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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/6699-Writing-and-Holidays.html
For Authors: December 10, 2014 Issue [#6699]

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For Authors


 This week: Writing and Holidays
  Edited by: Vivian Author IconMail Icon
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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

         In fifteen days, people around the world will celebrate Christmas. Yes, other holidays are found during December, and they become writing topics just as Christmas does. Since I know more about Christmas than other December holidays, I'll use it in my examples, but the ways, the tips to make writing about Christmas apply to any holiday.

Sig by Lady Katherine


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Letter from the editor

Writing about Christmas


         This time of the year brings joys and sometimes disappointments because of the holidays celebrated around the world. Writers use the experiences and emotions of holidays for stories, poetry, articles, and even novels. However, the tendency to make such writings as sugar-sweet and cliché filled needs to be avoided. So, how can we write about holidays, such as Christmas, and make our words "real," believable? Let's examine a few ways.

 1.  Have a solid plot with a beginning, middle, and end. Follow plot development as for any type writing.

 2.  Have believable characters. No one is completely nice or completely evil. Use well-rounded, three-dimensional characters. Every "bad" person has at least one good quality. Every "good" person has at least one fault, even at Christmas.

 3.  Whether the experience of the main characters is happy or sad, use a mixture of emotions. Even if the main emotion is sorrow, even in the midst of grief, some smiles are shared; some laughter is heard. Life does continue.

 4.  Use correct practices of those who celebrate the holiday. To write about Hanukkah, I would need to research the practices and celebration. Otherwise, any story would be unbelievable because my ignorance would become apparent.

         I also draw on my own experiences and observations when writing about Christmas. I may take an incidence I saw or know about and place it during the Christmas season. I may read something and use it in a story. Using "real" incidences in our writing help make our writing more believable.

         One of my stores about the Christmas season ("Christmas WishesOpen in new Window.) came from a friend's experience: Her ex-husband kidnapped their children, and detectives finally found them. I mixed in a few other life-experiences to create a complete story.

         Look around and find your holiday story.


Editor's Picks

Writings from W.Com


 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

 THE CATCHERS Open in new Window. [18+]
A funny, kind- of -Christmas story. Australian Literary Award winner.
by tosca Author Icon

Alice in Wonderland Christmas Open in new Window. [E]
Our Christmas tree this year...
by The StoryMistress Author Icon

Money Isn't Everything? Open in new Window. [E]
She sees the holidays a bit differently than you do
by Starr* Rathburn Author Icon

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

Holiday Short Stories/Poems Open in new Window. [E]
Barley Soup for the Soul writings...the chicken crossed the road to avoid reading! Yikes!
by Kathleen Author Icon


 
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Ask & Answer

Words from Our Readers


         Last month, I wrote about the importance of researching even for fiction.

monty31802
Great job Viv, I'm still reading, lived in Lawton for 3 years.

         I have lived in Oklahoma off and on my whole life, and I've been here permanently for the past 42 years.

midnighteddie
I agree with you wholeheartedly about researching your topic or story. I think people who read your story want the basics of your story to be correct in subject matter.

JACE Author IconMail Icon
Outstanding newsletter, Miss Viv. One of my favorite aspects of writing is the research. My problem is wanting to use it all and knowing that's not feasible or possible. *Wink*

aegreenfield
So disturbing. I even read about Molech and Ahaz in the Bible. Moloch does sound like a demon. I'm certain that this was depressing research, but it had to be done. It's said that Satanic rituals like this happen yet today.

         In my research, I read that people today actually still follow Molech. Scarey.



Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Christmas roses

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