For Authors: August 09, 2023 Issue [#12116]
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 This week: EEK! It's a Spider!
  Edited by: đź’€Legerdemaimđź’€
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

The purpose of this newsletter is to help the Writing.com author hone their craft and improve their skills. Along with that I would like to inform, advocate, and create new, fresh ideas for new authors. Write to me if you have an idea you would like presented.

This week's For Authors Editor
đź’€Legerdemaimđź’€


Word from our sponsor



Letter from the editor


*Spider* EEK! It's a SPIDER! *Spider*


Okay..it doesn't have eight legs. It might have six or twenty, there isn't a set definition for this organism. This is about brainstorming ideas. Sometimes it is impossible to work on whatever project you might be writing. You might be stuck on a character flaw, wrote yourself off a cliff or in my case, broke the character's nose in a cafeteria and feel a little lost. I know where I want the story to go but I'm feeling distracted by all those sandwiches in cellophane.

This is about brainstorming. Perhaps you want to start fresh or there might be a contest you want to enter, but ideas aren't gelling in your head. Try pulling out a few sheets of paper and surfing images. Put in a few key words, like the genre of the contest, or if your character is a redhead, type that in. Then start flipping through the images on Google and see what happens. Once you find something that feels intriguing (or scary if your filter is off)) stop and look at the image. Then write a main idea in the middle of your paper, draw a circle around it and then imagine "what happens next". For each idea, draw an arm off the main circle and write that idea in a new circle on that arm. If the idea blossoms, keep drawing arms and circles until your mind stops. Your drawing should end up looking like a spider with real big joints, and if they're like mine, kind of lop-sided and lumpy.

Nevermind. Keep thinking, keep brainstorming. Go through your images until you have a few sheets of paper filled out. Then, I like to wait a few days...or uhm, months and come back to those spiders. Hopefully you remember where you stashed them. Look behind the pile of recipes, that's where I found mine. If the idea is for a contest, you might want to get to it the next day. Then look at each spider and rate them for suitability to the contest. If it's just for a new story idea, go with what still interests you. Can you add more arms? Can you expand the ideas in the circles? Highlight the best ideas and start your story. I generally don't keep the inspiration image because I don't want to get locked on it, I want it to be merely the basis for my ideas. I find the best characters will stick and I know them pretty well.

Now it's time to start writing. If you're an outline person, start that and work your story into your plot points. If you're a wing-it kind of fellow, start typing and let the story unfold. In the end, I hope a wonderful story ends up in your portfolio. Write on!

This month's question: Give us your brainstorming tips!
Answer below *Down* Editors love feedback! *Heart*




Editor's Picks

AUGUST SITE CONTEST:
SURVEY
Short Shots: Official WDC Contest  (ASR)
Use the photo to inspire your creativity. Write a short story and win big prizes!
#1221635 by Writing.Com Support

The task is simple: Write a short story using the image prompt as inspiration!

 
STATIC
Good Deeds Get CASH!  (E)
Write reviews to win cash prizes!
#1908150 by Writing.Com Support

Authors on Writing.Com are looking for good, useful feedback... and of course, exposure within Writing.Com. You can do a good deed by reviewing any qualifying item* on Writing.Com and you might win! Enter as many times as you want to increase your odds of being selected as a prize winner!

FORUM
The Writer's Cramp  (13+)
Write the best poem or story in 24 hours or less and win 10K GPS!
#333655 by Sophyween

Your original work could win 10,000 gift points each day. Try it!

 Past the Pinion Point  (18+)
A writer tries to overcome his addictions, but something far more evil is after him.
#1545635 by Robert 'BobCat'

Excerpt: It may be true that I am a significant alcoholic by right and I am always up for the challenge of proving it, but what am I doing this for? Every pint of the dark ale passed in front of me is drained to its base and I feel nothing. There is no wavering of my mental faculties, no dizziness that makes me feel awkward in my own skin, no enchantment at all of the sublime liquid that I drain down my gullet. I am immune. Even in the excesses that I choose to reach on this night of all nights. Why has the sweet oblivion of the drunken blackout left me; why am I tortured to remain in this coherent state of sobriety?

STATIC
Behind The Door  (13+)
He was on the other side of the door, while the evil laughter echoed throughout the house.
#1171611 by 🕸️intuey's Spider Web

Excerpt: Bam, Bam, S.. C..R..A..T..C..H, BAM. Dan's eyes flew open. Reluctantly, he looked toward the hellish room. The same bedroom he once shared with his wife Sarah, before she went away. The one-room Dan would never dare sleep in alone, ever again.

“Who's there? Answer me!”


 Paying The Bill  (18+)
Jeff and Susan have car trouble. Horror Writing Contest May 2023.
#2295869 by Grave Robbin'

Excerpt: "That'll be five hundred dollars."

"Five hundred? Are you crazy?"

The grin dropped from the mechanic's face.

"I don't much care for your tone of voice, friend."

Jeff took a step back.


FORUM
Memorable Malaprops/Mondegreens Contest  (13+)
Write a flash fiction about your most memorable mishear to win up to 10K GP and an award!
#2298989 by OnlyMagicInkGlows

We all have misheard someone or misused a word at some point.
Share those stories for the chance to win awards!


FORUM
Share Your Faith  (13+)
Are you spiritual? Religious? Or not at all? Can you incorporate this into your writing?
#2204562 by Scaredy Kitti

In each round of this contest I'll post a prompt and ask for either fiction or non-fiction. In the non-fiction rounds, the idea is to share your own experiences surrounding this prompt. In the fiction rounds the idea is to incorporate your faith into the story - it may be your lead character's faith, or your characters may find themselves in an environment where your faith is evident, and so on

FORUM
Writing.Com Battleship!   (E)
The traditional game of Battleship has never been this fun . . . or rewarding!
#1300644 by Scare-emy

An array of 5 virtual ships have been arranged throughout the grid. Simply guess a letter/number combination to shoot your virtual torpedo. If your torpedo hits a ship, the box you guessed will be filled red. However, if your torpedo hits open water, the box you guessed will appear blackened.

GROUP
Flights of Fantasy Group  (18+)
A group for writers of fantasy stories and poetry
#2295322 by A E Willcox

The aim of this group is to inspire, improve, and help fellow writers in the fantasy genre. This is accomplished through peer reviewing, workshops, discussions on the craft of writing, activities and contests, and having an active base of members.

 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Word from Writing.Com

Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
         https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Don't forget to support our sponsor!



Ask & Answer

This month's question: Give us your brainstorming tips!
Answer below *Down* Editors love feedback! *Heart*


Since I'm a guest editor in For Authors, I'll link some helpful resources for the new author.
FORUM
Weekly Goals  (13+)
Motivate yourself to conquer your goals this week! Post on Monday; update us on Friday!
#1949474 by The StoryWitchress


BOOK
Poetry Forms  (13+)
Poetry Forms Easily Explained - a work of Bianca with additions by kansaspoet
#945530 by Bianca


FORUM
Suggestion Box  (ASR)
Drop your new ideas into the Writing.Com Suggestion Box!
#102362 by The StoryWitchress


FORUM
MechGrammical  (13+)
A place to ask and answer questions about writing mechanics and grammar.
#2160953 by Satuawany


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