Writing Fiction: Developing Your Book-length Story
When you feel you have a great idea for a long story, it’s wise to think about the end result of your efforts before you begin the process of writing. Ask yourself some questions:
- Who is my target audience?
- Will my ideas provide the foundation for a rich plot with interesting characters?
- What backup plan will I use to protect my work?
- Do I have sufficient time and energy for this project?
If you feel your ideas are worthwhile, jot down the story in a couple of sketchy paragraphs, then use those sentences as a guide to create an outline. The outline should contain short sentences that describe the events of your story in sequential order. The outline then becomes the blueprint for your project. It also provides protection for your plot, and helps you to remember details, in case other commitments take you away from your writing for a significant amount of time.
Use the Margins
If you begin writing your story with paper and pen, leave margin space on each side of paper. That practice will provide an area for making notes and keeping track of key points involving your plot and your characters. As your story grows in length, you will be wise to create notes in the margins that remind you of details involving your characters so that you can create cohesive threads throughout your story.
Computer Backups
If you are writing your story in electronic form, be certain to maintain at least two copies at all times. Many writers have lost their manuscripts due to accidental deletions and faulty media. You may also want to store your work in two separate locations.
Feedback and Direction
You may want to obtain objective feedback about your story early in the writing process. You can find direction by signing up for writing courses, and by joining a writers group. Do a Web search for writers’ groups in your area. Some groups organize regular conferences, which provide opportunities for individual writers to have one-on-one meetings with reputable agents and editors. Honest, objective feedback from a seasoned professional may help you determine whether you’re writing for your own pleasure, or if you have a story with commercial appeal. Be judicious when sharing details about your story. You wouldn’t want someone else to use your ideas before you have a chance to write them down.
Andrew McQuinn creates tools and information for writers and Web publishers. Find free resources at http://www.icantgetpublished.com, and at http://www.buttonland.com
Fly Fishing Trips
Everybody knows what fishing is, but fly fishing is not as well known. As the name implies, fly fishing is a method of fishing utilizing an artificial fly. It was developed as a technique for catching trout and has caught on all over the world, becoming a full fledged competitive sport. There are several competitions held all over the world at different times during the year open to anyone who thinks they have mastered this challenging sport.
Fly fishing has proved to be a boon for the tourism industry. Many travel companies now arrange special fly fishing trips all around the world, but especially in North America, Europe, Africa, and Oceania. The countries that are known for having the best places to go fly fishing are the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Finland, Ireland, Sweden, England, Namibia, Australia, and New Zealand.
People who are planning to go on such a trip should know what they need to take with them. It is necessary to buy fly reels, location-specific fly collections, and accessories like waders, hats, boots or jackets. Travelers should then decide whether or not they want a guide. People who already know how to fly fish may choose to go on an independent fly fishing trip. It is a good idea for beginners to hire a guide who can teach everything there is to know about the sport.
Fly fishing can take years to master, and some people get more enjoyment from the exotic locations they visit than they do from the actual sport. Each and every fly fishing destination offers its own unique charms.
Fly Fishing Trips provides detailed information about fly fishing trips, fly fishing gear, fly fishing knots and more. Fly Fishing Trips is affiliated with Bed And Breakfast Maine.
Halloween Bird Watching - The Dark Side
Bird watching is just about the most unobjectionable hobby in the world. With Halloween approaching, however, it is time to discuss the dark, dark, dark side of birding.
Bird watching enthusiasts are always looking for good spots to whip out the binoculars and visually hunt for a new life bird. There are really only two potential downsides to this for bird watchers.
What Are You Looking At?
For backyard birding, one runs the risk of neighbors thinking you are a pervert of some type trying to look in their windows with your binoculars. This can usually be overcome by spreading the word in the neighborhood that you’re an avid birder and the binoculars are not pointing at anyone’s windows. Really.
If this doesn’t work, invite the offended neighbors over to do some watching. They will either grow bored and leave or get hooked. Either way, you’ll benefit and no longer have to deal with negative gossip.
Buffy the Bird Watcher
Cemeteries! Not just for demons, vampires and Buffy the Vampire Slayer!
A nasty little secret in the bird watching world is the fact cemeteries are good places to bird watch. Generally, the cemetery is quite, has lots of trees and hunters typically aren’t bold enough to have a go at the fowl. In short, a perfect place for birds to congregate and you to watch.
Now, it goes without saying that bird watching in a cemetery requires a certain etiquette. First, the staff at the cemetery may have a “get the hell off the property” policy towards birding enthusiasts. This can quickly be overcome by explaining that uncle/aunt [look at closest grave stone] was an avid bird watcher and you are bringing their equipment in remembrance. A little wailing may help with senior staff, while cigarettes seem to be preferred by staff carrying shovels.
Having dealt with the staff, small mention should be made regarding actual funerals. If a dearly beloved is being interred, do not pursue your birding within site of the event! Doing so could result in serious physical injury, as funeral goers do not seem to react well to a person with binoculars staring in the direction of funeral and writing down things. Keep in mind emotions are justifiably high. This means they can outrun you.
Typically, most will cluck in dismay at the idea of bird watching in a cemetery. You may be doing so now. Ah, but as Halloween approaches and you’re dying for a new sighting, you just might start to feel differently.
After all, where else will you be able to finally see Vladious Vampirous in its natural habitat?
Rick Chapo is with www.nomadjournals.com - makers of writing journals. Bird watching journals are great bird watching gifts for bird watching tours and vacations. Visit www.nomadjournaltrips.com for more bird watching articles.
How do You Know When You Forget Something if You Cannot Remember What You Are Looking For?
Have you ever had a conversation and you forgot something and wondered why you forgot that particular fact at all? Well even more interesting is that if you forgot the fact how did you even remember that you knew it in the first place you see? Well many would say if you completely forget something and cannot even remember you have stored that information in the first place then that is a sign of Alzheimer’s, but you would not know you are coming down with the disease because you would not have remembered the thing that you no longer know, you know what I am saying here?
Now then have you ever considered why you forgot something? Perhaps the circumstances you learned it in are no longer present and it was attached to another piece of data, but during your conversation you came looking for it going the wrong direction and there simply was no connection there to get to the information, yet if you quickly considered or placed yourself in your mind at the point at which you received that information, you could more easily and probably retrieve it rather easily you see?
If you forgot something and you know you forgot it you are not going crazy and there is nothing wrong with you, but you might needs to think on that thought and relate it to other thoughts to help create multiple connections to the information you might need at a later date. So consider this in 2006.
“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/