 Drama: August 05, 2009 Issue [#3202] |
  Drama
This week: Who Can Stay Focused? Raise Your Hand. Edited by: esprit  
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"There is no rule on how to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly: sometimes it's like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges."
(Ernest Hemingway)
Definition of: advice from Dictionary.Com
-noun 1. an opinion or recommendation offered as a guide. Communication of information.
Writing advice is only advice--not a requirement. The purpose of advice is to give a helping boost and a possible solution to those writers who get stuck or discouraged and can't figure out why. They know who they are. If you can assess your writing honestly, you'll learn to work with your natural strengths and navigate around the areas that give you trouble.
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Who Can Stay Focused? Raise Your Hand.
When I finally manage to arrange an idea neatly around a topic or theme and begin to write, the idea invariably grows horrendous tendrils that would do a horror story proud. It pulls in dozens of related and unrelated topics to fill my mind until the article becomes out of control. I lose sight of my original idea and become frustrated in my attempts to straighten it all out. I know none of you have trouble staying focused but I do. I've heard writing is good therapy and I am determined to cure myself, so thought I'd try it. The idea is if I wrote about 'focus', I could trick my mind into actually believing it could.
Shannon  suggested writing a one-sentence summary of the story, printing it in a huge font, and taping it to your monitor. This keeps your mind focused on the main idea and it works, especially while writing the first draft. Losing the focus of an idea is a common problem and each of you should find your own solution. I'm working on me here.
I need more than one sentence to keep my mind on the topic though. A sentence leaves too much room for other ideas to creep in. Really, I think I need the discipline of a complete outline to keep me on track. I'll have to try that someday.
Is there such a thing as coincidence? Last night I happened to read the blurb on the back of Sleep No More by Greg Iles, and remembered Shannon's newsletter. Together, they prompted the idea for this newsletter. "Why not use a blurb to keep on track?" I thought to myself. I mean, it's less than an outline, but more than a sentence. It's worth a try to this desperate writer.
What should be included in my blurb? If I wrote fiction, which I don't, a short summary of the plot stuff like conflict, climax, and ending would be needed. I definitely wouldn't include subplots because they would only get me off the main track again. Woo, imagine the curvy paths I could get lost in. The ending would have to be included in my blurb. At least I'd have a fairer chance of ending up in the general vicinity. That's a biggie for me.
Summarizing a story into a blurb is one way to teach ourselves to focus on the most important parts of the story. If we find it difficult to decide what belongs in the blurb, it may be that we're not sure what's important to the main plot and what's not because we failed to focus. You think? Perhaps subplots are complicating it, or becoming more important than they should. We get sidetracked. This is exactly my problem. It's all important to me and I like it, but that's what ruins a good piece of writing. It's frustrating! How do so many manage to write piece after piece with no outward signs of distress, and all the while keeping a happy face smile on their icons?  Are they insane?
Yes, using something like this is like having a map to your goal, but it does you no good if it's hidden under a desk full of scribbles, cookie crumbs, and sticky notes with Writing.Com stamped in the upper left corner urging me to "Write On!" Easy for them to say.
I think whether you use a single line, a paragraph, a map, or make up your own method, the important thing is to find what works for you and use it. It's very easy to lose focus and go places you didn't intend to go, especially when the tendrils of the original idea keep reaching out to other topics. There are just too many things to write about!
Thanks for reading and good luck with the focusing bit, we'll see how it works.
Oh, and Write On!
 Write to Your Audience and Know Who They Are.
There will be a full length Children's Lit newsletter coming up; in the meantime here are a couple of ideas for you to focus on.
Create characters who are a year or two older than the intended audience. Why is this important? If the readers are older than the characters, they'll feel as if they're reading a 'baby book', or being talked down to. Also, remember that kids don't like the idea that someone younger can do things they can't or aren't allowed to do. Kids have their pride and they are very particular about what they like. Parents buy the books that children like and want to read or have read to them.
Make sure the characters are authentic, likable, and most important--have an attitude!
Repetition is Okay in Books for Children.
Limit new words to one or two per story. From my experience, they like fun words of several syllables, words that tickle the tongue. Repeat complex words several times so the child can define and learn the word from the context.
Repetition is one way children master reading, and getting them to love to read is our main goal in writing for them, right? Just be cautious of turning an adventure story into a boring textbook.
If there is a particular topic you'd like to see, let me know through the response link. Don't forget to submit your stories!
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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!
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Comments on "Invalid Entry"
Submitted By: THANKFUL SONALI Library Class! 
Submitted Comment: La la la la la la! Kids' stuff, kids' stuff! Can't wait ... thank youuuuuu and Congratulations on the permanent editor spot!
Sonali
Thank you, Sonali! Don't forget to submit your Kids' stuff.
Submitted By: flex
Submitted Comment: Dear esprit, it is good to see you will be here on a regular basis. I look forward to reading your newsletters on the outlined topics.
Thanks, Felix. I look forward to it too. 
Submitted By: Adriana Noir
Submitted Comment: Sounds like you have some great plans and things in store for us! I can't wait to read your future editions.
Yeah, I'm excited too. Be sure to submit your stories, I'd love to include them in the newsletter. 
Submitted By: faithjourney
Submitted Comment: Welcome to the drama newsletter! I'm glad you're going to do an edition on children's lit because that's an area where I need work. I have submitted one of my children's stories to help you launch this effort. It's about my parrot. I hope it helps.
Thanks!
I got it and it's included above, thanks. I look forward to the first issue too.
Submitted By: Lauriemariepea
Submitted Comment: thanks for the info about your plans for the newsletters, esprit--i've wondered how editors choose which works to highlight each week. congratulations on reaching permanent status! woohoo!
I'm submitting one of my recent stories that i kinda like--I hope you do, too
Well, I choose my first picks from items I've read and/or reviewed, second, from the submitted list, then I go to my readers. I hope you get lots of reads by submitting your story, I've put it on my to-read list and will be sending a review. Thanks!
We always appreciate the feedback, thanks for the warm welcome!
Editors:
Joy 
Adriana Noir
SantaBee 
esprit |
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