Writer's classes and workshops
Ray Bradbury
Well, 2008's started with a bang. My short story, Anasazi Moon, is now in print! For those of you who would like a great read check out JD Vine Publishing: http:www.jdvine.com. The book is called The Creative Writer series book 2, Quaquay's Birthday and Uncharted Life with other stories and poems. My story, Anasazi Moon, is one of the "other stories" in this book. The price is $13.99 U.S. and only 6.5828GBP or 8.81454EUR. There, you've got the conversions, why wait, you can't find a better deal than that. Note that shipping and handling are free even to Europe for those of you who would like it but think the postage would be too much. I checked with the publisher to make sure that they hadn't made a mistake when I first saw it, but no, it's truly free shipping. The book is also on the shelf at Amazon.com and B.Dalton among others but I don't think they offer free postage.
Okay, enough promo of my stuff, on to what's new and exciting.
I recently found a new online software program that seems to be the best I've used so far. As you may know I use Open Office (instead of MS Word) and Liquid Story Binder when I write. While casting about on the net for a good freebie time line software program I ran across StoryRight, an on line program. Now I usually don't care much for on line software, I like to have it loaded into my hard drive, it just seems better to me for some reason, BUT, I was intrigued when I noticed that an aspect of the program was the ability to interview each character. Well, being as trying out the software program is FREE, I thought I'd give it a go. WOW! I'm impressed. I'm starting to work on a new novel based on my original short story, Savannah, and decided to use StoryRight. It's a perfect fit for me. It does three major things that I always have trouble with:
2.Story Outline: A full outline organized chapter by chapter and scene by scene.
3.Character Dossiers: For each character, a full dossier is generated automatically.
(This feature allows the author to inteview his potential character
with a list of questions.)
Rather than my going into long boring details about it, suffice it to say that it is now my primary software for creating stories. For more information and to give it a trial spin, go to: http://www.storyright.com. Note: Though the first trial run is free, It costs $4.95 U.S. to use it for a month. Then it's about $12.95 per year OR $49.00 approx. for a lifetime membership. I am usually turned off by software that is free trial, then a fee, but this is an exception. As it is the best writing tool I've yet to find, IMHO it's well worth every penny. I've paid my $4.95 for the first month to give it a real workout but, unless I find something that I can't live with, I'll be signing up for my lifetime membership.
Finally, here's a great little freebie from last month called Motivator Software.
MOTIVATOR SOFTWARE
Here’s how it works. You start by simply installing the Motivator software onto your computer. Then, like the samples below, you provide it with a series of messages that help you to remember your goal...
I am achieving my goal of eating healthy foods.
Take five deep, long breaths... NOW!
I have fully released my old addictions.
I am enjoying my smoke-free lungs!
SMILE!
I have great posture. Sit up straight!
I am super-focused and in The Zone!
Take five minutes right now to appreciate life.
I am using today to demonstrate how patient I am.
In business, I focus on making money.
Of course, these are all pretty generic. Your goals as a writer may be a LOT more specific.
Then you just let Motivator run silently in the background of your PC. At set intervals, Motivator will remind you of your goals.
The messages appear a little like one of those instant messenger popups that tells you a friend has just logged on. But instead, the Motivator software will be shifting you ONE STEP CLOSER toward your desires.
Like that stone in your shoe, Motivator makes itself noticed, and helps keep YOUR GOALS fresh in YOUR MIND.
And within an average of TWO SHORT WEEKS, you’ll have adopted that positive behavior pattern as a NEW HABIT.
"... All THANKS to the POWER of PROGRAMMED REHEARSAL." Sound interesting? Check my website, http://www.aelfbooks.com/ under "Good Stuff" which is where you will find links to writer oriented freebies.
I take writer's classes every time I can afford one. The more, the better. The most obvious benefit is that I hone my skills as a writer. There are other, less obvious benefits also. Being enrolled in a class puts the brakes on any lazy streak I might fall into. It keeps me writing. It also is an external validation and critique of my work. Learning is, to me, a trial and error process, one where I reap the most benefit by having an instructor reviewing what I do and guiding me toward that elusive plateau of mastery.
I recently took a small class on creating characters called "Who is that person,? Developing four dimensional characters." by Dorry Pease. It's an inexpensive five week course that I found to be excellent. The critiques I received after each lesson were clear, concise and, in some cases, eye opening.
I found this class through my association with Long Story Short, an Ezine for writers. Part of the Ezine is The Long Story Short School of Writing. Tons of courses are offered, courses that won't be found anywhere else on the net. LSS can be found at http://www.alongstoryshort.net/. See also link at bottom of page. This was the first writers site that I joined. Directly or indirectly the school, along with the writers group I belong to which is part of it (see My Writing Friend link below), are responsible for my being published. Of course, I had something to do with it also but they supplied the foundation as support for me to continue. Okay, you've got the picture. They're great! Check 'em out!
Last but Not Least
"I didn't know that! Bits about the Bard"
"I didn't know that! Bits about the Bard"
Here's a couple of facts regarding Shakespeare I stumbled across on www.cummingsstudygiudes.net . There's more for those interested, just click on the link.
1) Moons of the planet Uranus are named after characters in Shakespeare's plays. For example, two moons discovered in 1787 were named Oberon and Titania, after characters in A Midsummer Night's Dream. A moon discovered in 1986 was named Juliet, after a character in Romeo and Juliet. Two moons discovered in 1997 were named Caliban and Sycorax, after characters in The Tempest.
2) The ceiling of Shakespeare's stages was called "The Heavens."
3) Shakespeare and other writers of his time probably did most of their writing during the day to avoid paying for the expensive candles required for nighttime writing.
Sites to see, places to go and groups to join
Nick Daws Writers Circle: Nick Daw's Writer's Circle.
Wridea: http://www.wridea.com/
Wridea: http://www.wridea.com/
USA Patriotism, Poetry: http://www.usa-patriotism.com/
Poynter: 30 Writers Tips: http://http//web.archive.org/web/20060622070944/poynteronline.org/content/content_view.asp?id=707
Freebie Writers Tools
Auto Crit Automatic manuscript checker: http://www.autocrit.com/
Word Web download :Word Web
I’ll be adding to the above list as time goes on and I find more newbie friendly sites.
Copyright © 02/01/08
Poynter: 30 Writers Tips: http://http//web.archive.org/web/20060622070944/poynteronline.org/content/content_view.asp?id=707
Auto Crit Automatic manuscript checker: http://www.autocrit.com/
Word Web download :Word Web
I’ll be adding to the above list as time goes on and I find more newbie friendly sites.
Copyright © 02/01/08
posted by Aelf at 4:10 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home