But as Fiona Quinn explains, there are 4 words that can magically open windows to information. I’m writing a book.
There are lots of places to get information. You know me, I’m a Google-it nut. But on occasion, you may need the help of a professional. And the best way to get them to open up and share their expertise is these 4 magical words—I’m writing a book.
From now own, I’m not going to be shy about using them. I don’t know about you but I always hesitated when someone asks how I spend my time. But time to put my big girl britches on, square my shoulders and speak out. Never know where these 4 magical words might lead me. Thanks, Fiona!
Facts are as important as grammar, and punctuation. So as you go through your editing process, be sure and check the facts. Large and small are important.
Do you have trouble sharing that you’re writing a book?
Have you used experts for advice? How’d that go?
Are you shy about your writing? Why?
I HOPE YOU TAKE A MINUTE ANDFOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA, JUST CLICK ON THE BUTTONS BELOW. I’LL LEAVE A LIGHT ON.
In the dead of night, you might not be sure. No one heard the noise but you. So you try and describe what you heard. Ever happen to you?
Describing sound is sort of like grasping at smoke. One drifts through your fingers and the other fades from your mind until they are gone.
As a writer, I find describing a sound is harder than describing an object. A picture or an object or a location is easier because I can see it. Well, what’s a writer do?
How about a new tool that lets you hear the sound you are trying to describe?
Y’all know me. I love tech gadgets. Especially when it’s at my fingertips.
Last week I discovered several websites for sounds.
Want to describe a gunshot? Well, SoundSnap has 4592 variations from which to choose. Choose the type of gun and where. Is your character firing a single gun in a large room or loading and firing a rifle at a target practice. Outdoor, indoor, or at a target range?
What about the sound of ocean waves? Crashing, soft, against pebbles, sand, clifts or big rocks. SoundSnap gives you 281 different choices.
Everything from sports, crowds, shoppers, crying, you name it. Barking dog? What type of dog? WithSoundSnap you can find it all from every day mundane to the gross and bizarre. The choices are only limited by your imagination.
This app is so much fun. It’s tree to join or you can subscribe to a monthly membership. Also, you can purchase a sound. On occasion, you may find a few sounds that are free to download. SoundSnap even gives you information as to who submitted the sound.
AND it is always FREE to listen.
So now when you look up pictures to help with a description, you can now look up sounds to give your story a bit more realism.
The good thing about YouTube in addition to sounds you can also find videos. However, I found it a little more difficult to narrow down to a specific individual sound.
Ever wish you could hear a sound to better describe it for your readers?
Do you think hearing the sound helps with your description?
Do you need to incorporate more of the senses in your stories?
Do you have a favorite website for sounds?
In all three apps, some sounds are more realistic than others. So you need to play around to find just what you’re looking for. Happy hunting.
I HOPE YOU TAKE A MINUTE ANDFOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA, JUST CLICK ON THE BUTTONS BELOW. I’LL LEAVE A LIGHT ON.
I recently read an article about the 9 muses of Greek mythology and wondered what they might look like in today’s world. After all, we’ve evolved so why shouldn’t they?
Maybe your muse is ready for a modern makeover.
Nothing too wild, just a bit of updating.
Close your eyes. Now imagine what your muse looks like. Does she have wings and the voice of an angel? Or does she tease you so often you’ve imagined her with horns? Maybe instead of Clio holding a book, she’s relaxing amidst the pages of a good book?
How about Erota, maybe she’s a warrior fighting for a hero in that romance novel you’re writing?Writing comedy? Then maybe Thalia is the right muse for you. Melpomene was the protector of tragedy, so if you’re writing a tear-jerker, you might want to pick her.
Go ahead click, and read the article below to pick a muse, there are 9 to choose from, and then give her a modern-day makeover. Who knows maybe it will inspire you both.
Writer Angus MacPhail is credited with coining the term, Alfred Hitchcock adopted the word and used it throughout his career.
One way to understand a MacGuffin is to find what, in your story, inspires or motivates the characters.
A MacGuffin can be the goal, object, desire, or gimmick that is of vital importance to the characters. As there are great women behind good mean, there must be something motivating your character to action. MacGuffin is a plot device that gets the story started.
Writers/authors and teachers often disagree on this subject. Some say every story has one or should have one, others say the term MacGuffin was an inside joke between Angus MacPhail and Alfred Hitchcock and shouldn’t be taken seriously.
One example is in the Maltese Falcon. The hunt for the falcon gets the story rolling, but has little to do with where the film ends up. This is a perfect MacGuffin.
Want to read more about MacGuffin? Click on links below.
Ever wish you could hear a sound to better describe it for your readers?
Did you pick out a muse to inspire your current work?
Jean's Writing 