down the writer's path

Internet Tools for Writers: Brainstorm a new word

Next time you want to challenge a writer friend, see if they can spell and define the word "susurrus." That's today's offering in the Visual Thesaurus Word of the Day. I signed up for Thinkmap's daily offering not only for the definitions, spelling, and word fun, but also because this tool offers a mindmapping representation of the day's word. But don't stop there. Make use of the "Look up a Word" feature. I'm a big fan and heavy user of mindmapping. Have been ever since Tony Buzan's book came out in the late 70s. I find mindmapping helpful in every aspect of writing and have been known to mindmap an entire novel's structure or a full day's workshop on writing. For example, when I'm working on some aspect of a character I'll look up the word description and see how other things relate. This simple process stimulates further creative thinking and often reveals hidden and wonderfully layered aspects to the work you're doing. Stop all that cyber susurrus and give it a try.

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More info: USING FURL; USING OUTLOOK, USING GOOGLE ALERTS, USING GOOGLE DESKTOP SEARCH,USING THE BLOG READING LEVEL TOOL

Internet Tools for Writers: What's your blog's reading level?

Ever wonder what the reading level is for your blog? Sooner or later someone out in cyberspace comes up with a way to answer all your questions. I ran this Down the Writer's Path's URL through The Blog Readability Test. Not only did I get an answer, I received the code for a rating badge. -- UPDATE 04.09.08: This post made MySpaceNEWS. Please vote. -- -- More info: USING FURL; USING OUTLOOK, USING GOOGLE ALERTS, USING GOOGLE DESKTOP SEARCH

Writing Tools & Strategies: Five minutes to story

Start off the week with a quick batch of 5-minute timed writings. To make it easy, I've found a handy tool called TimeLeft. In minutes I had the program downloaded and installed. Ten minutes later I had a clock, a stopwatch, a 5-minute timer, a countdown clock, and a sign on my screen. There are any number of uses for the program but for writers the timers, countdowns, and stop watches can actually become part of a strategy to make sure time is spent writing. So what is TimeLeft?

TimeLeft is a versatile desktop utility, which may be used as a countdown clock, reminder, clock, alarm clock, tray clock, stopwatch, timer, sticker, auction watch and time synchronization utility.

Since I'm such a fan of timed writing exercises, I created the 5-minute timer first. I suffer from major muscle spasms and often need a timer or stopwatch. I have to make myself get up from the computer every hour to give my neck, upper back, and shoulder a break, so I write for 45 minutes and then walk away for 15. So a 45 minute tool is on my to-do list.

When it comes to writing, I pretty much have two words that make up my discipline: "breathe" and "write." Using the signage utility I created a stamp that displays those words so they constantly inform my subconscious during my time at the computer. All these items that TimeLeft creates stay on the computer screen and are visible no matter what program you are using. I have mine in the lower righthand corner. Finally I have a countdown clock that lets me know how many months, days, hours, minutes and seconds until the new year. With NaNoWriMo around the bend, I'm sure I'll set one up for the month of November. The countdown can be used for writing or contract deadlines, contest deadline reminders, and those personal phantom deadlines. Because I'll be going back to the Donald Maass Intensive workshop in Portland in March of 2008 and want to have a completed first draft of my novel, I will also need a countdown clock for that, too.

Over the last 20+ years I've discovered many different strategies that have enabled me to stay engaged with my work, actively creating stories, and remaining full of energy and the desire to write. If one doesn't work, I go quickly to another. All have been tested by me and by my fellow writers and artists; they work. But when it comes down to it, the best way to remain productive is to breathe deeply, relax, and write.

To download TimeLeft, go here.
More information:
Use 5-minute timed writing exercises to create 55-word stories.
Use 5-minute timed writing exercises and a computer-generated story starter to create stories.
Use 5-minute timed writing exercises to write a novel.
Use 5-minute timed writing exercises to write a memoir.
Use 5-minute timed writing exercises to overcome writer's block.
Use 5-minute timed writing exercises to free yourself from the dreaded internal editor.

In search of a fictional world and those who live in it-Part 1

What makes a fictional character alive? How is it that a string of words read by someone other than the writer recreates that author's experience of a character? How does a writer use words to till the reader's imagination to the point where characters sprout and spring to life? Is there one way? One secret? One sacred process that only a few divinely-touched authors possess? For the last twenty years I've been in search of that alchemical process that allows a character in my mind become words on a page and then morph itself again and be recreated in the mind of another, all through the simple process of reading. Truth tell, I've really been trying to figure out how the creation of a fictional world, complete with charcters and settings, is seeded into the imagination of another and encouraged to bloom. How do you ensure that the reader experiences the full impact of the world and its characters? That has been the subject of a lot of my reading, even more pondering, and eventually became the subject of my thesis.

What set me off on this quest? Early on I learned that it wasn't enough to have an idea or a sense of a person in mind and hope for the best. I learned it the hard way. When I first began writing, I took several creative writing college classes and three of us formed a critique group. My efforts had been focused on writing short stories, developing stories and writing proposals. My critique members challenged me to finish a novel from beginning to end. So I set up a process to write a first draft, one of those white-heat drafts where you go from the first sentence to the last and never look back, and I wrote my first complete novel. That's "complete" in the sense that it had a beginning, a middle, and an end--not that it was finished. I also did it in 21 days.

Twenty-one days, you say? Yep. This was back in my early bowling days. The local bowling alley had a nice cafe and a couple of my non-writer friends worked behind the counter. Every night I showed up and claimed the same bar stool. I pulled out my cheap, school-type notebook and pen. Ordered the non-stop coffee. Bent my head and wrote for the next four hours. From six in the evening until ten I wrote page after page. My main goal was to create a chapter an evening. My friends poured the coffee and left me alone. I did this every night. (It's a great way to increase your powers of concentration.) Three weeks later I had finished.

If you haven't finished the first draft of a novel, it's true. There is a rush that accompanies the final sentence. But how, you ask, does this have anything to do with developing characters?

I promptly took my handwritten notes and transferred them to the computer, a process I have long since abandoned. It felt too much like repetitive work, so I taught myself to compose on the keyboard. I then handed the novel off to my critique members. Who, naturally, were appropriately impressed. We met a couple of weeks later, and after they had read all 60,000 words, and discussed the book. Apparently they loved the concept, enjoyed the story, appreciated the dialogue, but there was one teensy tiny problem. They didn't have any visual construct of a main character. All they knew was that he smoked and had green eyes. That's it.

It didn't take long for me to realize that, although 80-85% of writers claim vision to be their primary sense, I am among those who hear and feel before I see. Actually, vision is one of the last senses that kicks in. That discovery had a major impact on how I approached learning the craft of writing.

(stay tuned....)

DWP Weekend Question on developing characters

Woke up this morning already steeped in my novel and in the characters. I immediately began working in my project diary. This led to more work on one of my main characters which then led me, somehow, to thinking about how my character developent process has evolved. Which then led to my idea for a blog post and an idea for a continuing Friday feature: The DWP Weekend Question. I'll pose a question about writing and ask for your input. The question will then be the basis for some of next week's posts.

Since I'm immersed in character development here's my first question:

How do you develop your fictional characters?

Tell me about your process. Mull over the question this weekend and return next week. We’ll discuss character building and character discovery.

Wondering what's up?

Well, if you've been by lately you might be wondering if I've dropped off the planet. No, I've been around but not in Houston. I'm back after a 10-day stay in the wilds of Oregon--Mt. Hood to be exact. I'm a repeat offender for the Donald Maass Writing the Breakout Novel workshop once again. I'll post more thoughts later this week. I also have more news to share which is good news for my blogging. Tonight I just wanted to wave the flag, say hi, and let you know I'm still kickin' and writin'.

By the way, if you want to know a bit more about the Maass Intensive find the Google Search Box on the left. Enter the words "Donald Maass" and you'll find my previous posts.

Should you run from the grammar police?

Okay, I'm still in the quizz mode. I'll tell ya, though, I held my breath taking this one. Now don't be scared, scroll down and take the test.

Your Language Arts Grade: 100%

Way to go! You know not to trust the MS Grammar Check and you know "no" from "know." Now, go forth and spread the good word (or at least, the proper use of apostrophes).

Are You Gooder at Grammar?
Make a Quiz

What American accent do you have? What about your character?

While this may seem like a silly quiz, go ahead and see what you get. You might also gain a few insights into character/dialogue creation. I found the answer interesting because I'm an Army brat and everywhere I've ever gone, they've asked me where I'm from. My formative years were spent in and out of Philadelphia but the last thirty-plus years have been in Houston. I do have a question, though. Is this actually representative of how I sound or is it the way I think the words should sound...or is it how I "hear" the words in my mind?

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Northeast Judging by how you talk you are probably from north Jersey, New York City, Connecticut or Rhode Island. Chances are, if you are from New York City (and not those other places) people would probably be able to tell if they actually heard you speak.
Philadelphia
The Inland North
The Midland
The South
Boston
The West
North Central
What American accent do you have? Take More Quizzes

Book Review: Rosy Cole's Memoir Explosion

Some children's books speak as easily to adults as to kids. Shiela Greenwald's latest chapter book, Rosy Cole's Memoir Explosion, in the Rosy Cole series tells a story that speaks to all writers, especially those intent on telling it the way it really happened. Read on and see what you think of the idea and how Greenwald developed and shaped the story....

What do you do when your child has devoured all the Ramona books on the shelves? Find Rosy Cole and read her latest adventure, Rosy Cole’s Memoir Explosion. Poor Rosy, she hasn’t been invited to her friend Deb’s birthday party and so she pours her heart out in her journal. But when her teacher, Mrs. Oliphant, tells the class to write a story about the most interesting person in her life, Rosy realizes she doesn't have even one. Alas, her living relatives are "hopeless.”

When her college-going older sister, Pippa, suggests she write a memoir, Rosy is encouraged. Her enthusiasm is bolstered by her sister’s suggestion to use the book Write Your Life: A How-to Guide for Memoir. Despite her teacher’s warning that she might be tempted to “exaggerate the truth for a better story” and the trouble that lies in wait, Rosy plunges ahead.

Using her guidebook’s checklist for writing a truly great memoir, Rosy searches for all the necessary ingredients: Talent, Tears, Turning Points; Romantic Relationships; Confronting Demons; Overcoming Obstacles; Family Feuds; Rising Above Failure; A Never-Before-Told Secret; and Reader Sympathy. In doing so, she embraces the power found in writing a memoir, while confronting the reaction of family and friends. Before the assignment is finished, Rosy must contend with lost friends, few family members left talking to her, and the blow-up of what may have blown the sort-of only romance she had brewing. Of course, she can also kiss good-bye any birthday party invitation.

While the book is clearly written for children, adults will enjoy the gentle way Greenwald pokes fun at writers, and, in particular, memoirists. Considering the recent hubbub in the publishing world, memoir writers would do well to remember Mrs. Oliphant’s warnings about exaggeration and the potential for lying.

Another aspect of the book is Greenwald’s illustrations. Just as the perfect picture book’s illustrations add to the text and layer the story, Greenwald’s light and sometimes wry line-drawings add the perfect dimension to an already delightful tale.

The Rosy Cole chapter books are for grades 2-5 and highly recommended. If you have a writer on your holiday gift-giving list, you might want to consider this one if you want a fun gift.

Note: This review has been cross-posted on Blogcritics.org and referenced in an Amazon.com review. You can find other reviews on this site under the "Books and Review" category category, or go to my Blogcritics page. Check out other chapter books.

Get a little Spunk & Bite with an interview with Art Plotnik

Why is language or style so important to writers? Well, according to Arthur Plotnik, "Most editors become editors because of a special infatuation with language...all else being equal, the masterly, distinctive use of language lifts an editor's (or agent's) heart. It means that the writing, as is, will please critics; that it will deliver on a promise to readers."

I don't know about you, but staying true to the reader is my number one goal. Arthur Plotnik is the author of the new Spunk & Bite: A writer's guide to punchier, more engaging language & style, a terrific new book that is bound to provide inspiration while giving you a stimulating and often humorous read. While he's a great teacher, Plotnik does even more: He leads by example. Try his opening paragraph:

"Sometimes when I'm digging for the right word, I long for a terrier-like acuity, a canine's sensory gifts applied to language. Imagine if dogs ever figured out how to write--how to put that spunkiness and bite of theirs into literature. Think of those olfactory superpowers attuned to sniffing out metaphors or tracking, not the bone mot, but the bon mot. We dry-and-fleshy-nosed writers could be in big trouble."

If Plotniks's name resounds with a familiar clang, maybe you encountered the Grand Master of Punctuation and Style in one of his earlier books such as The Elements of Editing or The Elements of Expression: Putting Thoughts into Words. If you're a librarian, perhaps you went a few rounds with the master during his tenure as editor of the American Library Association's magazine, American Libraries. I first encountered the master a few years ago when I read and reviewed The Elements of Authorship.

As a young writer, Plotnik studied under Philip Roth and Vance Bourjaily at the Iowa Writers Workshop. Not a bad start. If you have the time, check out Art's website, Spunky's Blogrr, and, if you want to know more about the man, check out his official bio. And don't forget to return for more tidbits and soundbites from the Great Plotnik!