Two Year Novel Course Set 6 (Writing, Part 2)

By Lazette Gifford

Book Six of the 2YN series covers continuing the writing process with tips to help you keep going to The End.

• Language: English
• Publisher: A Conspiracy of Authors
• Release date: Jan 19, 2013
• ISBN: 9781936507283

Lazette Gifford

Lazette is an avid writer as well as the owner of Forward Motion for Writers and the owner/editor of Vision: A Resource for Writers.It's possible she spends too much time with writers.And cats.

Book preview

Two Year Novel Course: Set 6

Writing Part 2

By

Lazette Gifford

Copyright 2013 Lazette Gifford

An ACOA Publication

www.aconspiracyofauthors.com

ISBN: 1-936-50728-5

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Week 46 -- Writing, Part Thirteen --The Small Things, 7

Week 47 -- Writing, Part Fourteen --The Small Things, 8

Week 48 -- Writing, Part Fourteen --The Small Things, 9

Week 49 --Writing, Part Sixteen --The Small Things, 10

Week 50 -- Writing, Part Seventeen --Getting Unstuck, Part 1

Week 51 -- Writing, Part Eighteen -- Getting Unstuck, Part 2

Week 52 -- Writing, Part Nineteen --Getting Unstuck, Part 3

Week 53 -- Writing, Part Twenty -- Starting the Second Year Right

Week 54 -- Writing, Part Twenty-One -- Finding the Fun Stuff?

Week 55 -- Writing, Part Twenty-Two -- Moving Forward

Week 56 -- Writing, Part Twenty-Three -- The Joy of the Middle

Week 57 -- Writing, Part Twenty-Four -- Rechecking Plot

Week 58 -- Writing, Part Twenty-Five -- From Middle to End

Week 59 -- Writing, Part Twenty-Six -- Finding the Right Words

Week 60 -- Writing, Part Twenty-Seven -- Are Your Characters Engaged?

Week 61 -- Writing, Part Twenty-Eight -- A Last Word on Being Stuck

Week 62 -- Writing, Part Twenty-Nine -- Character Growth

Week 63 -- Writing, Part Thirty -- Pacing the End

Week 64 -- Writing, Part Thirty-One -- Endings

Week 65 -- Writing, Part Thirty-Two -- Denouement

End of Section 6

About the Author

A Conspiracy of Authors Publications

2YN Part 6 -- Writing, Part 2

This is an odd, eclectic set of things and I hope that they'll help you along the way with the various bits and pieces of writing. Sometimes we get stuck for the oddest reasons, and it's possible that something here is going to help you get past one of those monsters in the road that try to keep you from completing a first draft.

I think this might be a good time to remind you all that writing should be enjoyable on some level. You might not enjoy all aspects of getting your story from idea to finished project, but if you are convinced that all parts of the process is horrible, your words are horrible and you hate everything . . . well, why are you writing?

We write because we have stories we want to create. Sometimes, like other artists, we are creating out material simply for the joy of it and sometimes we do so share with others. That's up to you. It is all right to have practice stories while you learn your art, too. No one expects a person to pick up a canvas and oils and paint a masterpiece on the first try, no matter how much the person has read about how to paint. The same is true for writing; don't let the feeling that if you don't get this right the first time through that you've failed.

The joy of being a writer is that no story is lost. You can start over from scratch if that's what your story needs. However, at least work your way through a complete first draft. You learn more by finishing a story than by giving up and starting a new one.

So here are a few more tidbits to keep you going.

This set will take you through the end of year one and into year two if you are following this at one class per week. The first year of this class dealt mostly with imagination as you worked through from the first thoughts on your idea all the way to writing the first draft. Year two is more concerned with attitude. It will take your persistence, belief, and determination to get through to the end. You are heading into the areas many writers either dislike or fear. The idea of edits and submission packages unsettles many people, especially if they aren't used to doing either.

But you can do it -- just as thousands of others have done it before you. There are parts you will find difficult, but only until your used to doing them. Once you learn the clean simplicity of query letters, the steps to creating a synopsis, and ways to find weaknesses in your writing, it will become second nature to you.

These books form a guideline to help you through the process until you find your own way. As with the creative part of writing, you will eventually find your own path to take you through these last steps in a way which works specifically for you. But before you find your path, you will need to see the general layout of land first. That's what this book (and many others out there) is about.

Writing a novel isn't enough. Nearly anyone can write a book if they put their mind to it. You want to do something more -- I know it because you've already worked through the first year of material.

I am showing you my path through this forest of possibilities. You are likely going to find your own shortcuts and do things in ways which work far better for you than my ways do. However, until you know what you're looking for, you cannot see those other paths. So consider this as a guide through one part of the journey. You'll read other guides and eventually find your own way.

Some of you may be discouraged as you near the end of the first draft . . . but this is not the time to stop working on your novel. You have come a long ways with it already, and you still have quite an adventure ahead!

The first step is to finish the first draft. You can do it!

Have fun!

Week 46 -- Writing, Part Thirteen --The Small Things, 7

Narrative versus Dialogue and Showing versus Telling

Let's look at how you can bring a scene to life through showing the action rather than telling about it. In this case, we have a couple, Tom and Mary. They've bought a new car and they've been arguing a bit over who gets it on any given day. The arguments are starting to take their toll.

In showing, the writer often uses narration to describe a set of actions:

The next day didn't get any better. Before the morning had barely started, Tom and Mary argued over who should get the car, only to find out someone had stolen it during the night. The realization the car had disappeared finally ended the argument.

Or you can write the same set of information in such a way that the reader experiences the scene rather than reads about it like a newspaper report:

The next morning wasn't any better. By the time Tom came down stairs, Mary had already dressed, though scantily in a halter top and short shorts. She grabbed the keys from the counter just as Tom came around the corner.

Oh no! Tom said and snatched them back out of her hand. Today is my day with the Vette!

I have things to get done, Thomas, Mary said, trying to sound proper, but realized she probably didn't pull it off in her current attire.

No, not this time. Barry saw you at the beach yesterday, you know. I thought you were going to visit your poor mother?

I took my mother to the beach, she answered.

For a moment he looked contrite, but he still held the keys back when she reached for them again.

No, no, no. This is my day. You take the Volvo. I get the Vette for a few hours of sun and fun on my one day off.

You had yesterday off!

Oh, is that what it was called? The day where I mowed the lawn, fixed the washing machine, took the dogs to the vet and weeded the garden?

It was her turn to look repentant, but it didn't last for long. She feigned stepping backwards to let him pass, but as soon as he lowered his guard, she grabbed the keys from his hand and dashed toward the garage door.

He caught up with her there. She threw the deadbolt lock back and swung the door open --

Empty garage.

For a moment they both stood there, staring out into the place where the 'Vette should have been. And the Volvo, for that matter. Tom finally noticed the garage door had been forced open. He sighed.

I'll go call the police, he said, stepping back from the door.

Mary followed him back to the kitchen, leaving the door open. She put down the keys as he picked up the phone and leaned against the counter -- and then leapt back with a yelp as the cold tile pressed against her stomach.

You know, I think I'll go change clothes before the police get here.

Good plan. He had flipped the phone book open to the police number. It might be nice if they could keep their attention on the work at hand.

She smiled at the unexpected compliment.

Showing can take far more room than telling, but this isn't (generally) a bad thing. Novel readers don't want to read newspaper report-writing. They want even the simple depth I provided here.

There are, of course, times when you don't want to show things. If Mary had to go to the store for coffee, a simple paragraph would work:

Then, as she started to prepare lunch, Mary realized she hadn't bought more coffee. With a sigh, she walked back out to the garage, pulled her ten-speed from the wall once more, and headed out.

It was a nice ride, anyway.

This would be far better than a blow by blow account of something which is not pivotal to the story. Never gloss over the important scenes. Check throughout your book to see if the scenes you have told will add something significant to the plot or character development if you expand them into a 'show' scene.

Here are some links which might help with this aspect of writing:

http://www.fmwriters.com/Visionback/issue8/Show%20and%20Tell.htm

http://www.fmwriters.com/Visionback/Issue14/wbinvisiblequestions.htm

http://www.fmwriters.com/Visionback/issue13/Issue13/Touchofmadness.htm

Assignment:

Write a sample of what you've been working on since last week. You can write as little or as much as you like.

Example 1:

Title: Resolutions of Trust

They didn't get the information from me, Brian! Fayette said, her voice rising so loud Angela looked up from dusting and winced, knowing what kind of