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First 100!

School Supplies 3Thanks to all of you who signed up for my mailing list to learn more about my upcoming book, Writing Fiction: A Handbook for Pre-Teen Writers. As I was finishing creating my last link on the bonus page this morning, the 100th person signed up for the mailing list. I’m taking that as a sign. 🙂 Those on the mailing list will be getting an email today with a link to the bonus material. Please let me know your thoughts. I’d love to hear from you.

Things are chugging along on the editing front, but I thought I’d take a moment to share the Table of Contents of the book, so that you’d all know what I’ve been working on lately. It is a labour of love, I assure you.

If you would like to know when the book comes out, please fill out the following form. I promise that you will not be bombarded with spam emails, just the odd thing that I come across that you might find useful, such as a sample chapter or a link to a great writing resource. Thanks!

Writing Fiction: A Handbook for Pre-Teen Writers

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Getting Started       

Joywriting

 

What do I need to be a writer?   

 

Habits and Goals

Choosing Your Goal

Writing Every Day

Don’t Miss a Word

Write with a Friend or Two

 

Pantser or Plotter: Which are you?

 

Where do I get ideas for stories?

What if?

Write What You Know

Pick 4 Words

 

Writing Prompts

 

Plotting Tips

Basic Rule of Plotting

Story Planning

 

Plotting with the Hero’s Journey

 

How do I start my story?  

 

Who should tell the story?

Point of View: First Person

Point of View: Second Person

Point of View: Third Person

 

How do I describe my characters?

Show Don’t Tell

Change Is Good

Character List

 

How do I describe the setting?

Think about how much you really have to describe.

Use Comparisons

Get the Senses Involved

Draw a Map or Use Photos

 

How do I write dialogue?

 

How do I end my story?

 

How do I make my writing better?

Revising and Editing

Words

Sentences

Combining Sentences

Paragraphs

 

What do I do when a story gets stuck?

1. Outline.

2. Forget about making the first draft perfect.

3. Write more than one story at a time.

4. Put the story away.

5. Brainstorm.

6. Ask “What if?”

7. Don’t worry.

 Last Words

 Bibliography           

 

 

 

 

 

Mailing List Catch-Up

Draft Cover for Writing Fiction: A Handbook for Pre-Teens
Draft Cover for Writing Fiction: A Handbook for Pre-Teens

Well, the race is on. My goal has been to finish my draft of Writing Fiction: A Handbook for Pre-Teens (working title–open to suggestions) before 100 people signed up for my mailing list. Today, I sent a thank-you to the 71st person to sign up. Thanks for the motivation! I have three chapters to go and the first draft will be completed.

This is also a shout out to Paige, Taylor and Emily who signed up for the list in mid-March. When I sent your thank-yous and bonus links, the emails bounced back as unknown addresses. If you’re a spambot, no problem, but if you’re wondering what happened, please try entering your email addresses again. My “reply system” is simply me at the computer, so I’m happy to give it another try.

I’ve played around with the cover design, making it match my previous book, Writing Fiction: A Hands-On Guide for Teens. I’m debating about whether or not to keep the photo of the keyboard on the cover, and instead, to switch it for something like the photo below, thinking it might be more in keeping with the age group, but knowing that no matter what the age, keyboards are a reality of life, and … well … you get the idea. Decisions, decisions ….

Now back to the writing. Hope you have a creative week ahead!

If you would like to know when the new book comes out, please fill out the following form. I promise that you will not be bombarded with spam emails, just the odd thing that I come across that you might find useful, and, perhaps a sample chapter or two. 🙂

School Supplies 3

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