested a full book proposal. And I’m glad they did.

By writing the book proposal, I was able to put together an outline of my promotional plan and other information I’ll need to market my book. In the process, I discovered some good information about the core of my book. (It’s most helpful if you write your proposal before you actually finish the book and then tweak it as needed. I wish I had).

Below are some guidelines for creating your own nonfiction book proposal. Read more

Oct 7

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Writing assignment: Make your character do something for the first time

We all get into ruts and patterns. What we eat, what routes we take to get to work, and what we do once we get there — routines for going about each part of our day.

Routines have their place. They forge discipline and efficiency. They provide security and order.

But when was the last time you did something for the first time? Read more

Oct 3

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Five fixes for creative anxiety

Do you ever feel creative anxiety? Your brain is buzzing, and you’re spinning your creative wheels faster than your feet can pedal. You’re just plain fried.

I’ve analyzed this malady to see what causes it, as well as what fixes it.

  1. You’re looking at the project as a whole instead of bite-sized pieces. Change how you think about your work. If you’re struggling with where to start or the enormity of what you’re doing, don’t try to attack it all at once. Focus on one piece, whether it’s writing one stellar sentence or one excellent chapter. As Anne Lamott said, “bird by bird.” Read more

Sep 29

Three ways to say no to stereotypes and surprise your readers

A sure way to suck the life out of a story is by using stereotypical characters. For one thing, it usually means the rest of your story will be stereotypical – and predictable.

Stereotypical characters are stereotypes because their character traits have been repeatedly used and with little depth or complexity. You’ve seen them before: The popular blonde cheerleader, the cynical, hard-boiled private detective, and the cold-blooded hitman.  They rob you, the reader, of surprise because you automatically know what will happen next. Read more

Sep 28

Is your elevator pitch missing this key component?

These days, authors need to be writers and marketers. Two professions diametrically opposed to one another. There are definitely aspects of both that I least like. In writing, it’s the first draft (I prefer revision—to me it’s where the magic happens). In marketing, it’s the verbal pitch that gets me trembling like a hamster on methamphetamines.

Pitching to a total stranger who could potentially change my life scares me more than an elevator full of zombies.

I’ve read articles, blog posts, and books on pitching but I always felt as if something was missing (from my pitch, not the information). Maybe it just takes me longer to “get it.”

Fortunately, a recent article by author and professor Luke Williams in the Atlantic magazine helped me realize what I was missing: the turning point. Williams quotes master storyteller and screenwriter Robert McKee who says that, “turning points have to surprise, increase curiosity, and present a new direction.”

If you want to sell yourself and your ideas, make sure this element is part of your pitch.

Read the full article here.

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