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Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Poems by the Dozen
The poems are arriving daily, by mail and web--yes, Virginia, you can
enter online now!
I say "poems by the dozen," and as of yesterday, we had exactly one
dozen. That's pretty normal for a deadline five weeks away. Most of us who enter writing contests wait
until the very last minute--which you can actually do now, thanks to the new online entering. Isn't that cool? Why
wait in line when you can enter online!
Monday, September 10, 2007
Your Novel: Starting Off on the Right Foot
What's that old saying--The journey of a thousand miles begins with one
step? Applying that to writing a novel, I could say, "The writing of a novel begins with one word." Followed by another, and
another, and another . . .
But that beginning, those first words, carry a great deal of weight. Your
opening chapter must introduce the characters and their journey as well as time and place. The hook must pose enough questions
that the reader is intrigued and wants to tag along for the ride. And it never hurts to have prose that makes each sentence
a reader's delight.
So let me ask you this: Does your story begin well? Are your characters
intriguing and can they carry this story for the duration of the journey? Feedback is the best way to find out the
answer. Join a critique group or find a good reader. (By good reader, I mean someone who is well-read, and preferably
not related to you.) Or spring for a critique through The Write Helper. We're published writers, and we know what it
takes to get your story into print.
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Only 1 day left to enter our Amazing Story Fiction Contest with new, easy guidelines and longer word length. Only 45 entries received as of 7/31!
Results are in for our Novel Beginnings 1st Chapter Contest! Congratulations to the winners.
Check out
our Past Winners for more great reads!
Need an editor?
Have
you written a story but are unsure what to do next? Do you find grammar and punctuation confusing? Let us fuss over your writing!
We will polish your work so that you communicate effectively, accurately, and creatively. For
more information, see our competitive rates.
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"Two
saxophone cases sat on the table. I rushed over and ran my fingers over the case that was clearly the more expensive. When
I lifted the cover, I gasped and my mouth went dry. I'd never seen anything so beautiful. The gold-lacquered saxophone, nested
in a plush velvet lining, shimmered like a rare jewel. I ached to own it and to run my fingers over the mother-of-pearl finger
pads whenever I wanted to. It was a dream. Would it come true?" [...] Read "The Saxophone" by George Thomas, winner of our 2010 Dead of Winter Nonfiction Contest.
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So why get a critique?
Every day we pay for small, trivial things, like a soda out of the vending machine at work or
a candy bar in line at the grocery store. A magazine or a manicure. A cup of coffee through the drive-thru.
But how much do we invest in enriching our lives?
Developing a talent that's been dormant for a long time? Realizing a dream, like seeing our name in print?
Why
get a critique? I say, why not?
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