Blog: Mel's Muse - Archive for March 2009
To Be A Good Story Teller You Need To Understand What Makes A Good Piece Of Writing
Posted: Tuesday, 31st March 2009
I wrote, yesterday, about a lady who had e-mailed me from Greece to ask what the difference was between a Good Story, and A Good Piece of Writing. It's a good question!
Many years ago I was speaking to an agent who knew Jeffrey Archer well. Lord Archer was a Member of the British Parliament until he was sent to prison for perverting the course of justice. But he is also a prolific and highly successful writer: a bestselling novelist. The agent to whom I was speaking told me that he is a great story-teller but a hopeless writer. His editor, I was told, practically re-writes his books.
What is a good story? And what a good piece of writing?
Posted: Monday, 30th March 2009
"Is there a difference between a good story and good writing?"
I was asked the question by a lady living in Greece, who has been reading my blog posts for sometime, and who e-mailed me, direct. She, like many would-be authors, is frustrated by the stone-walling she has received from the publishers to whom she’s submitted her novel.
Articles on related themes: Writing & Publishing A Book
The Structure Of A Novel: Twelve Tips
Posted: Thursday, 26th March 2009
You’ve decided to start writing a novel but you’ve no idea where to begin. Or perhaps you’ve already made a start but haven’t a clue how to proceed. You thought that once you’d started it would simply flow, but now you’re finding that pulling all the strands together to bring the wretched thing to its conclusion isn’t quite that easy. In fact, you’re beginning to wonder if your story is simply going to end up in a drawer along with all the other half-finished best sellers, begun with the best of intentions.
Articles on related themes: Plot; Writing & Publishing A Book
Six Blogging Styles: Which Approach Turns You On?
Posted: Monday, 23rd March 2009
Do you write and own a blog? Or are you simply a reader of blogs? If so, what sort of blog most turns you on? What makes you want to subscribe to regular updates? And what urges you to leave a comment?
I’m not asking you to describe the niche for which you’re writing, nor the niche you're reading: whether they’re blogs about marketing; faith; or news.
Articles on related themes: Blogging
Rejection Slips And Bad Reviews Of Your Book? 4 Ways Of Coping
Posted: Wednesday, 18th March 2009
There’s no such thing as bad press! So says the old adage. The idea is that a literary review for your work – regardless of how damning it may be – is, nevertheless, a step up from no review at all! That may be, but how, when you’ve already waded through an emotional ocean of rejection slips, do you now cope with a basinful of criticism?
Consider the following from someone I have never met but who had
intimated that she might review my novel, A Painful Post
Mortem, in her regular magazine column: “I have to
admit that I just couldn’t get absorbed into the book.
Articles on related themes:
Writing & Publishing A Book
Fact, Fiction Or Fable: Is This A Sorry Story Of Fault-Finding?
Posted: Sunday, 15th March 2009
I wrote a few weeks ago about Friedman’s Fables, which my daughter gave me for my birthday. The book is a collection of short stories – very short at times – each of which highlights a specific pattern of human behaviour. Because of events in my family, one of the stories particularly caught my eye.
WHY DOES NO ONE WANTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS?
My situation revolves around a decision made ten years ago by my parents and sister which has resulted in the breakdown of family relationships, plus financial consequences which have made my parents bitterly regret that decision.
Articles on related themes: Books, Reading & Words; Self Help; Relationships
Issues Of Trust Between A Mother And Her Child
Posted: Wednesday, 11th March 2009
“Can it ever be right for a mother to expose her child
in the name of literature?” I asked on an online forum.
It was a question which has provoked an impassioned response. But
it was, itself, a response – my answer – to a recent
news story which has spread itself across the pages of broadsheet
and tabloid alike, and into the hearts and minds of the nation.
Because at its heart lies the most fundamental of human
relationships: the sanctity of love and trust between a mother and
her child.
Articles on related themes:
Book Reviews; Writing & Publishing A Book
Crafting Fiction: Understanding How Scenes In Novels Are Constructed - Part 4
Posted: Saturday, 7th March 2009
By now I hope you’re beginning to understand the importance of conflict in a novel, and how to incorporate the three elements of Goal, Conflict and Disaster into each ACTION scene. I’ve had some feedback from readers via Twitter, but it would be great if you could post your comments and queries at the end of this article.
Last time, in Part 3, we looked at REACTION scenes (or Sequels), and learned where the three elements of Reaction, Dilemma and Decision have their place.
Articles on related themes: Writing & Publishing A Book
Crafting Fiction: Understanding How Scenes In Novels Are Constructed - Part 3
Posted: Wednesday, 4th March 2009
Earlier in the week, I posted some articles about ACTION scenes. We looked at the necessity for both emotion and conflict in a novel and stressed that your reader will want, and expect, to be engaged at an emotional level. That means that they will want to live the life of your main character – as if it were their own!
I illustrated the way to craft a scene, using a well-known parable from the Bible to make the point. In the third part of this series on learning creative writing in respect of crafting the scenes in a novel, we’re going to look at Sequels or REACTION scenes.
Crafting Fiction: Understanding How Scenes In Novels Are Constructed - Part 2a
Posted: Monday, 2nd March 2009
I know it’s not very professional to abandon a blog post half way through, and I apologise for having done so yesterday. But when your mother’s poorly and needs you, there’s just no way round it. So in the hope that you’ll forgive me, and have come back for the second half, here it is.
Articles on related themes: Writing & Publishing A Book
Crafting Fiction: Understanding How Scenes In Novels Are Constructed - Part 2
Posted: Sunday, 1st March 2009
I finished Part 1 of this series a couple of days ago by saying that a scene is invariably made up of three simple elements:
- Goal
- Conflict
- Disaster
THE CONFLICT IN A NOVEL IS VITAL TO ITS STRUCTURE
In a previous post, I’ve written about what makes a story a plot, and highlighted the significance of conflict and consequences. Goal, Conflict and Disaster are, in fact, the structure of the entire novel.
- A novel is a story about people.
- It’s about their one overall objective in
response to a particular set of circumstances, stated at the outset
of the story.
Articles on related themes: Writing & Publishing A Book
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