Once a novel is planned, outlined, or plotted, it is time for the writer to sit down and start work. Writing an excellent first chapter of a novel is critical in attracting readers, not to mention agents and publishers. Many people will put down a book if it doesn’t hook them right away. This can make writing those first words intimidating. However, creating an excellent first chapter to a novel does not have to be that nerve-wracking, with these tips.
Start With Action
The first chapter doesn’t need to start in the middle of a battle, but there should be something happening. Lengthy descriptions of the scenery and clothing that the characters are wearing are the hallmark of a new writer. Few people can describe the scene in a way that is particularly interesting. Start the first chapter at the point where the main plot is beginning, and start at a point that something is happening.
Don’t Stop to Edit
No author writes perfect first drafts. In fact, it will take longer to edit a book than to write the original draft. Remember that when sitting down to write the first chapter of a novel. It is not supposed to be perfect and that is okay. The important thing is to get the story down on paper so that it can be edited and polished. When beginning a novel, just worry about telling the story. Don’t stop and edit until the first draft is complete.
Study Favorite Books
Almost every writer has a few books that inspired them, so why not make use of these great teachers? Take a look at the first chapter of any favorite books. Try to figure out what makes them so special. How are the characters introduced? What are they doing? While there are many helpful books on how to write fiction, actual novels can be the most useful learning tool for a new fiction writer.
Be Prepared to Cut
Many writers, particularly beginners, tend to write too much backstory at the beginning of their novel. Writers should study their first chapter carefully and ask themselves if this is where the story really begins. Does the reader need to know all of that information to enjoy the story? It may be necessary to cut the entire first chapter, or even the first few. That doesn’t mean they were a waste to write -- those opening efforts help writers get into their story and tell the rest.
Like any skill, writing is all about practice. The more a writer works on their craft, the better their stories will become. It may even take several novels before a writer can create a publishable one. But if they do not get the first chapter down on paper, they will never have that chance.
Friday, July 08, 2011
Monday, July 04, 2011
Using Demand Media Studios to Supplement Your Income
Demand Studios is a website that hires freelance writers, editors, and filmmakers to create content for the web. They provide this content to a variety of websites, including eHow, LiveSTRONG, and USA Today. While many websites pay for their content with residual payments, Demand Studios offers the advantage of upfront payments for each piece they accept.
How to Write For Demand Studios
To apply for freelance writing work at Demand Studios, writers must submit a resume and writing sample. Links to other web content are also acceptable. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and citizens of the United States. The time that it takes for a Demand Studios application to be approved or rejected will vary, depending on how many other applications have been submitted and how many openings are available.
Once you have been accepted to write for DMS, you can apply to write for special sections under the "Account" tab. These special projects typically have higher paying articles than the general eHow titles that new writers are automatically approved to write.
Choosing Demand Studios Titles
New writers can log onto their Demand Studios profile and click the “Find Assignments” link to look for topics to write about. Writers begin with the ability to claim ten titles at a time. If they are not completed within one week, they expire and return to the open list for other writers to claim. Titles are typically posted for either $5 or $15, so take note of the purchase price before claiming a title. If the subject requires extensive research, a $5 payment may not be worth the time.
For the maximum benefit, choose multiple titles on a similar theme. If it is a subject area that the writer is already knowledgeable about, the articles can be submitted quickly. However, if the titles require research then it will save time to research a group of articles on the same topic.
Benefits of Writing Freelance Articles for Demand Studios
Downsides of Freelancing for Demand Studios
Writing for Demand Studios may not be the best option for all freelance writers. However, it can provide fast cash flow to people who need a little extra to make ends meet. Once writers learn the style guides for each article type, they are easy to write and research. Demand Studios can fit around other commitments and queries for any writer with spare time.
How to Write For Demand Studios
To apply for freelance writing work at Demand Studios, writers must submit a resume and writing sample. Links to other web content are also acceptable. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and citizens of the United States. The time that it takes for a Demand Studios application to be approved or rejected will vary, depending on how many other applications have been submitted and how many openings are available.
Once you have been accepted to write for DMS, you can apply to write for special sections under the "Account" tab. These special projects typically have higher paying articles than the general eHow titles that new writers are automatically approved to write.
Choosing Demand Studios Titles
New writers can log onto their Demand Studios profile and click the “Find Assignments” link to look for topics to write about. Writers begin with the ability to claim ten titles at a time. If they are not completed within one week, they expire and return to the open list for other writers to claim. Titles are typically posted for either $5 or $15, so take note of the purchase price before claiming a title. If the subject requires extensive research, a $5 payment may not be worth the time.
For the maximum benefit, choose multiple titles on a similar theme. If it is a subject area that the writer is already knowledgeable about, the articles can be submitted quickly. However, if the titles require research then it will save time to research a group of articles on the same topic.
Benefits of Writing Freelance Articles for Demand Studios
- Upfront payments will generate cash faster than websites which pay residuals.
- There is not a required minimum amount of work. Take on extra projects as needed and stop writing if a more lucrative writing gig comes along.
- There are not a maximum number of articles. If a writer has the time and their articles are approved, they can continue to write as much as they want.
- Payments are made to Paypal every Tuesday and Friday. Any titles that are edited by Sunday night at midnight PST are paid on Tuesday, and titles that are approved by Wednesday night are paid on Fridays.
- The most common "How To" format pays at least $15 per article, depending on what site it is written for, and many writers can complete these assignments in 30 minutes.
- Freelance writing for Demand Studios can be fun and engaging. There is a strong community of writers to interact with.
Downsides of Freelancing for Demand Studios
- The title selection is often poor.
- There is a limit to the number of article titles that can be claimed at a time.
- Review times for submitted articles can vary. These articles are reviewed by freelance copy editors, so they are only approved as fast as the editors choose to work.
- Writers no longer have the ability to suggest their own topics.
Writing for Demand Studios may not be the best option for all freelance writers. However, it can provide fast cash flow to people who need a little extra to make ends meet. Once writers learn the style guides for each article type, they are easy to write and research. Demand Studios can fit around other commitments and queries for any writer with spare time.
Sunday, July 03, 2011
How to Create Voices for Fictional Characters
Many writers struggle to create unique and realistic dialogue for their characters. Dialogue can help show a character’s personality and background. Once a writer masters the basics of dialogue, such as punctuation, he or she should focus on learning to make their dialogue more natural. One of the key elements to writing truthful dialogue is to have each character’s voice be unique and identifiable.
Listen to People
People are naturally familiar with the way they speak, so when beginning fiction writers try to create dialogue, it often resembles their own speech patterns. One way to become more attuned to the voices of others is to take a day to people watch. Find a busy public place to sit down with a notebook and listen to the snippets of conversation nearby people are having. Pay attention to the cadence and word choice.
For writers that are uncomfortable listening to strangers, they can also make an effort to focus on how their friends and family members speak.
Study Published Works
Every writer has authors, books, and characters that inspire them. Find a few of these books and study them. Spend time taking notes about what the writer did to create distinct voices. Read the best passages a few times, paying attention to how the author translated speech to the page.
A favorite work of fiction can also be used to practice dialogue writing. Try writing a conversation between two favorite fictional characters. Try to make the voices sound true to the style of the original author. Writing fan fiction like this can actually help a writer develop their own skills by spending time writing in another voice.
Read the Dialogue Out Loud
Dialogue is meant to be spoken. After writing a passage, try reading it out loud to make sure it has a natural feeling to it. Does the line sound like something the character would actually say?
Brave writers may want to share their dialogue with a friend. Getting a second opinion from a neutral third party can help to assess if the dialogue sounds natural. A friend can also let the writer know if he or she has put too much of his own voice into the passage.
Keep Dialect to a Minimum
Few novel writers have an extraordinary talent for writing dialect. Many new writers make the mistake of adding too much. Choose one or two words in a sentence to change. This way, the writer will get a sense of how the character speaks without having to struggle to understand what they are actually saying.
Effective, unique dialogue can only lead to a more interesting novel. A well-written character can be identified even when there are no dialogue tags. Remember that fictional characters are people too -- just people that don’t exist yet.
Listen to People
People are naturally familiar with the way they speak, so when beginning fiction writers try to create dialogue, it often resembles their own speech patterns. One way to become more attuned to the voices of others is to take a day to people watch. Find a busy public place to sit down with a notebook and listen to the snippets of conversation nearby people are having. Pay attention to the cadence and word choice.
For writers that are uncomfortable listening to strangers, they can also make an effort to focus on how their friends and family members speak.
Study Published Works
Every writer has authors, books, and characters that inspire them. Find a few of these books and study them. Spend time taking notes about what the writer did to create distinct voices. Read the best passages a few times, paying attention to how the author translated speech to the page.
A favorite work of fiction can also be used to practice dialogue writing. Try writing a conversation between two favorite fictional characters. Try to make the voices sound true to the style of the original author. Writing fan fiction like this can actually help a writer develop their own skills by spending time writing in another voice.
Read the Dialogue Out Loud
Dialogue is meant to be spoken. After writing a passage, try reading it out loud to make sure it has a natural feeling to it. Does the line sound like something the character would actually say?
Brave writers may want to share their dialogue with a friend. Getting a second opinion from a neutral third party can help to assess if the dialogue sounds natural. A friend can also let the writer know if he or she has put too much of his own voice into the passage.
Keep Dialect to a Minimum
Few novel writers have an extraordinary talent for writing dialect. Many new writers make the mistake of adding too much. Choose one or two words in a sentence to change. This way, the writer will get a sense of how the character speaks without having to struggle to understand what they are actually saying.
Effective, unique dialogue can only lead to a more interesting novel. A well-written character can be identified even when there are no dialogue tags. Remember that fictional characters are people too -- just people that don’t exist yet.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Generating Ideas for Online Article Writing
When you have a topic to write about, constructing a great article can seem simple. However, generating those ideas causes frustration for many talented writers. There are days when I run into writers block and can't come up with any interesting ideas. Sometimes the problem is that there are too many topics to write about, so it becomes difficult to choose. When I find myself stuck for ideas, I turn to the many tips and exercises that help me find my muse once again.
Read constantly. The newspaper, magazines, blogs, and popular websites are a gold mine for ideas. When you read a new article, ask yourself questions. What else do you want to know about the topic? Did the author leave anything important out? Are there any related topics that could be interesting to write about?
Read more...
Read constantly. The newspaper, magazines, blogs, and popular websites are a gold mine for ideas. When you read a new article, ask yourself questions. What else do you want to know about the topic? Did the author leave anything important out? Are there any related topics that could be interesting to write about?
Read more...
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Potential Earnings From A Novel
Trying to assess the potential earnings from selling a novel can be an exercise in futility. Advances can range from nothing into six figures, depending on the novel, the person negotiating the contract, and the publishing house. The "typical" advance quoted for first time novelists is generally between $2000 and $5000 but that is only the beginning of the payment process.
Publishers pay advances based on their sales expectations and the size of the print run. An advance against royalties is received upon acceptance, delivery of the manuscript or publication (or some combination thereof). This advance is considered the first royalty payment, and the author will not receive their next until they have sold enough books to "earn out" their advance.
Read the rest of my article at Helium.com!
Publishers pay advances based on their sales expectations and the size of the print run. An advance against royalties is received upon acceptance, delivery of the manuscript or publication (or some combination thereof). This advance is considered the first royalty payment, and the author will not receive their next until they have sold enough books to "earn out" their advance.
Read the rest of my article at Helium.com!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
The Importance Of Books
I feel blessed that my parents made a point to read to me from birth. I learned to read at a young age, and have had a lifelong love affair with books. Books are of the utmost importance to society as well as to individuals.
Books preserve history. How much would we know of the past without the literary works and historical records that survived into modern times? They give us a glimpse into societies that are long gone. Fiction can provide us with many of the details of everyday life that official paperwork, such as governmental documents, cannot provide. It tells us what people ate, how they spent their leisure time, and what values were important.
Books help us learn. When many people think of books and education, they think of their textbooks from school or outdated encyclopedias. However, there is a wide world of nonfiction out there to educate us on every subject imaginable. When I want information on something new, it only takes a trip to the public library. Books spread ideas and philosophy, from Plato to Wittgenstein and everyone in between.
Books take us to places we may never have the chance to visit. In books, I can walk the plains of Middle Earth, comb the forests of Narnia, or explore the secret passages of the Hogwarts castle. I can visit the polar icecaps, the Great Wall, or the Egyptian Pyramids. Whether real or fantasy, books can be my own personal travel agent and whisk me around the world.
Books engage our imagination. When we watch movies or television, we are given the entire scene in front of our eyes. When we read, however, we get to picture the characters and the scenes. We get to fill in the details and daydream. Books allow us to be the director. They provide us entertainment and joy.
Many people seem to do their reading solely on the internet nowadays. However, I will always enjoy the comfort of a good book. They are easier on my eyes and I can curl up in front of the fireplace with one on cool winter nights. I love bookstores and libraries, and could spend days there. Books are like an old friend that I can always go back to.
The written word was one of the major advancements leading towards modern civilization. Without it, where would we be today?
Books preserve history. How much would we know of the past without the literary works and historical records that survived into modern times? They give us a glimpse into societies that are long gone. Fiction can provide us with many of the details of everyday life that official paperwork, such as governmental documents, cannot provide. It tells us what people ate, how they spent their leisure time, and what values were important.
Books help us learn. When many people think of books and education, they think of their textbooks from school or outdated encyclopedias. However, there is a wide world of nonfiction out there to educate us on every subject imaginable. When I want information on something new, it only takes a trip to the public library. Books spread ideas and philosophy, from Plato to Wittgenstein and everyone in between.
Books take us to places we may never have the chance to visit. In books, I can walk the plains of Middle Earth, comb the forests of Narnia, or explore the secret passages of the Hogwarts castle. I can visit the polar icecaps, the Great Wall, or the Egyptian Pyramids. Whether real or fantasy, books can be my own personal travel agent and whisk me around the world.
Books engage our imagination. When we watch movies or television, we are given the entire scene in front of our eyes. When we read, however, we get to picture the characters and the scenes. We get to fill in the details and daydream. Books allow us to be the director. They provide us entertainment and joy.
Many people seem to do their reading solely on the internet nowadays. However, I will always enjoy the comfort of a good book. They are easier on my eyes and I can curl up in front of the fireplace with one on cool winter nights. I love bookstores and libraries, and could spend days there. Books are like an old friend that I can always go back to.
The written word was one of the major advancements leading towards modern civilization. Without it, where would we be today?
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Tips For Finding Story Ideas
Story ideas surround us every day, but when a writer gets blocked it can seem like there is nothing new in the world. There are an infinite number of ways to shake up your routine and get the creative juices flowing again. Many of my favorites involve writing prompts or observing the world around me.
The best part about ideas is that the more of them you use, the more you seem to have! The simple act of sitting down with your computer or notebook and free-writing can trigger a flood of ideas.
Try your hand at writing exercises and prompts. Many websites and message boards have a list of these for writers. A quick Google search for "writing prompts" can bring up more than you could finish in a lifetime of writing. There are also entire books devoted to writing exercises to help stimulate your mind and improve your writing. My favorite is "The 3 A.M Epiphany" by Brian Kiteley. This book contains over 200 exercises focused on every part of writing.
My favorite prompt: Spend ten minutes writing about your favorite food. Use all five senses when you describe it. When do you normally eat it? Is it from a restaurant, or homemade? When was the last time you had this meal? Food is a universal experience, and everyone has something to say about it. If your writing meanders during this exercise, run with it! You never know where your brain is going to take you. You may remember an experience that triggers a great idea.
I like to keep a pocket-sized notebook nearby as much as possible. Have you ever been out running errands and been struck by a great idea, only to have it disappear before you reach a computer? Jotting down notes, even if it's just a few words, can help you keep these ideas in mind. I also have one computer file devoted solely to future ideas. They range from one sentence to several pages, and are there to browse through whenever I am ready to start a new project. Many writers tend to find ideas right before they go to sleep or in their dreams, so keeping your notebook by the bed couldn't hurt.
Spend time people-watching. If you have a friend who is a writer, this can be a great game. Get a cup of coffee and find a public spot to sit down. Pick out someone from the crowd, and make up a story about them. What do they do for a living? Do they have a family? What is their average day like? Just try not to get caught staring!
Art museums can be a wonderful place to come up with ideas if you are fortunate to live near one. When you have a free afternoon, grab your notebook and sit down in front of a work of art. Whether you choose abstract paintings, sculptures, or photography, ask yourself questions. I once did this exercise with an exhibition of photographs of homes. I spent time looking at one, then asked myself who might have lived there and what kind of life did they lead.
Find your characters first, and let them tell their own story. Often, if a character is well developed, they seem to have their own ideas about how the story should go. Plot points that might have been planned out suddenly don't seem natural for their personality. If your characters seem to be leading things in a different direction, run with it. It means that you have done your job well and created realistic people to inhabit your world.
Ask "what if" questions about experiences in your own life, or about stories you hear from others. What would have happened if someone made a different choice? How would things have changed? By looking at old experiences with a new perspective, you may just stumble upon a gem.
Happy writing!
The best part about ideas is that the more of them you use, the more you seem to have! The simple act of sitting down with your computer or notebook and free-writing can trigger a flood of ideas.
Try your hand at writing exercises and prompts. Many websites and message boards have a list of these for writers. A quick Google search for "writing prompts" can bring up more than you could finish in a lifetime of writing. There are also entire books devoted to writing exercises to help stimulate your mind and improve your writing. My favorite is "The 3 A.M Epiphany" by Brian Kiteley. This book contains over 200 exercises focused on every part of writing.
My favorite prompt: Spend ten minutes writing about your favorite food. Use all five senses when you describe it. When do you normally eat it? Is it from a restaurant, or homemade? When was the last time you had this meal? Food is a universal experience, and everyone has something to say about it. If your writing meanders during this exercise, run with it! You never know where your brain is going to take you. You may remember an experience that triggers a great idea.
I like to keep a pocket-sized notebook nearby as much as possible. Have you ever been out running errands and been struck by a great idea, only to have it disappear before you reach a computer? Jotting down notes, even if it's just a few words, can help you keep these ideas in mind. I also have one computer file devoted solely to future ideas. They range from one sentence to several pages, and are there to browse through whenever I am ready to start a new project. Many writers tend to find ideas right before they go to sleep or in their dreams, so keeping your notebook by the bed couldn't hurt.
Spend time people-watching. If you have a friend who is a writer, this can be a great game. Get a cup of coffee and find a public spot to sit down. Pick out someone from the crowd, and make up a story about them. What do they do for a living? Do they have a family? What is their average day like? Just try not to get caught staring!
Art museums can be a wonderful place to come up with ideas if you are fortunate to live near one. When you have a free afternoon, grab your notebook and sit down in front of a work of art. Whether you choose abstract paintings, sculptures, or photography, ask yourself questions. I once did this exercise with an exhibition of photographs of homes. I spent time looking at one, then asked myself who might have lived there and what kind of life did they lead.
Find your characters first, and let them tell their own story. Often, if a character is well developed, they seem to have their own ideas about how the story should go. Plot points that might have been planned out suddenly don't seem natural for their personality. If your characters seem to be leading things in a different direction, run with it. It means that you have done your job well and created realistic people to inhabit your world.
Ask "what if" questions about experiences in your own life, or about stories you hear from others. What would have happened if someone made a different choice? How would things have changed? By looking at old experiences with a new perspective, you may just stumble upon a gem.
Happy writing!
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