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2008-06-23 14:36:28

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The Art of Fiction

This is Part of the Literature Department here at the Elftown Academy. Here I will do my best to present to you simple lessons I have had to learn the hard way about writing fiction and getting a manuscript fit for publishing. Below are the topics I will cover. Feel free to post links to your practice pages which I encourage as part of this class.

Please send me a message when you sign up.
Taught By: [Runingwhispers]

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Students:

1. [miekje]
2. [Tears of the Dead Star] - Shaladi's Writings
3. [Shadowsoul]
4. [Kitara Softpaw] - Kitara's Fictional Writings
5. [Rosette]

Introduction
Do not mistake your premise to be the story, its only the first step.
Remember to work with what makes you comfortable.

You may deviate from the outline when you need to, to keep the story moving, but remember to track changes and edit earlier parts so that everything makes sense, or your readers will be really pis*ed

Don't worry about spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Just write. Get all the ideas down.
If it doesn't support the main theme or plot, leave it out

Proof/rewrite, if necessary, using Spell, Thesaurus, and Grammar checkers.

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Story Development:

1. Generate charts, possibly with a word processor or database program to track characters events, places, historical data, etc.

2. What's the major theme – outline (well go on write it down)

3. The story must be entertaining, remember to add conflict and action as rime considerations.

4. Make the story line short, several paragraphs, Include conclusion

5. Organize plots and subplots and how they link (and lead) to the climax

6. Organize those into chapters (noting single themes relating to time, crisis, characters and/or place(s)

7. Do Your Research on places and events, try to follow the order in which they occurred or stick to what you know, otherwise invent something believable.

Note: Many successful writers prepare a synopsis of the plot after writing the first three chapters of the book. At that point, the characters have taken shape, and the writer has a good idea of where the story is going. This is useful as a guide, and gives the writer assurance that there is a middle and end to the story. When the novel is complete, it may not completely follow your original plan, but at least you will not have been groping around aimlessly. Do not become a slave to the plot line; it can always be changed to improve the story.

There is an organic unity to the relation of the structure of the novel to the composition of each scene within the story. The novel is a sequence of scenes, followed by sequels. Each scene is constructed in the pattern of the novel, with a beginning, a middle and an end. Each element of the scene has the same dramatic purpose as the corresponding element of the story. - Dunahue

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Character Development

1. Make them real and believable, like people you know from everyday life. But don't fall into the temptation to make them a lot like someone you know. This is fiction, so use only bits of their personalities.

2. Create a chart for every character (at least the major ones at the minimum) to help you track them (your readers will notice – trust me). You could fashion it out to some thing like the one below, or anything that works for you.
Age, Height, build, Eye and Hair color, Birth Date, Birth Place, Scars/handicaps, Education, Work, Best friend(s), Marital status, disposition, Philosophy. etc

3. Similar Names: be careful not to confuse your readers by giving your characters similar names like Sammy and Manny, or Fred and Ted. They sound too much alike and if you are like me and hear the names in your head this could get annoying.

4. Name Variations: When shortening a name in the story for any reason, try to stick to one variation. For instance Samuel: Sam and Sammy, or Margaret: Maggie, Marge and Meg. Using two or more variations is inconsistent and could also be a little confusing.

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Working with your Premise
Conflict the driving force
Padding and plotting
Description
Rewriting
Editing
Manuscript Preparation and Thinking like the Editor

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Back to Literature or the Elftown Academy

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2005-06-15 [Runingwhispers]: when you should follow the guidelines is when you are submitting your work to an editor

2005-06-15 [Runingwhispers]: Shaladi-just keep writing what comes to mind if you type and you think its better to write on paper to get it done faster then do that or get a tape recorder. You may want to leave it after the story stops coming for about a day or two, or even longer and then look at it again. It may be the makings of a great story

2005-06-15 [Runingwhispers]: Okay, here is an idea...you can create wikis and post the links here so that we can read what you have and if anyone has an critism (constructive would be better) you may comment

2005-06-15 [Runingwhispers]: Always remember DO WHAT MAKES YOU COMFORTABLE...thats in the introduction

2005-06-15 [Kitara Softpaw]: I'll make a wiki...I've been intending to do so since I singed up, I'm just sorta extremely busy on ET

2005-06-15 [Kitara Softpaw]: I know that I only have a poem up, but that's because.....I don't have nay of my stories on this computer...I write everything on paper

2005-06-15 [Tears of the Dead Star]: How do you create a wiki?

2005-06-17 [Kitara Softpaw]: Search for a wiki with your desired name. If it is empty, press the edit wiki page button, and add your text and, is desired, your password

2005-06-17 [Tears of the Dead Star]: Thank you for all your advice, I really appreciate it.

2005-06-17 [Kitara Softpaw]: You're welcome *bows*

2005-06-17 [Tears of the Dead Star]: shaladi's writings thas my wiki for my writings, again, thanks for your help

2005-06-17 [Runingwhispers]: :)

2005-06-17 [Kitara Softpaw]: Hey, anyone like the poem??

2005-06-18 [Runingwhispers]: what poem...I am a little lost

2005-06-18 [Kitara Softpaw]: One my writing page, tis the only thing up ^^;

2005-06-19 [Tears of the Dead Star]: Oh wow, I love your poetry,

2005-06-20 [Kitara Softpaw]: Thanks ^^'

2005-06-20 [Runingwhispers]: grrr no time to be online and my connection seems to be messing up...i will have to copy all the pages and read them during lunch

2005-06-21 [Runingwhispers]: I like the imagery acorna, its lovely

2005-06-21 [Kitara Softpaw]: Thank You.....I RP a lot, been into it for about four years now

2005-07-15 [wolvie!]: How do you sign up?

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