Become a member of Elftown
What is Elftown?

Page name: The art of Fiction [Logged in view] [RSS]

2008-06-23 14:36:28

# of watchers: 6

Fans: 0

D20: 3

Wiki-page rating	Stumble!
Informative:	0
Artistic:	0
Funny-rating:	0
Friendly:	0

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]

<img:stuff/ETA_divider.jpg>

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.

<img:stuff/ETA_divider.jpg>

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

<img:stuff/ETA_divider.jpg>

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.

<img:stuff/ETA_divider.jpg>

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

<img:stuff/ETA_divider_small.jpg>

Back to Literature or the Elftown Academy

<img:stuff/ETA_divider_small.jpg>

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

2005-07-16 [Runingwhispers]: add your name to the list and start watching the page...thats it. If you have any questions on what has been covered then ask here...

2005-08-02 [wolvie!]: I'm not sure how you add your name to the list though I've tried to click on it and nothing happens. I don't mean to bother you but can you please help. Thank you very much.

2005-08-02 [Runingwhispers]: I hope you are watching the page by now, that button is just below. To add your name to the list click on the 'Edit this page' button above the comments and find the list in the editable text area...then 'Submit changes to this page'. remember to put your ID in the elftown handles [ ]. Thats it!

2005-08-02 [Kitara Softpaw]: I should be giving you guys links to my RP character bios...they are the most descriptive fiction I do here...

2005-08-04 [wolvie!]: Thank you so much your realy helpful. This is my first month on elftown so I've been realy confused. Thanks again for your help.

2005-08-04 [Runingwhispers]: Read up and participate as best you can.

2005-08-27 [Kitara Softpaw]: I feel blah - I haven't written anything in ages x.x

2005-08-30 [Runingwhispers]: Here is something I would like everyone to have a go at...see the mainstreet for the deatils of the Elftown Prose Contest (participation will earn you an official badge and experience)

2005-09-05 [Kitara Softpaw]: ...er, I'll try

2005-09-05 [Kitara Softpaw]: Hmm, can I enter my story using Neopets?

2005-09-05 [Runingwhispers]: Neopets...i don't kow how that works. but if the story is yours even though previously published may be accepted, you could ask them

2005-09-08 [Kitara Softpaw]: It's not actually preciously published....I just sorta wrote it, about a Ruki and a Draik and Sloth

2005-09-08 [Runingwhispers]: you own the copyright, you can put it anywhere...especially at the contest

2005-09-08 [Tears of the Dead Star]: How do you own the copyright?

2005-09-08 [Runingwhispers]: hmm interesting question (that means I have never had to explain it) there are many ways to copyright your work, officially by getting it registered, or a simple way would be to mail it to your self (but don't open the envelope) the crossed stamp makes it govenment sealed...makes sense? if there is a dispute, it is admisable in court, the date on the stamp shows when you got it 'copyrighted'

2005-09-08 [Kitara Softpaw]: I don't have it 'copyrighted' but I wrote it and noone else has ever read it ^-^ Neo never even saw it. But I didn't know because it involves Neopian thingsq

2005-09-09 [Runingwhispers]: hmm read the rules for the contest, and tell me if you have any of the characters that fall into the description of accepted fantasy creatures

2005-09-09 [Runingwhispers]: about the copyright...many people just say their work is copyrighted,I don't know if it holds water in court without registration, in the USyou would register your work with the Library of Congress for a small fee

2006-07-30 [DemonSorcerer]: My imagination is always completely out of control. I've got an idea, made up a character, story line, problem, solution, about a million times. But I can't get the story started.

2006-07-31 [Kitara Softpaw]: If you have any part of the story, right it down it could be the middle, or the end. Then work backwards from that point. Roleplaying helps give me inspiration for some of my stories...Basically write down anything you can and go from there. ^^' I'm not the expert, but it's helped me

Number of comments: 74
Older comments: (Last 200) 3 2 .1. 0

Show these comments on your site