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 |  Each snowflake, like each human being is unique. |
Title A New Writing Year Begins Title What you are doing on New Year's Day you will be doing all year long. About Newsletter As the old year ends a New Year begins: Have I tied up all my loose ends or is my plot unraveling? As the old year ends a New Year begins: Am I writing something new or working on something old? Letter Grandma Mary, my maternal grandmother, was a woman of wisdom. She had several sayings about the New Year and what a person should or should not do on New Year's Day. One of the things she always insisted we do on New Year's Day was eat black-eyed peas and greens because they would bring good luck and prosperity. In addition to the food, she had a couple of sayings that should be listed under advice to authors. First, "What you do on New Year's Day you will be doing everyday for the rest of the year!" Second, "Always start something new on New Year's Day!" If you want to write everyday during the year then begin writing on the first day. Do you have an idea for a story plot or a character? Do you have an idea for a world where magic and technology work in harmony? If so, then sit down and write about them. If you do not know what to write then write about a New Year's superstition that has a basis in reality somewhere in the universe. Six Reasons to Start a New Story on New Year's Day  It gives you a reason to get out of bed on New Year's Day. You can use your experience of ringing in the New Year by placing the party in a fantasy setting with elves, unicorns, or aliens as the party guest. It gets your writing year off to a good start. It prevents you from cleaning house on New Year's Day so you do not sweep away the good fortune for 2015. It prevents you from doing laundry on New Year's Day so you do not "wash away" any relatives or friends living in your house. It gives you a chance to make up new superstitions about what not to do on New Year's Day.What are your reasons for starting a new story or writing project on New Year's Day? Editor's Picks
Excerpt: “Hello, Navigator. I am NavCom, your command interface and navigation system. You are being awakened from suspended animation. Your memory may be foggy as the effects wear off. If you do not remember, our mission is to map this sector. You were awakened because of a conflict of protocol. Your authorization is required in order to continue the mission.”
Excerpt: The pigeon wheeled high over lush forests, catching the updraft and sailing ever higher. Any person looking from this viewpoint would have been stunned at the sight. In the distance on one side, high, grey mountains framed the setting sun, then gave way to rolling hills and wide, wide plains. Towns and villages were scattered over the land. On the other, the forests stopped abruptly at a coastline that curved gracefully towards the horizon. The orange sun glimmered in the ocean waves. Any person would have found this twilit scene beautiful. But this was a pigeon.
Excerpt:“I know what you're thinking, Jane,” I said. “This place seems peaceful. There is no way that I live in a haunted Forest. I work very hard to keep that peacefulness going. That is the beauty of being able to speak to the departed.” I watched Jane out of the corner of my eye. “They don’t feel as inclined to cause problems, when you can talk to them. The lost ones looking for a way to cross will always ask for help. Those who are running from their maker, they simply avoid me. They know if they tick me off I can remove them from their current choice of non-living.”
Excerpt: In the Kingdom of Damzy, four twenty AD, Ruled a most beloved King, Jarl Silas Magree. A powerful leader, intelligent, kind, Had only one problem invading his mind.
Excerpt: Do not be afraid, my friend Please offer me your home. My, my! What a dreary place, A dank and dark abode! Don't worry, I'll not be here long Insulting you, my friend, Just let me rest my weary feet And wait 'till darkness ends. Submitted by the Readers
Excerpt: When Jack Clawtooth killed a New York City police officer, a few things happened. First off, he became a wanted man, as killing a police officer is punishable by death, forcing him to flee the state. Second, his wife left him, taking their children with her, heading West. alysia writes: I find it helpful to reread it at least once or twice to make certain my story is moving along even if it has a few holes in it. I found that as I do, I write down notes to keep my story in check after writing on it again, especially if o have been away for a dew days. For me it helps most times (as long as I turn off that inner editor before doing so). Sometimes while reading at sentence structure and descriptions but remember the excitement of those times while writing down a particularly good scene keeps me going. Tadpole1  writes: Good morning,Finish or reread? I would say that if your muse is buzzing, finish, if not, reread and write a synopsis. I find that writing the story in two or three pages puts me back on track, but if the characters are alive and shouting at me, I surely will not stop for anything. Happy holidays, Tadpole1 Jube  writes: I'm going to be blunt here - workshop your chapters before preceding. The worst advice I ever received and am glad I didn't take it was the other route of finishing the novel before doing revisions. Why? Because it's likely your reviewers will notice something that can throw some or all of your storyline out forcing a significant change. You don't want to write 60 chapters only to find out later 30 of them have to be rescinded. Like a sail boat, it's much better to make course corrections as you travel the path to completion than go back and double up on the workload in the end.Quick-Quill  writes: I'm a firm beliver in finishing the work first. Never go back before you are done telling the story. When editing or doing the 2nd draft, the story may change a bit. I changed a city name and the name of the town. Easy to do with WORD, just replace. When you have the whole story in front of you you see where any change to action or setting may change the outcome of the story. panzersherman writes: Typically, as I am doing right now with a current novel, I write a few chapters, then go back and edit them, sometimes adding an additional chapter if the flow is rushed or inconsistent. In the beginning, the plot was sloppy, even worse than a road under construction, it looked like a road after a major earthquake in the dead of winter, complete with land slides and black ice after a semi truck drove through, dragging a jagged crate. Now, the early chapters are much more refined, easier to follow, and thus, more entertaining to read. It also helps me to re-read edited chapters in the event I get stuck when editing (by editing, I mean completely rebuilding a train wreck) or creating a new chapter. Having a third party review the chapters is also extremely helpful. BIG BAD WOLF is Howling  writes: Helps to have people review your story.Tileira writes: I go back. To be fair I haven't actually finished anything yet XD but it's hard for me to know where I'm going if the beginning no longer fits the middle. for me, going back to change the beginning makes the middle feel more sound, conjures new questions and ideas, and helps me decide on the new direction the story is taking. If I have to change the beginning again when I do get to the end, then I will, but I know I'll struggle to the end if the pieces under me don't fit. |
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