Writing Spelled Out

By Anna Shenton

Writing Spelled Out will show the beginner how to write a self-analysis and turn its contents into potential material which no other will match. Many techniques are explained in simple terms with easy to follow exercises and samples.
How to write a Star Letter, in great detail, is followed by Know Your Markets showing how to devise a publications list to increase your chance of success. Test yourself with a Short Filler, and gain the editor's interest with an outstanding Article.
Activate Your Mind shows how to plot with strangers. Story In The Making explains important elements on creating short stories,from characterization, story blocking, planning solid structure and how characters drive the story and more.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anna Shenton
• Release date: Feb 18, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301581825

Anna Shenton

Anna Shenton (1954) grew up in Staffordshire, England.Experiencing an interesting upbringing by her English father and German mother fueled her imagination with bundles of home-truths. Her desire to write materialized after bringing up her own two boys. She also has four stepsons and several adorable grandchildren, so to say the least,there is no shortage of inspiration. Always known as a bit of a daydreamer in class Anna was determined to put her vivid imagination onto paper one day. After taking a home study course with The Writing School Of London, all those thoughts and ideas started to make print. Firstly with Star Letter Pages and Fillers for several Women's Commercial Magazines, receiving some wonderful gifts and cash. She went on to write several articles for Writer's Forum International on How To Get Published and Writing Techniques. Other articles were published in Practical Caravan and Modelers World. In year 2004 Anna was fund organizer for a writing group for a couple of years where she received lottery funding for the group to produce an anthology. Her own contribution being poetry and short stories. Currently Anna is creating characters and romance stories incorporating many of her life experiences. She is happy to share her latest book Lust For Survival- and looks forward to feed back. Time flying by, Anna has come up with a new title Writing Spelled Out. Enthusiastically she has designed a guide for the budding author that doesn't know how and where to start.

Book preview

Writing Spelled Out

By Anna Shenton

Copyright 2013 by Anna Shenton

Smashwords Edition

Reproduction Rights

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission in writing by the author.

All sample materials in this publication have been modified as fictitious.

You can discover more about Anna on Smashwords author page. https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/anna2u

Writing Spelled Out is designed to show the beginner how and where to start writing. Explained in simple terms with exercises and samples this book will guide you through each step in turn, on what to write, and how to discover who to write for using special techniques

Chapter one-Start With A Letter

How to write a self-analysis and use your material

Self-analysis sample

How to write a star letter and make it stand out

Compile a list of suitable markets

Why detective work is essential

Study your chosen publication and editor’s style

Analyse letters in depth

Example letters explained

Devise a chart of results

Submissions and payment expectations

Writing fillers for magazines

Filler example

Chapter Two–Know Your Markets

Establish who takes freelance material

Guidelines + compile your own file

Study market before submitting manuscripts

Gathering information pushes you to top-end-ladder

Use your self-analysis to write a good refreshing article

Research for extra facts

Find a specialised market

Shuffle - cut and paste

Make a dramatic entrance

Off-load that all important message

Positive endings

Submission guide

Where to start with a short story

Market research

Discover emotion and theme

Sample file of your findings

Pick out important points

Characters come first

Discover most favourable type of character

Knowing what the editor likes

Establish popular beginnings

Round off your file sample

Chapter Three–Daydream A Story

How to activate your mind

Adapt a habit of daydreaming sessions

Add to your personal memory bank

Invent lives for strangers

Invention example

Exercise – re-enact in mind an incident

Example short story

Daydreaming moves story forward

Chapter Four–Story In The Making

Characters drive the story

Write a character’s profile

Example profiles

Set your scene

Plan a solid structure

Engage reader’s attention

Block out development of story with obstacles

Character up against opposition

Demonstrate the cause, mental and physical reaction

Exercise – characters in conflict

Short story sample

Emotion presented vividly

List of top tips

Show characters in action coloured with emotion

Examples - characters in action

Well-constructed characters act out story with plot and theme

Subtle characterisation through words

Example – through words

Don’t panic if it doesn’t turn out as expected

It’s not set in concrete, you can change things

Chapter one

Start With A Letter

Fancy getting your words into print but not sure if you’re up to