~INTRODUCTION~
What you will gain from this book:
The Muse On Writing is divided into two segments and several chapters, each with its own unique flavoring to inspire you. The first segment contains chapters that will help you hone your manuscript. The second segment contains various chapters with specific genres and information to guide you in your writing career.
As in any undertaking of consequences, a plan of action is needed. These chapters will guide you in various aspects of writing to stimulate your dormant muse and to awe your brain cells in areas of writing you may never have known to incorporate into your writing.
An idea penned to paper is just the beginning, a Genesis to a bigger story to follow. But in order for thoughts, plots, characters and settings to take shape, a writer needs to know some basics. We, The Muse On Writing writers, will unravel some writing aspects in a way not presented in other writing books.
This is what the MuseItUp Club members will deliver to you, the writer. And what Chapter One is all about.
Lea
~ CHAPTER ONE~
In The Beginning?A Blank Sheet
by Lea Schizas?2006
Everywhere you go, packages of lined paper are sold. These are the toys writers buy. In these modern times, computer papers in various weights have come to the forefront equally important as the stature of paper. So regardless if you use writing paper, computer paper, or a tape recorder, without a storyline, these ?toys? are useless.
As with all stories, we need to start from the beginning. For a compelling pull to your story, the following should be included in the story structure:
1-the overall hook
2-a few scattered complications/obstacles
3-climax
4-the final resolution
In The Muse On Writing, you will find various chapters to help you hone, perfect, and master your craft using all four points above. The Muse writers will guide you in areas such as:
*Setting and moving your plot forward
*Your writing voice
*Hearing and improving your character’s dialogue
*Using outside elements (other cultures, myths, and worlds) to enhance your story
*Using psychological profiles to build around your character
*How the Gaming Industry can help a writer
*The art and descriptive details to form Poetry
*A personal and informative account on Self-Publication and writing Flash Fiction.
*That almighty ’sweat? road of Promotion and Marketing
*The art of Non-fiction writing and areas of submissions.
However, all of the above cannot be utilized unless a writer has something to write about. This is where Chapter one, In the Beginning, comes to your aid.
Let’s Begin Our Thinking Process
There is no book without a story idea. A story needs a plot, or a hook to captivate your target audience. But more than that, it needs to pass the acceptance test of a publishing house. A writer needs to sit down and contemplate more than an idea for a story. There are several aspects to a book that need tending:.
*Who will be your protagonist and antagonist
*What will be their storyline and plot
*Where will the setting be placed
*What genre will it be written in
What I?ll do throughout this chapter is offer ideas on each point above to start you writing.
~CONTENTS~
SEGMENT ONE:
Introduction
Chapter One - by Lea Schizas?2006
In The Beginning?A Blank Sheet
-Let’s Begin Our Thinking Process
-How Dare You!!
-Situations and Terminologies To Use
-A Last Idea Generator
-Putting It All Together
Chapter Two - by Kathe Gogolewski?2006
Writer’s Voice - Who’s Got One?
-Developing "The Reading Ear"
-I - Evaluating Weak Voices in Writing
-II - Evaluating Strong Voices in Writing
-Developing the Writing Eye or "COMPANION READER"
-III - Seeing Your Writing As Others See It
Chapter Three - by Steve Lazarowitz?2006
Another Point of View
Chapter Four - by Shane Roe?2006
Lord Willing and the Creek Don?t Rise (but it had better if you want to sell anything!)
-No Conflict, No Story
-When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Rolled
-Why Conflict Builds Character
-Types of Conflict
Chapter Five - by Mary Schneider?2006
Word Wars
-Get a Move On Thickening the Plot
-Five Simple Rules For Puncuating Dialogue
-To Transcribe or Describe, That is the Question
-Avoiding Common Dialogue Mistakes
Chapter Six - by Pamela A. Shirkey?2006
The Rhinoceros Theory of Plotting
-I -The Rhinoceros? Legs
-II -No Plot? Steal One (shhh’some of the best writers do!)
-III -It’s Not a Formula! It’s a Form?
-IV -What If My Hero Doesn?t Want To Take That Journey
-V -But I Write Lit-Tra-Ture
Chapter Seven - by William Koonce?2006
The Upper Room (Inspirational Writing)
-What is Inspirational Writing?
-What is the Purpose of Inspirational Writing?
-So, How Can Inspirational Writing Help You?
-Inspirational Writing has Inherent Responsibilities
-Markets for Inspirational Writing
Chapter Eight - by Marie L. Davies?2006
Calling All Muses: Overcoming Writer’s Block
-Muse Creatively
-A Museful Environment
-Sources of Muse Fodder
-Exercises and Links
Chapter Nine - by Charles Mossop?2006
WorldBuilding
-Transporting Your Readers Into Other Worlds
-Passports and Visas: Getting Your Readers Into Other Worlds
-Myth, Legend and Folktale: Santa Claus and the Garden of Eden
-Art and Architecture
-Research: Finding Your World
Chapter Ten - by Dr. Patricia Ferguson?2006
Nuts and Bolts: Psychology Writing Reference
-Introduction
-Neurotic and other Disorders
-Childhood Disorders
-Substance Abuse Disorders
-Psychotic Disorders
-Somatoform and other Similar Disorders
-Factitious Disorders
-Sexual Disorders
-Sleep Disorders
-Intermittent Explosive and other Impulsive Disorders
-Personality Disorders
Chapter Eleven - by Lea Schizas?2006
Editing Nightmare
-Start With the Migraines?Take Longer to Cure
-Be Sure?Research
-The Nitty’s and the Gritty’s
Inspirational Writing Article - by Susan Stephenson?2006
Whipping Your Muse into Line(s)
SEGMENT TWO:
Chapter Twelve - by Shelagh McNally?2006
I?m Nonfiction - I?m Not Boring
-Writing Non-Fiction
-Types of Non-Fiction Writing
-Learning Your Craft
-Generating Ideas
-Finding Markets
-Contracts
-Getting Published vs Getting Paid
-Words of Wisdom
Chapter Thirteen - by Alan M. Toback?2006
Poetic Petals (Petals of Your Mind)
-Where Does the (POETIC) Muse Come From?
-About Narrative Verse
-Take My Words to Market: What Do I Do With These Poems?
-Glossary of Some Poetry Forms and Styles
Chapter Fourteen - by Robert A. Redmond?2006
Gold Star Writing: Helping Kids Become REAL Writers
-Descriptors of ?Real? Writing
-Part One: Developing a COMMUNITY of WRITERS
-Moving the Workshop Forward
-Bright Ideas for Real Writing Notebooks
-Real Writing: Getting Started
-Part Two: Independent Writing Time
-Part Three: Writing Pals
-Part Four: Writing Teams
-Part Five: Whole Class Sharing
-Part Six: Crafting/Revising
-Part Seven: Wrapping Up
Chapter Fifteen - by Barbie Perkins Cooper?2006
Screenwriting -the Nuts and Bolts of the Art Form
-Creating A Screenplay
-In the Beginning
-Screenwriting Definitions
Chapter Sixteen - by Kevin Oxland?2006
Dabbling With Digital Ink
-Introduction
-A Brief History of Interactive Fiction
-Can I Really Write for Games?
-Myths
-The Mechanics of Writing for Games
-Understanding the Game Development Process
-How Do I Get A Foot In The Door?
Chapter Seventeen - by Mike Kechula?2006
Developing Genre Flash Fiction - How To Get Started
-Introduction
-Discovering Flash Fiction
-Getting Started
-Finding Story Ideas
Chapter Eighteen - by Bob Farley?2006
Promoting Your Book
-Help! I?m A Marketing Dumbo
-Let’s Get Started
-What’s It About?
-Things To Get Done Before You?re Finished Writing
Chapter Nineteen - by Michelle Bailey Webster?2006
From Conception to Delivery
-Professional Editing
-Your Vision for Your Book
-Freelance/Elance
-Typesetting and Printing Company
-Your Publishing Company
-Acronym City: ISBN, EAN, and LCCN
-A Website is Imperative
-Preparing for the Arrival of your New Baby
Chapter Twenty - by Lea Schizas?2006
Interviews with Published Authors
-Dr. Bob Rich -
-Francine Silverman
-Carolyn Howard-Johnson
-Betty Dobson
-Kristie Maguire
Conclusion
Humorous Glossary by The Muse On Writing Writers?2006
