Science Fiction Writers Workshop

Here's a link to an article on unleashing our imaginations at http://www.hollywoodlitsales.com/cf/journal/dspJournal.cfm?intID=3150

Advice by James Patrick Kelly on trimming wastage from one's masterpiece.

It's not for the timid.

Brave souls can go to http://www.sfwa.org/writing/murder.htm

This post is inspired by Dave K's comment to my post on Heinlein's Rules in "The Rest" section.

Many people's people's idea of rewriting is simply "wordsmithing," which is changing word choices.

A screenwriting mentor taught that keys to rewriting success are:
1. The purpose is to IMPROVE you story, not PROTECT it.
Continue to be CREATIVE as you rewrite and your story
will be amazing in the end.

2. Editors love writers who EXCEED their EXPECTATIONS.

A rewrite process I learned recently is:

A. Basic Story Editing
Make sure your STORY works.

B. Questioning
Questioning is about IMPROVING, not ATTACKING.

Okay, recipe for the seven point plot:

1. A character

2. In a setting

3. With a problem

4. Character must TRY to solve problem

5. Must FAIL (and the result is THINGS GET WORSE)

6. Climax--the conclusion of the try/fail cycles. The tsunami of all the smaller squalls. Character either fails miserably (tragedy) or succeeds wonderfully (comedy).

7. Validation. This is the line in old fairy tales "And they all lived happily (or miserably) ever after." One of the best examples of a validation scene is in STAR WARS where Han and Luke get medals pinned to their chests at the end of the movie for saving the Federation. Life goes on, and hopefully the character is wiser for the experience.

A tip for increasing your story writing artistry at http://www2.beyondstructure.com/article_plots.php

Advice on how to right dialogue that socks you in the gut at http://www2.beyondstructure.com/article_layered_dialogue.php

Bits and pieces to be learned at the Beyond Structure Workshop at http://www2.beyondstructure.com/article_sampletechniques.php

A list of the most common grammar mistakes overworked editors see in rejected stories at http://mzbworks.home.att.net/grammar.htm

An elegant breakdown on the elements of a short story at http://mzbworks.home.att.net/what.htm

STRUCTURE TWISTS

by David Freeman

Structure Twists mean surprising the reader with the way some basic plot structures are used.

Let’s look at a few plot twists in the context of a hypothetical, contemporary war story.

A Revelation Changes Everything

You and your squad have been making it across hostile terrain toward the enemy’s stronghold. You’ve been getting orders from your higher-ups over a radio carried by one of you men.

And then comes the revelation: You learn that your radio is bugged. Your enemy knows where you are and everything you’ve been planning.