YeahWrite!

How to use the Apostrophe

The apostrophe serves three functions: contraction, plural and possessives.

Contraction

It’s = it is

Avoid the most common mistake: “its” is the possessive form of it.

Plural

It is rare for an apostrophe to be used for a plural noun.

The Jones’s have been extinct since the 1980’s. The Joneses have been extinct since the 1980s.

Certain abbreviations or words are exception to the rule.

He scored…

How Supporting Characters Showcase the Protagonist

How supporting characters showcase the protagonist

All the characters are part of an interconnected web, distinguished by contrast. The contrast between characters helps define each character in four major ways: story function, archetype, themeand opposition. We constantly compare ourselves and others to everybody else. Readers do the same with fictional characters. We need context to interpret…

How Tough is your Hero really? Take the Wimp Test!

Wimp or Hero? Take five minutes to go over this list whether you intended to write a wimp character or not. You’ll be surprised how many authors aimed for a hero but wrote a wimp instead.

Take the test

Add a wimp point to his score every time the character does one of the following:

Take a breath / Exhale / Sigh etc

Shrug

Hesitates

Has visceral responses to minor triggers (heart attack from the…

The Structure of a Suspense Scene

Part 1 – Stating the scene goal (1 short paragraph)

State what the protagonist‘s goal is and why. Display character emotions of anxiety and suspense.

Part 2 – Suspense building (a few paragraphs)

Have the protagonist knowingly enter a dangerous situation, often using emphasis on a barrier such as a door. Use vivid description and use audio sensory details. Display character emotions of…

How to make writing a habit

Writing flourishes best when it is done in a routine, so make it a habit! The only way to make it a habit is by writing every day. If that’s not possible, be sure to write at least once every two-three days.

Setting yourself up for a writing session

Step 1:Make the time

Pick a time, preferably every day, where you can have one or two hours to yourself. Yes, others might not like it at first but…

Dialogue: giving each character a unique voice

iving a character a unique voice creates a vivid mental image of a person because speech is a form of characterization. Word choice, grammar, cursing and even silence, it all says something about the sort of person.

Note: this goes for major characters only. It is not necessary to give a distinct voice to background characters or minor characters with only one or two speaking lines.

Content…

Publishing is every writer’s dream, but the road from manuscript to book-store sales takes quite a while.

The publishing timeline from the author’s perspective Month 0: Submit

You submit your work to an agent/publisher. Submission is a lengthy process which can take anything from months up to years until you find someone interested in buying the product.

Month 1: Agree

You agree on contract terms…

Quick overview of biggest genres

Mainstream

Mainstream stories are contemporary stories intended for the general public rather than a specific audience. This type of story challenges the reader’s belief system, suggests a new life vision, asks provocative questions, provokes introspection, and/or shakes up conventional rules.

Literary Type

Literary stories are avant-garde and experimental stories that incorporate unconventional…

What’s in it

The delivery date. Deliver an ‘acceptable’ manuscript to the publisher before this date. The word acceptable is the weak point here. Try to get the publisher to provide a clearer definition or at the very least, a dead line within which they have to accept or reject the manuscript. (You repay the advance if you deliver an ‘unacceptable’ manuscript.)

Agreement that corrections after…

Self-editing; How to Polish the prose

 Writing is rewriting.

When you’re writing, you’re all over the place in creativity and flow. When you’re rewriting, you are tidying up, restoring the order so your writing stays on track. Polish: Smoothing the reading. For example: changing words or phrases. Rewrite: reworking elements of the story to make it more immediate and dramatic. For example: adding or cutting characters. Adding or…

The Literary Agent, Why you’ll want one and How to get one

Why you’ll want an agent

Some major publishing houses won’t even look at your work if it wasn’t submitted through an agent. Many editors prefer negotiating contracts through an agent rather than an author. The editor and agent speak the same language. Agents know the editors and publishing houses better than authors and thus also know how much wiggle room there truly is when negotiating the…

The short story is the most common form of story-telling in our daily lives. It’s the method we use when we tell our partner’s about our day and our children about what the world was like in the past. It’s the way we tell all the stories of our lives and everybody elses. The story begins with knowing and goes directly to the core of the experience. It should generate a sense of anticipation, hope…

Step 3: The Synopsis – The Taster That Gets Them Hooked

If all goes to plan, you hooked the agent/editor enough with the query letter to make them turn the page and start reading your synopsis.

What is a synopsis?

Think of it like one bite of a dish. The purpose is to give them a taste of what it’s like.

How long should it be?

Strictly speaking, you’re allowed up to five pages for a synopsis but it is recommended to stick to one (two, if you must).…

Foreboding: I got this feeling…

A foreboding is a feeling something bad is going on. Unlike foreshadowing, which hints at actual plot events to come, a foreboding is purely a mood. Because you are playing on atmosphere, creating an ambience, remember to use the senses. A foul smell gives a bad feeling. A creepy sound gives a bad vibe. Something is out of place and it makes no sense. Create an…

Header one

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt…

How to get into Flow

What Flow feels like

You are completely focused on the task at hand.

You have a sense of ecstasy.

You know exactly what needs to be done.

You know you have the skill to do it.

You know how well you’re doing it.

You lose your sense of self and think of nothing else.

You lose your sense of time.

You are intrinsically motivated, it is self rewarding.

When ‘flow’ occurs

Flow occurs when the writer…

Step 2: The Cover / Query Letter that sells books

New writers often don’t realise the importance of a great query letter. For the editors and agents, the query letter is the first thing they see and they use that to judge whether they want to see more of you or not. So don’t rush it. Take your time, write different versions. Treat it the same as your manuscript, refuse to send it out unless you believe it will sell!

What is a cover / query letter