Archive for the ‘Writing’ Category

Abbreviations (5 tips)

Posted: January 14, 2014 in Writing, Writing Tips
0

An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase.

  1. An abbreviation is not pronounced as it is written. Examples: We pronounce Dr as Doctor, Jan. as January, abbr. as abbreviation.
  2. An abbreviation usually ends in a full stop. Examples: subj., etc., Pres., adj., Dec., Fri., Univ.
  3. If the abbreviation ends with the last letter of the word, you do not use a full stop. Examples: Dr, Mr, Mrs, St, Ave, Sgt
  4. If the initial letters of words make up an abbreviation, you do not use a full stop. This is called an initialism and the letters are pronounced separately. Examples: SPCA, UK, HIV, BBC, CIA, UN, CD
  5. If the initials of a group of words form a new word, it is called an acronym. The word is pronounced as spelt and no full stops are used. Examples: NATO, AWOL, Aids, Scuba, Laser, Asap (See Seven Rules for Acronyms)

http://writerswrite.co.za/abbreviations-five-tips-for-writers

10 Essential Tips For Writing an Antagonist

Posted: January 14, 2014 in Characterization, Ideas, Plotting, Writing, Writing Tips
0

These 10 Tips for Writing Antagonists will help writers when they are creating this vital role in their novel.

  1. The antagonist is the character who MOST stands in the way of the protagonist achieving the story goal.
  2. He or she is known as the villain but need not be evil.
  3. The antagonist’s goal is in direct conflict with the goal of the protagonist.
  4. It is better if your villain is a person, not a force of nature (earthquake, flood), a group (gang, big company) or a general life condition (poverty, corruption).
  5. The antagonist should be equal in strength to your protagonist in order to fight a good fight.
  6. The best antagonist is someone who already plays a part in your protagonist’s life.
  7. Create a character whose motivation for opposing the protagonist’s story goal is as strong and logical as the hero’s reason for opposing the antagonist’s goal.
  8. The antagonist does not have to work from a negative motivation. If the roles were reversed the villain could become the protagonist.
  9. A great antagonist believes that his motivations are valid and his actions justified.
  10. Never create an antagonist who exists merely to obstruct the lead. You will end up with a shallow stereotypical character.

http://writerswrite.co.za/10-essential-tips-for-writing-antagonists

Seven Essential Things to Remember About Very Important Characters

Posted: January 14, 2014 in Characterization, Plotting, Writing, Writing Tips
0

Seven ways to ensure you give VICs the attention they deserve

  1. Make them powerful enough to make choices.
  2. Make them the centre of attention. Even if they aren’t in a scene, the other characters should talk about them or think about them.
  3. They must make frequent long appearances throughout your book. If they don’t, you may have cast a character incorrectly.
  4. Make their actions and decisions memorable. As VICs, they are responsible for inciting actions or responding to events.
  5. Make the reader empathetic towards them. Your reader does not have to like them, but they need to understand why they’re doing what they’re doing.
  6. Make these characters viewpoint characters. Readers like to see the story through their eyes.
  7. Make sure they are worthy opponents for each other. If you want to create a compelling, memorable protagonist, you need a strong, three-dimensional antagonist. (Read 10 Essential Tips for Creating Antagonists)

If you do this, you will probably find that it’s easier to write your book. You won’t be giving prime time to supporting characters and you’ll be concentrating on the plot, not the sub-plots.

http://writerswrite.co.za/seven-essential-things-to-remember-about-very-important-characters

The First Line Writing Contest

Posted: September 30, 2013 in Writing, Writing Contests
0

http://www.thefirstline.com/

Sanguine Tears (short)

Posted: September 30, 2013 in Vignette, Writing
0

I have my good days and bad days and the life, though not one I chose, I enjoy. Being a vampire was something of a wondrous thing so much power and so much weakness rolled into one.

I was sired February 25th, 1510 by a devious Italian vampire named Marcus. I was a Gypsy traveling the roads with my family when one night Marcus and his brood attacked my camp killing everyone but me. Instead he bit me, draining me of my blood and letting her drink of his own blood – giving me new life.

I’m not sure where to start with things. There is a lot to tell. I guess I will start off with: my sire was killed August 11th, 2008. One would think I would be sad to know that my sire was killed and that his head was placed on a silver pike for all to see. I have to say with a resounding NO that I am not sad about this at all. This man, if you want to call him that, was an evil son of a bitch. In true Malkavian tradition he was a crazy son of a bitch! He had no self-control and he derived his joy in torturing his fledglings — especially the female ones. He was highly picky about who he sired. He watched them; he chose them for a reason. He was like the serial killers that you hear of these days on the news. It is scary if you think about it. Makes you wonder about the serial killers doesn’t it? But I digress.

So you see I am not being heartless when I say I am not sad that he is now dead! So many things happened to me at his hands, and the hands of some of his male childer. He should have taken care of me, taught me the things I needed to know about being a vampire — but instead he raped me, and beat me. He tortured me as well as many other of his female childer. This went on for many years…until I was finally able to escape. I will go into more detail about some of the things that have happened another time…but right now I just can’t do it.

On a brighter note I have met a wonderful vampire that I have fallen deeply in love with. Her name is Lita. She is my life, my love and my everything in this world. She is the fledgling of the Mulkavian leader, Vamprous. She is young, and new to the life of being a vampire but I love her dearly. I have never loved anyone — everyone I had gotten remotely close to always hurt me in some way. And those who were actually nice to me always wanted something from me in the end.

Speaking of Vamprous — he is the one who killed Marcus. He killed him because he took me in. He knows that Lita cares for me and loves me and so he accepts me as his own, too. When he found out about the problems I have been having with the nightmares about what Marcus would do to me — he started hunting for him. He put his own personal guards on me to protect me and he had others hunting him down. He had Paine searching through the archives for anything on him. They found him and Vamprous dealt with him.
Before he left to deal with Marcus he asked me if I wanted, and gave him permission, once Marcus was killed, if he could adopt me? He is the one male that I completely trust and I said yes. When Marcus was dead, he came to me in the astral and bit me, giving me his mark and passing on his gifts to me. I was and am very grateful for everything he has done for me. I feel for the first time in my long life that I am wanted somewhere, that I am truly loved by those around me.

Magus (Vamprous) did say that the astral bite he gave me would last forever, but at sometime he would have to ‘bite me’ for real. So at sometime that will have to happen.

But like I said, for the first time in my life I feel like I belong somewhere…and I am wanted for more than just a toy…something to keep those around me amused.

Marcus’ Perspective

Posted: September 30, 2013 in Vignette, Writing
0

I watched her; she was beautiful, tall and slight in appearance. Her green eyes almost glowed in the moonlight. She was everything I had wanted. She moved around with a languid sway of the hips and her hair flowed down around her. I loved her.

 

I sent the boys in and they attacked her family. I watched. I grew eager knowing she would soon be mine. I growled as I watched her panic and run in fear. The fear was thick in the air and in a swift movement I was at her side. I grabbed her arm and pulled her in close to me, our bodies pressed to one another in an immortal embrace.

 

My teeth sank into her porcelain flesh and crimson blood oozed from the wounds. I savored the sweetness of her blood and drank until her heart slowed, before biting my own wrist and allowing her to feed of my own blood. In an instant she chose her fate and drank of my blood and became one of the undead.

25 Ways to Fuck with Your Characters

Posted: August 28, 2013 in Writing, Writing Tips
0

http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2011/08/02/25-ways-to-fuck-with-your-characters/

Chuck Wendig is a novelist, screenwriter, and game designer. This is his blog. He talks a lot about writing. And food. And the madness of toddlers. He uses lots of naughty language. NSFW. Probably NSFL. Be advised.

Newer Entries