Dancing Word Writers Workshop

with DiAnn Mills

March 10, 2006

*This chat has been edited for clarity.

Hosted by: Anne McDonald

Dancing Word Publisher/Editor

Anne McDonald: I'll open in prayer first, go over protocol, then introduce the professor of the evening

Lord, thank You so much for loving us so much. Thanks for the every day blessings you provide for us and the details you attend to on our behalf. Please help us develop our writing skills so that You can use them to reach others. Bless our guest and participants tonight and help us be a blessing to others. In Jesus' name, Amen

Protocol reminder: When the floor is open to questions/comments Please type ! for comments, ? for questions and to keep us from stepping on each others' toes, type ga when you are finished. ga=go ahead

Tonight I'm privileged to introduce our workshop professor DiAnn Mills. DiAnn , welcome and thank you for coming.

* AZAnnie leads the applause

DiAnn Mills: I am excited. Tonight we are talking about Accelerating Your Writing Career.  We all want to be published and sooner if not later, but what makes some manuscripts stand out while others are published? You can speed up the publishing process by giving your manuscript a tune-up. 

The following 6 Cs of Writing add a professional additive that is often missed in the first draft

1. Colorful

2. Compelling

3.Concise

4. Conflict

5. Creative

6. Credible

Some of these lap over, but they are vital to an outstanding novel. In the words of my favorite fiction teacher - Donald Maass.  We want to write that breakout novel

As I go through each one, I will ask for a comment with the protocol use of !. So let's get started.

Colorful: Making sure your writing is colorful does not mean filling your story with adjectives and adverb.  It's not about boring description and flowery speech.

Three ways to make your writing colorful is to 1. Add sensory perception 2. use vivid nouns and verbs, and 3. eliminate as many adjectives and adverbs as possible

Can you think of another way to make your manuscript colorful? !

Anne McDonald: Drop the reader right into the action

DiAnn Mills: amen! Hook 'em with a dynamic opening

Anne McDonald: Make sure that the character is someone the reader will care about.

DiAnn Mills: a sympathetic character moves the reader to turn the pages. I suggest picking up a copy of Rebecca McClanahan's Word Painting

Ok, I'm moving on.

Compelling: A compelling story is one that contains conflict and tension on every page. Think about your favorite stories. The ones that had you turning page after page

The ones that kept you awake at night; and thinking about the characters throughout the day. The writer was successful in creating a compelling story. And you can do that too

Ways to make your story compelling are:

1. Conflict on every page - or delete the page

2. Create tension in every scene. A scene's format is goal, conflict disaster

3. Cut the scenes that have characters drinking coffee/tea, eating, driving - unless you are about to do something dynamic in that scene.

4. Write action in short sentences. Narrative can be a mix. For instance...any joggers out there. Try jogging in place for 10 minutes. Then have someone ask you questions.

How do you answer? Long drawn out sentences or quick short responses?

Ellie Schroder: Definitely short responses!

DiAnn Mills: That is what an action scene is - quick action  gasp gasp = consider running from the path of a tornado :)

Any questions? or Comments on adding compelling scenes to your manuscript?

Anne McDonald: One of the things I've noticed recently in helping new writers is the amount of words they use to describe a scene...pinpointing every aspect of every move....using twenty words where four would do best.

DiAnn Mills: and that leads us to the next "additive" CONCISE Thank you Annie!

Read the rest of the transcript

 

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