It’s hard for me to be honest and forthcoming about someone’s writing. To me, writing is so subjective. Finding grammatical errors is easy several software programs can do that but the nuances that make a good story better are hard to pin down and a good critique helps with that.
So today I was excited to learn a little about critiquing a scene.
Maybe if I practice on giving my writing good constructive criticism instead of nitpicking maybe I can get good at critiquing others writing.
I’ve received the Honorable Mention label a few times and truth be told it was exciting.
First time, second time, third time, but then…
Well, then I got the always a bridesmaid syndrome. You know what I’m talking about, right?
What was wrong with me? I mean my stories. Sorry, that sounded so whiny.
Thanks to David Farland latest email I got a few answers. Not satisfying answers but answers nonetheless.
Here’s what I learned from the Story Doctor.
It’s not me, it’s my writing. Ouch, that hurt.
Not because the writing is bad, it’s just not good enough for the judge. Ouch again.
Since there are no new ideas under the sun, I’d better make sure my take on whatever I write is fresh, unique and interesting. There must be something original that lifts it above others written on the same subject.
Beautiful writing does not make up for sloppy execution.
A dynamic beginning still needs a firm six-pack middle and a satisfying ending with a try-fail cycle that leaves the reader breathless.
Missing elements – no character is an island. They may live on one but they don’t live in a vacuum void of interaction with someone or something. Characters, think and feel about the things around them and that is what brings them to life. Judges need to see that.
David did give me some encouragement. He said if a writer is receiving Honorable Mention then we’re on the right track. Whew, there’s hope for me after all.
Plus, He suggested making a tip sheet of 25 things judges might grade on before submitting. Great idea.
Thanks, David!
If you’d like to read the entire article click the link below.
I’ve written about using Twitter effectively before but I’m still not on top of this social network. Not sure I’ll ever be anything other than a Newbie, however, I keep trying.
Here are some Facts I just recently learned:
The First thing I learned is that Twitter has limits.
I knew that Twitter limited the number of people you could follow but seems they have lots of other limits too.
Direct messages (daily): The limit is 1,000 messages sent per day.
(Avoid DM’s unless you know the person or have developed a trusted relationship with the person. Unfortunately, DM’s have been used by trolls so be careful.)
Tweets: 2,400 per day.
The daily update limit is further broken down into smaller limits for semi-hourly intervals. Retweets are counted as Tweets.
Changes to account email: Four per hour.
Following (daily): The technical follow limit is 1,000 per day.
Please note that this is a technical account limit only, and there are additional rules prohibiting aggressive following behavior. Details about following limits and prohibited behavior are on the Follow Limits and Best Practicespage.
Following (account-based):
Once an account is following 5,000 other users, additional follow attempts are limited by account-specific ratios.
I don’t know about you but watching those Twitter ads fly across my screen is mind-boggling. Buy this, read that, retweet, send, click here, it’s almost like watching Home Shopping Network on steroids. Yet people swear by Twitter!
What is it about Twitter that they love so much?
When I sit and read all the cute tweets and Memes time drifts away and before I know it hours have passed. Is that it? Is that why people like it because they can zone out and forget the rest of the world? Somehow I don’t think so.
Using Twitter is like learning a new language or joining a secret clubhouse when you were a kid. Once in, it all makes sense. Or at least, I’m hoping that’s how it works.
The second thing I learned is the secret handshake.
Drum roll, please.
Lists.
But what to do now that I have this magical organizing tool?
A list is a curated group of Twitter accounts.
You can create your own lists or subscribe to lists created by others. Click on your picture and then you can click on lists. There you can see “Subscribed to (ones you’ve made) and Member of (one other people have added you to).
You can search for a list that applies to your subject or need and start up a conversation with other like-minded people on that list. Engage and don’t annoy.
Now, that sounds like something I can do. The conversation part anyway. The annoying part, I’m a bit iffy on because I’ve been known to annoy some friends during conversations. Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah.
What else I learned about lists?
There are public and private lists.
Make a public list and you have to tend to it.
What? That means readers expect the list to stay active and not get stale. This is something I didn’t understand when I first started using lists. This is more work than I want or need.
So I deleted all of the lists I’d made, thinking I was organizing. I do love to organize stuff. Boxes and cubbies for stuff. However, not if I’m expected to buy more knickknacks every day. Whew!
It’s better to read, ask questions and comment on other people’s lists than make my own.
I discovered that I enjoyed checking into other people’s lists, peeking into their conversations, asking for advice or just chiming in with a comment or two.
Interested in Flash fiction, baseball, cooking or need to find a specific poison or plant reach out on Twitter through Lists. Add a # in front of the word and voila you can find all sorts of information.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. Let me know what you think about using lists in the comments and reach out on You can find me on Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jean.cogdell and Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! Please remember to click and share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.
Maybe I just need to wrap things up and call it a day.
Writing a novel is a daunting task. A finished novel, after editing and cutting, will be about 60,000 words. Which means I need to write about 80,000 or more. Gotta give the editor plenty to slash out of the manuscript. Sigh…
There is a lot more wiggle room regarding word count, with a novella. Usually between 30 to 60,000. With fewer words, comes fewer characters, fewer scenes, and fewer conflicts. Story structure is still very important but with the novella, things happen fast. There isn’t time to drag out the tension nor room to waste words.
No, we must get to the point quickly, leading the reader to the climax with little detours.
How would you go about taking your current WIP and turning it into a novella?
Make an outline using 3 acts
Limit the characters to those necessary to the purpose of the story
Edit out unnecessary characters and subplots (this is hard)
Limit to one single but satisfying conflict, question or goal
Increase and build the pace toward the final conflict during the 3rd act.
Want to read more about writing a novella read the following article from Bridget over at Now Novel
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