TO NEW VISITORS:
Browse through the links on the right for more information about Fiction Bitz, including submission requirements and author's pages.
The 'Subscribe To' buttons, bottom right, will get you our latest news and updated pages sent via RSS feed directly to your inbox.
This page will give you the blog part of the site with latest news and musings. You will be able to navigate through the blog entries at the end of every Latest News post.
LATEST NEWS - THE BLOG PART
Ready, steady... hold it!
As many of my regular visitors know, the launch of Fiction Bitz was postponed. For how long, I am unable to say, but if I held the only vote, we’d re-launch tomorrow. And I’d keep on doing so until the planets aligned and elephants galloped through The Eye of the Needle.
My limitations are mostly financial at this stage. You have to have money to generate more of the dratted stuff. I’ve considered selling the one thing I have of any financial value (no, not my books. Never the books!), but as previously indicated, I unfortunately do not hold the only vote.
I know what is needed and how to do it. I have more than enough enthusiasm, skills and energy at my disposal. I have numerous challenges ahead but I am confident of overcoming them all. If I don’t know the solutions, I know how to find them. Except for one. But I'm working on it.
Some of you may be disappointed, but so far the response from everyone has been positive. ‘Keep it up!’ and ‘Good luck’ and other messages of good wishes have flooded my inbox. Thank you everyone for this show of support. It certainly helps keep the demons of despair at bay.
The howling outside my door is loud though, and soon my headphones and pig-headedness won’t be enough. Perhaps my books should shuffle their pages nervously and head towards the darkest corners of the bookshelf.
Until soon...
<< see previous LATEST NEWS| | |more news to follow...
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
LATEST NEWS - Action!
TO NEW VISITORS:
Browse through the links on the right for more information about Fiction Bitz, including submission requirements and author's pages.
The 'Subscribe To: buttons, bottom right, will get you our latest news and updated pages sent via RSS feed directly to your inbox.
This page will give you the blog part of the site with latest news and musings and whatever else I throw out into the blogosphere. You will be able to navigate through the blog entries at the end of every Latest News post.
LATEST NEWS - THE BLOG PART
Ready, action, go!
We send out our first issue in two weeks’ time and I’ve never been so nervousexcited before. Our sales team is mobilising, the printers are standing by and a small flurry of papers and email whirls around me. Writers be warned: your day is coming faster than Jim Carrie can change his face...
If you think you’ve missed a deadline or your work will just be buried under yet another slush pile if you submit now – think again. Don’t forget we will be printing FOUR stories EVERY week so we need your work. Each issue will contain different genres, styles and length of stories, so your masterpiece is bound to slot in quickly. Every submission will receive a personal reply within a maximum of 7 days so you’ll never be left wondering whether it was accepted or not.
Polish it up as much as you can before you submit, but if it still needs work, remember that we are willing to help. And if you’re still uncertain, follow some of the useful links on our LINKS page.
It’s almost standard practise for writers to get critiques from a variety of sources, so don’t hold back. If you need help handling critiques, visit our WRITING TIPS page.
And if you see our guys out on the Cape Town streets, give them a manic smile and buy a copy. Tell your friends and family about us and post the link to our website anywhere you think people will be interested. It will make our sales team’s job that much easier to bring your carefully crafted words to the public.
If you’re a reader, we love you! Ultimately it’s you we’re serving so please drop by and leave a note for the authors on their pages. Thank you for your support so far and we look forward to bringing you much more exciting fiction.
So now it’s time for me to crunch some more numbers, fiddle with the layout yet again and take the dog for a walk. We’ll keep this blog as our website for now, but keep a lookout for our fully interactive website coming soon where you’ll be able to download back copies, subscribe online and register to chat to writers directly.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6...
<< see previous LATEST NEWS| | |Next LATEST NEWS >>
Browse through the links on the right for more information about Fiction Bitz, including submission requirements and author's pages.
The 'Subscribe To: buttons, bottom right, will get you our latest news and updated pages sent via RSS feed directly to your inbox.
This page will give you the blog part of the site with latest news and musings and whatever else I throw out into the blogosphere. You will be able to navigate through the blog entries at the end of every Latest News post.
LATEST NEWS - THE BLOG PART
Ready, action, go!
We send out our first issue in two weeks’ time and I’ve never been so nervousexcited before. Our sales team is mobilising, the printers are standing by and a small flurry of papers and email whirls around me. Writers be warned: your day is coming faster than Jim Carrie can change his face...
If you think you’ve missed a deadline or your work will just be buried under yet another slush pile if you submit now – think again. Don’t forget we will be printing FOUR stories EVERY week so we need your work. Each issue will contain different genres, styles and length of stories, so your masterpiece is bound to slot in quickly. Every submission will receive a personal reply within a maximum of 7 days so you’ll never be left wondering whether it was accepted or not.
Polish it up as much as you can before you submit, but if it still needs work, remember that we are willing to help. And if you’re still uncertain, follow some of the useful links on our LINKS page.
It’s almost standard practise for writers to get critiques from a variety of sources, so don’t hold back. If you need help handling critiques, visit our WRITING TIPS page.
And if you see our guys out on the Cape Town streets, give them a manic smile and buy a copy. Tell your friends and family about us and post the link to our website anywhere you think people will be interested. It will make our sales team’s job that much easier to bring your carefully crafted words to the public.
If you’re a reader, we love you! Ultimately it’s you we’re serving so please drop by and leave a note for the authors on their pages. Thank you for your support so far and we look forward to bringing you much more exciting fiction.
So now it’s time for me to crunch some more numbers, fiddle with the layout yet again and take the dog for a walk. We’ll keep this blog as our website for now, but keep a lookout for our fully interactive website coming soon where you’ll be able to download back copies, subscribe online and register to chat to writers directly.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6...
<< see previous LATEST NEWS| | |Next LATEST NEWS >>
Aenigmata
LLOYD TOOKE
Fun Guy. Grew up in the Kingdom of KwaZulu. Moonlights as a paediatrician and Riddle Master. Real job is a dad. Once dressed up as a knight and almost defeated a dragon with a paperclip as he had forgotten his sword at home.
LIONEL WAKER
Has nicknames that stick. Cape of Storms lad who plays with investment data and occasionally walks between lighthouses. Once dressed up as a dragon and was almost defeated by a knight with a paperclip...almost.
The first reader to get all of the first 4 riddles correct will win a copy of this beautifully illustrated book! Simply send your answer to us at Fiction Bitz:
fictionbitz@gmail.com with Subject: ‘Aenigmata Riddle 1’
or SMS ‘Riddle 1’ and your answer to 072 863 1581
Feel free to post your comments or questions here, but please NO SPOILERS! Beware the smitery swords wielded by our heroes pictured above…
KAREL NIELSON
Karel lives and writes in the picturesque little town of Hartbeespoort, where the smells originating in the dam has kept him from going outside and admiring the view he has of the Magaliesberg Mountains for six years. He has been writing poetry since he was eight, but only recently started dabbling in the dark arts of writing fiction. He lives alone with his lovely dog Bitch.ETIENNE KRUGER
Etienne Krüger is 40, has size 13(UK) feet and claims to be an underwater fireman when drunk. This story is often unhelpful at airports, where, thanks to the recent attentions of False Bay rugby club, he and his left forearm are unable simultaneously to proceed through the metal detector without tripping the alarm. Five years ago he discovered that chicks don’t dig engineers half as much as authors. So, cutting deeply into his precious surfing time, he cribbed the name of his first character from the side of a furniture removals truck and wrote his debut novel, Getting Lucky. Yeti, as he is known to his friends, is currently undergoing intensive psychotherapy as research for his third act of madness – Package Tour, a dark Freudian comedy about the dangers of impending marriage. We wish him well.
Leave a message here for Etienne and one reader a week will be getting lucky and receive a personally autographed copy of Getting Lucky. And if his therapist allows him access, he will endeavor to reply in a reasonably lucid manner.
MARIO D'OFFIZI
Mario d'Offizi is a Cape Town based writer and poet. He is also assistant editor of Sawubona magazine.
Mario's work has featured in many publications over the years and his writing - prose and poetry - has been critically acclaimed thanks to its honesty and the warmth of his poetic voice.
From his tough days at Boys Town to wild years in the advertising world, a stint in the restaurant business and a sharp edged journalistic adventure in the DRC, d'Offizi tells his critically acclaimed story, Bless Me Father, with the unfailing sensitivity and warmth of a true poet.
Bless Me Father REVIEWS:
"...a searing look at growing up on the other side of the tracks, around the bend and up the wall. I am not easily moved by memoirs, but d'Offizi's story left me reeling on more than one occasion. This is an author who writes from the heart, not the head. And even though it is a heart that is surely covered with layers of scar tissue, it is not a hard heart. Rather, it is a heart full of kindness and compassion. Given the choice of reading Spud or Bless me Father, I would choose d'Offizi's book every time.” - Ben Trovato
"If you read no other African writer this decade, read this one; we can all associate with his roller coaster ride through the latter half of last century and onward into the current one - you'll laugh with him, cry with him, mourn with him, rejoice with him and ultimately triumph with him." - Leadership Magazine
“...I would advise that you get this book for the boys and the men in your family. I think it's a phenomenal, affirming story of manhood. I highly recommend it.” - Karabo Kgoleng, SAFM Literature
“The... story is light-hearted, shocking, inspirational, poignant and optimistic, and one that any reader cannot help but be deeply touched by.” - The Times
“This book is an absorbing read that offers the example of what can be achieved by not sweating things, big and small, and ultimately surviving life with a smile on your face.” - The Mercury
AUTHORS @ FICTION BITZ
Click on an author's name below to go to their page. Scan their photographs for evidence of photoshopping, read up on their pedigree and leave a comment for them to agonise over in the morning... the floor's yours!
MARIO D'OFFIZI
ETIENNE KRUGER
KAREL NIELSON
AENIGMATA
.
MARIO D'OFFIZI
ETIENNE KRUGER
KAREL NIELSON
AENIGMATA
.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Latest News - P-Day set!
TO NEW VISITORS:
Browse through the links on the right for more information about Fiction Bitz, including our core goals and submission requirements.
The RSS feed button, bottom right, will get you our latest news and updated pages sent directly to your inbox.
This page will give you the blog part of the site with latest news and musings and whatever else I throw out into the blogosphere. You will be able to navigate through the blog entries at the end of every Latest News post.
LATEST NEWS - THE BLOG PART
P-day has tentatively been set for 3 September, so time for me to hike up the skirts and get busy! I've extended the date in my head so many times, but I swear this time it's different. This time I'm actually telling people what it is.
With the winter holidays upon us, now is maybe not the ideal time to be contacting schools and colleges, but then when would a perfect time be? 'Seize the moment' and 'no time like the present' comes to mind. Ideally, I'd like to have 8 issues ready for print at all times so probably the biggest job I have facing me at the moment is to get the first 8 filled up with writing. This is no small feat, but achievable nonetheless. With almost no effort on my part, I have 6 authors submitting some great work. I can only imagine what will come about when I actually bend my energy to the task of finding more writers.
Bit by bit, pages here have been filled with real information. Other than 2 pages, all the basics are here and should be able to satisfy anyone's curiosity at this stage. For now, the only updates that will appear, will be the latest news (the blog part).
A small sales team has developed around an exceptional guy. If I had a rag available for him today, he would've sold it last week already. They are all eager to begin selling Fiction Bitz and I almost feel guilty for telling they will have to wait just a little longer. However, rather have the foundations set properly first than have the house crumble too soon. They seem to understand. For now.
My web designer has flitted off to Russia for a holiday. Then she's taking a few days off in Paris. I am not jealous. At all. Honest. But I'll make her work hard when she gets back in a week's time. Really hard.
I've toyed around with the design of Fiction Bitz recently and have come up with a cleaner look. For those who've seen the sample, you'll know the title was probably the weakest point. That's been changed and soon I'll possibly post a few samples here and get your opinions.
The next two weeks will be dedicated to the business side of things: figures, stats and logistics. So no more staring off into space, reading in the shivering small hours of the morning and no more happy days playing with Photoshop. But it does mean many hours ahead merrily twiddling with columns and cross references and running rows of juicy numbers.
Could life get any better than this? Oh, yes. I could get paid for my work. That would be better, but not by much.
<< see previous LATEST NEWS| | |Next LATEST NEWS >>
Browse through the links on the right for more information about Fiction Bitz, including our core goals and submission requirements.
The RSS feed button, bottom right, will get you our latest news and updated pages sent directly to your inbox.
This page will give you the blog part of the site with latest news and musings and whatever else I throw out into the blogosphere. You will be able to navigate through the blog entries at the end of every Latest News post.
LATEST NEWS - THE BLOG PART
P-day has tentatively been set for 3 September, so time for me to hike up the skirts and get busy! I've extended the date in my head so many times, but I swear this time it's different. This time I'm actually telling people what it is.
With the winter holidays upon us, now is maybe not the ideal time to be contacting schools and colleges, but then when would a perfect time be? 'Seize the moment' and 'no time like the present' comes to mind. Ideally, I'd like to have 8 issues ready for print at all times so probably the biggest job I have facing me at the moment is to get the first 8 filled up with writing. This is no small feat, but achievable nonetheless. With almost no effort on my part, I have 6 authors submitting some great work. I can only imagine what will come about when I actually bend my energy to the task of finding more writers.
Bit by bit, pages here have been filled with real information. Other than 2 pages, all the basics are here and should be able to satisfy anyone's curiosity at this stage. For now, the only updates that will appear, will be the latest news (the blog part).
A small sales team has developed around an exceptional guy. If I had a rag available for him today, he would've sold it last week already. They are all eager to begin selling Fiction Bitz and I almost feel guilty for telling they will have to wait just a little longer. However, rather have the foundations set properly first than have the house crumble too soon. They seem to understand. For now.
My web designer has flitted off to Russia for a holiday. Then she's taking a few days off in Paris. I am not jealous. At all. Honest. But I'll make her work hard when she gets back in a week's time. Really hard.
I've toyed around with the design of Fiction Bitz recently and have come up with a cleaner look. For those who've seen the sample, you'll know the title was probably the weakest point. That's been changed and soon I'll possibly post a few samples here and get your opinions.
The next two weeks will be dedicated to the business side of things: figures, stats and logistics. So no more staring off into space, reading in the shivering small hours of the morning and no more happy days playing with Photoshop. But it does mean many hours ahead merrily twiddling with columns and cross references and running rows of juicy numbers.
Could life get any better than this? Oh, yes. I could get paid for my work. That would be better, but not by much.
<< see previous LATEST NEWS| | |Next LATEST NEWS >>
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Latest News - The Blog PART 1
Welcome to Fiction Bitz' temporary home!
I hope you stay with us and check in now and again for updates on our progress towards the big P-day. It will be an exciting road for anyone in South Africa who loves fiction and interesting developments to watch as our writers and readers get to know each other in a whole new way...
Subscribe to the RSS feed on the bottom right to get our latest news and other page updates mailed directly to your inbox now! It's free too :D
Browse through the pages list on the right. This is still a work in progress with new pages and content being updated regularly so feel free to leave your comments or questions on any of the pages.
LATEST NEWS
The market survey results are almost finalised! If you haven't done so already, add your voice to what you would like to see at Fiction Bitz. The current results should be posted by early next week, but we won't close the survey down just yet. All respondents get their first FOUR issues of Fiction Bitz for free! The closing date for this survey will be posted soon though, so jump in and answer 6 easy questions while you still can!
Due to popular demand, it appears we also have to run around for new quotes on the printing. Luckily we ran a survey to know what people actually wanted :P This means we'll need to jump our financial planning through a few more hoops for the investors, but it's good to have an MSExcel whizz on our side so it shouldn't slow us down too much...
Writers in Cape Town are slowly crawling out from under their rocks and what an awesome bunch they are! Also a few writers from elsewhere in the country have been in contact with some really excellent material...
I met a publisher today with a very exciting book I hope to include in our early issues. I know many readers out there will love this new spin on an ancient game - not to mention the possibility of winning a book or three! Aenigmatic, I know, but I'm not saying anymore. For now ;)
Our journey has only just begun and I'm more excited about this project than ever. The support from not only family and friends, but complete strangers, has already been almost overwhelming.
It's going to be a fun road ahead, albeit a tough one. I know our South African writers have exquisite vistas to bring to the reading world and our readers will be the ones to light the way.
Viva!
Next LATEST NEWS >>
I hope you stay with us and check in now and again for updates on our progress towards the big P-day. It will be an exciting road for anyone in South Africa who loves fiction and interesting developments to watch as our writers and readers get to know each other in a whole new way...
Subscribe to the RSS feed on the bottom right to get our latest news and other page updates mailed directly to your inbox now! It's free too :D
Browse through the pages list on the right. This is still a work in progress with new pages and content being updated regularly so feel free to leave your comments or questions on any of the pages.
LATEST NEWS
The market survey results are almost finalised! If you haven't done so already, add your voice to what you would like to see at Fiction Bitz. The current results should be posted by early next week, but we won't close the survey down just yet. All respondents get their first FOUR issues of Fiction Bitz for free! The closing date for this survey will be posted soon though, so jump in and answer 6 easy questions while you still can!
Due to popular demand, it appears we also have to run around for new quotes on the printing. Luckily we ran a survey to know what people actually wanted :P This means we'll need to jump our financial planning through a few more hoops for the investors, but it's good to have an MSExcel whizz on our side so it shouldn't slow us down too much...
Writers in Cape Town are slowly crawling out from under their rocks and what an awesome bunch they are! Also a few writers from elsewhere in the country have been in contact with some really excellent material...
I met a publisher today with a very exciting book I hope to include in our early issues. I know many readers out there will love this new spin on an ancient game - not to mention the possibility of winning a book or three! Aenigmatic, I know, but I'm not saying anymore. For now ;)
Our journey has only just begun and I'm more excited about this project than ever. The support from not only family and friends, but complete strangers, has already been almost overwhelming.
It's going to be a fun road ahead, albeit a tough one. I know our South African writers have exquisite vistas to bring to the reading world and our readers will be the ones to light the way.
Viva!
Next LATEST NEWS >>
Readers - Fiction Links
a list of other places to go for quality fiction and a short review on each link.
coming soon!!
coming soon!!
Writers - Resource Links
Web Fiction Guide: This is a listing of free online fiction available with reviews from editors, other writers and readers. There are stories in many different genres, styles and lengths. Some listings are complete stories and some are still works in progress; some are written by novice writers and some by more experienced writers. Reading through these will not only entertain you, but show the diversity available.
Everyday Fiction: Get a piece of short fiction in your inbox every day! See how others construct an entire story in 1000 words...
yWriter: Here you’ll be able to download free novel writing software created by the successful author of the ‘Hal Spacejock' series, Simon Haynes. Whether you use it or not is a matter of personal taste, but it provides a clear structure for plot, chapter and scene transitions. A useful tool.
Urbis: This is a good review site where you can go to review other work and put your work up for review by a bunch of strangers – most of whom are writers themselves.
Critique Circle: another good review site
TED - Elizabeth Gilbert: Elizabeth Gilbert was one of the guest speakers at TED and here she talks about genius and inspiration – where it comes from and how it influences us differently. A brilliant talk, but browse through the numerous talks by many other guest speakers. There are so many to choose from...
Novelr: This blog addresses issues facing writers across the world, but is particularly aimed at those publishing on the internet. Informative articles with interesting links...
NaNoWriMo: You may already know about this, but for those who don’t, NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. It started as a national competition in the US but has grown beyond the country’s borders and is now an international event. One month a year, writers are challenged to produce a novel of 50,000 words. It does not need to be good or edited: it just needs to meet the word count. Go here to find out more!
Bulwer-Lytton Awards 2009: the 2009 winners of the worst openings to novels. A great portrait of what not to do!
If you have any other useful links that other writers may find interesting, comment below with a link or email us at fictionbitz@gmail.com
Everyday Fiction: Get a piece of short fiction in your inbox every day! See how others construct an entire story in 1000 words...
yWriter: Here you’ll be able to download free novel writing software created by the successful author of the ‘Hal Spacejock' series, Simon Haynes. Whether you use it or not is a matter of personal taste, but it provides a clear structure for plot, chapter and scene transitions. A useful tool.
Urbis: This is a good review site where you can go to review other work and put your work up for review by a bunch of strangers – most of whom are writers themselves.
Critique Circle: another good review site
TED - Elizabeth Gilbert: Elizabeth Gilbert was one of the guest speakers at TED and here she talks about genius and inspiration – where it comes from and how it influences us differently. A brilliant talk, but browse through the numerous talks by many other guest speakers. There are so many to choose from...
Novelr: This blog addresses issues facing writers across the world, but is particularly aimed at those publishing on the internet. Informative articles with interesting links...
NaNoWriMo: You may already know about this, but for those who don’t, NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. It started as a national competition in the US but has grown beyond the country’s borders and is now an international event. One month a year, writers are challenged to produce a novel of 50,000 words. It does not need to be good or edited: it just needs to meet the word count. Go here to find out more!
Bulwer-Lytton Awards 2009: the 2009 winners of the worst openings to novels. A great portrait of what not to do!
If you have any other useful links that other writers may find interesting, comment below with a link or email us at fictionbitz@gmail.com
Contact Us
Are you a writer looking to submit your work for publication?
Are you interested in becoming a vendor or distributor for Fiction Bitz?
Would you just like to know more about us?
Contact us at:
P.O. Box 2007, Sunvalley, 7985, South Africa
fictionbitz@gmail.com
072 863 1581
Are you interested in becoming a vendor or distributor for Fiction Bitz?
Would you just like to know more about us?
Contact us at:
P.O. Box 2007, Sunvalley, 7985, South Africa
fictionbitz@gmail.com
072 863 1581
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Writers - Writing Tips PART 3
By now, the honeymoon phase of inspired genius has dropped from memory like Cyril Duffet (who?!) and you would likely have agonised over your weak characters, the pasty plot and expressed the ‘I will never be good enough!’ Do you know that’s all okay? It’s in the manual. Some never get past this point but, as you know, you will.
You will face your fears head-on and conquer them! You will stand in the long shadow of adversity and you will not quail! You will smite the nay-sayers with your smitery sword of destruction! Uh erm...
Another part of editing is taking note of all those things your English teacher tried to beat into your skull. We only list some of the most common errors here. Part of the required weapons for a writer is a good grammar book, dictionary and thesaurus, so add them to your Santa’s list.
If you’re an avid reader you should be able to pick most of them up yourself, whether or not you fell asleep in class...
16. SPaG
This means Spelling and Grammar. You may be amazed to see how many people couldn’t care less about simple spelling and grammar errors. MSWord leaves red gashes and slimy green trails all through their work and they blithely submit their work as ‘complete’ and say “My story speaks for itself! I am an artist, not a school teacher!”
I’m sorry to burst that silly bubble, but when you write, one of the basic elements is checking your SPaG. Sometimes you will opt to break language rules, but only do so purposefully and with the intent on enriching the story. Don’t break them because you’re lazy and expect someone else to fix it for you. If you can’t show your work the respect it deserves, don’t expect someone else to take it seriously.
Errors do occur – a typo here and a missed word there, or some obscure grammar rule eludes your memory... that’s okay. But if you are not sure, or if the language you’re writing in is not your first language, try to at least get someone to proofread it for these errors before submitting your work anywhere.
17. HAD –ING
Every time you come across the word ‘had’, ‘-ing’ is sure to lurk. When you come across these, red flags, alarm bells and *billowing* smoke should pour through your senses. A panic attack should be imminent. Poke your glasses between your eyes and demand “Are you very sure there is no other way you could word this?”
Consider: “The billowing smoke had drifted across the street...” versus “The smoke billowed across the street...” The first will bump your reader out of the story and leave them to watch the scene unfold from behind a thick sheet of glass. The second version, places the reader in the middle of the street. It’s the difference between a ‘nice story’ and a ‘I-couldn’t-put-the-book-down’.
18. POV
An omniscient being who can read every person’s thoughts and can see what everyone’s doing must get so bored. No surprises anywhere. Would you like to subject your reader to an unsurprised and boring view of your carefully crafted work? No? Then watch out for changing POV’s (Points Of View). This happens more often than we like to admit!
If the current scene is told from the MC’s POV realise that, unless he’s a mind-reader, he will have no idea what’s going on in someone else’s head – what they’re thinking or feeling. A person’s gestures, words or expressions may give the MC clues, but never presume to give another character’s POV without physical evidence.
And if you do decide to swop POV’s, make the changeover very clear. Like a new chapter, for instance.
19. TENSE
Most stories are written in the past tense. To write in the present tense is an exercise in precision. Only attempt this as an exercise or if you are already a proficient writer. The present tense can set the reader’s heart racing with its immediacy, but it’s not easy to pace or read for extended periods.
It is natural to write (and read) in the past tense, as long as you maintain it throughout your story. Beware of the ‘had’ and ‘ing’ as mentioned before and also be careful of present tense verbs slipping in where they do not belong. This also happens more frequently than we like to admit!
20. CHARACTERISATION
Here are some tricks you can use to build vivid characters. People have different speech patterns, mannerisms, likes and dislikes and of course they look different. But what makes the difference between a just another character in a book and one you can remember years later?
Whatever ‘tricks’ you employ, remember that fiction should normally be larger than life. So if someone lisps, everyone notices it to the point of misunderstandings. They don’t have hunched shoulders, but a looming hump shadowing their head. The woman wasn’t old, but gnarled. Use bright, solid colours rather than dishwater with a dash of pigment.
These tips work for MC’s as well as the supporting cast:
21. DRAFT & EDIT, DRAFT & EDIT
Once you have pounded your first draft into submission, you’ll have a shining new second draft, free of SPaG errors, characters that leap off the page and a plot that’s engaging and you are ready to email it off to the first publisher who will recognise your genius...
But you are not done yet. So far, you have only used a 4-pound hammer and chainsaw to hew a living thing out of rock. You are tired and your masterpiece is looking better than ever. Don’t be deceived, for your tears and sweat will mean nothing without now fine tuning the features. “Third draft: The rush of discovery is over. The comfort of completion far off. You bleed syllables. One an hour” ~Clive Barker. You have been warned!
It’s a good idea to sometimes put a piece aside for a while. Get a haircut and start on a new story or chapter... A week or a month later, haul it out again and review it as though it doesn’t belong to you. This space makes it easier to separate yourself from the piece, makes it not as personal, therefore easier to edit.
This is one of those fine lines writers need to walk – over-editing can also kill a piece as well as your passion to write. If you spend too much time editing and not enough time writing, you’ll never finish the book. Editing can join the legion of excuses to not write, so tread this line carefully!
22. READ ALOUD
If you can’t read it aloud, something is bound to be wrong – not with your voice but with the writing. When words leap away from your tongue and plunge back down your throat, it’s a good indication you may need to revise. If they argue amongst themselves as they leave your mouth, they will not concentrate on their destination: your audience.
The words need to flow with each other, painting a picture the audience can see, taste and smell. Good punctuation, accurate and succinct descriptions and paragraphs that move the story forward with every sentence all contribute to a story that leaps off the page. An audio conversion will help you spot where the words become stuck.
And here’s a biggie: if you can’t pronounce it, don’t use it! Words we can’t pronounce (and in the case of made-up words/names, at least be able to say without having to memorise an entire website dedicated to their etymology) are easily forgotten and they tend to drag the others down with them too.
23. REMEMBER THIS IS FUN!
There is no joy like writing and if you’ve read this far, you know what I mean. We’re not saying ‘writing something good’ or ‘writing something that gets accepted by a publisher’ – although those have their own joys. But the thrill of inspiration, the hard labour of creating, the growing lines of words across crisp white pages, the three-worded sweetness of balance...
We may write many stories never to see the light of a bookshop until we’re dead and famous. We may never finish a story because the plot just fizzles out and our love for the characters die. And that’s just fine because if the thrill is gone, it’s gone. But there will also be those stories that stalk our heads like a crazed lover, or those that woo our senses like a summer’s day. There will be those we coax out of hiding with patience and titbits on a string, those we wrestle to the page in a mad frenzy and those we flirt with outrageously.
Whatever you’re going through, no matter what anyone else says about your abilities or responsibilities, always remember that there is no joy like writing!
24. IN THE MANUAL
Despair and feelings of hopelessness can sweep us away at anytime – just remember to always have safety lines anchored by your will. Forgive yourself those wobbly-kneed plots, those profound statements written when drunk and that clichéd, sucrose-laden imagery you proudly showed off to your friends. It’s all In The Manual.
Anchor lines could include taking a break – going for a walk, chatting with friends about the hairball the cat brought up or treating yourself to a new pair of shoes/PC game.
Another anchor line could be chatting with other writers either online or people you may know in your community. You’ll soon discover you are all at different levels and experience similar doubts and fears. It’s all In The Manual.
Go crit someone else’s work. You’ll find you’re not the only one making those mistakes! Somewhere, someone is writing worse than you are!
Reading is research, so if you can’t handle the pain of your own work, haul out a favourite story (or a new one) and let yourself be swept away by its honed magic. If you’re not swept away, refer to ‘Crit Someone Else’s Work’.
And remember that you are a writer. It’s nasty and grisly work. Get over it. It’s all In The Manual.
I AM WRITER, HEAR ME WRITE!
We would love to hear from you on whether these tips have helped you or not. We don’t expect everyone to agree with everything, so please share your thoughts. Complimentary views accepted too! If there is a topic you feel should be included here and we’ve neglected to do so, please share your wisdom either in the comments box below or email us: fictionbitz@gmail.com
For more on writing, visit our RESOURCE LINKS.
You will face your fears head-on and conquer them! You will stand in the long shadow of adversity and you will not quail! You will smite the nay-sayers with your smitery sword of destruction! Uh erm...
Another part of editing is taking note of all those things your English teacher tried to beat into your skull. We only list some of the most common errors here. Part of the required weapons for a writer is a good grammar book, dictionary and thesaurus, so add them to your Santa’s list.
If you’re an avid reader you should be able to pick most of them up yourself, whether or not you fell asleep in class...
16. SPaG
This means Spelling and Grammar. You may be amazed to see how many people couldn’t care less about simple spelling and grammar errors. MSWord leaves red gashes and slimy green trails all through their work and they blithely submit their work as ‘complete’ and say “My story speaks for itself! I am an artist, not a school teacher!”
I’m sorry to burst that silly bubble, but when you write, one of the basic elements is checking your SPaG. Sometimes you will opt to break language rules, but only do so purposefully and with the intent on enriching the story. Don’t break them because you’re lazy and expect someone else to fix it for you. If you can’t show your work the respect it deserves, don’t expect someone else to take it seriously.
Errors do occur – a typo here and a missed word there, or some obscure grammar rule eludes your memory... that’s okay. But if you are not sure, or if the language you’re writing in is not your first language, try to at least get someone to proofread it for these errors before submitting your work anywhere.
17. HAD –ING
Every time you come across the word ‘had’, ‘-ing’ is sure to lurk. When you come across these, red flags, alarm bells and *billowing* smoke should pour through your senses. A panic attack should be imminent. Poke your glasses between your eyes and demand “Are you very sure there is no other way you could word this?”
Consider: “The billowing smoke had drifted across the street...” versus “The smoke billowed across the street...” The first will bump your reader out of the story and leave them to watch the scene unfold from behind a thick sheet of glass. The second version, places the reader in the middle of the street. It’s the difference between a ‘nice story’ and a ‘I-couldn’t-put-the-book-down’.
18. POV
An omniscient being who can read every person’s thoughts and can see what everyone’s doing must get so bored. No surprises anywhere. Would you like to subject your reader to an unsurprised and boring view of your carefully crafted work? No? Then watch out for changing POV’s (Points Of View). This happens more often than we like to admit!
If the current scene is told from the MC’s POV realise that, unless he’s a mind-reader, he will have no idea what’s going on in someone else’s head – what they’re thinking or feeling. A person’s gestures, words or expressions may give the MC clues, but never presume to give another character’s POV without physical evidence.
And if you do decide to swop POV’s, make the changeover very clear. Like a new chapter, for instance.
19. TENSE
Most stories are written in the past tense. To write in the present tense is an exercise in precision. Only attempt this as an exercise or if you are already a proficient writer. The present tense can set the reader’s heart racing with its immediacy, but it’s not easy to pace or read for extended periods.
It is natural to write (and read) in the past tense, as long as you maintain it throughout your story. Beware of the ‘had’ and ‘ing’ as mentioned before and also be careful of present tense verbs slipping in where they do not belong. This also happens more frequently than we like to admit!
20. CHARACTERISATION
Here are some tricks you can use to build vivid characters. People have different speech patterns, mannerisms, likes and dislikes and of course they look different. But what makes the difference between a just another character in a book and one you can remember years later?
Whatever ‘tricks’ you employ, remember that fiction should normally be larger than life. So if someone lisps, everyone notices it to the point of misunderstandings. They don’t have hunched shoulders, but a looming hump shadowing their head. The woman wasn’t old, but gnarled. Use bright, solid colours rather than dishwater with a dash of pigment.
These tips work for MC’s as well as the supporting cast:
- Firstly, it’s a good idea to draw up a character list with their basic characteristics you can always refer to.
- Give each character a name that resonates with their personality – and one that can be pronounced!
- Next, give them one dominant physical feature that you mention at intervals throughout the story. This will place them immediately in the scene without the reader having to guess who they are. For example: steel-grey eyes, pronounced limp, always impeccably dressed no matter the situation, pudgy fingers...
- Every good personality needs a quirk or two; the more contradictory it is, the easier it is to remember. For instance, the grimy bartender who always plays chess and wins. The skinny old wizard who loves food and never gains weight. The megalomaniac scientist who sleeps with his teddy bear...
- Give a character a favourite saying or way of referencing conversations; but don’t allow this to become annoying. Unless that’s your intention, of course – but then point out how annoying it is.
- Keep as few characters in a scene as possible, especially in the beginning of the story. This keeps the reader’s attention on individuals and doesn’t mix strange personalities into a glutinous mass.
- And finally, give your character a role in moving the story forward. If you can’t find them a solid role, chances are you don’t need them. There is (almost) nothing worse than a token character only added in for the MC to bounce off.
21. DRAFT & EDIT, DRAFT & EDIT
Once you have pounded your first draft into submission, you’ll have a shining new second draft, free of SPaG errors, characters that leap off the page and a plot that’s engaging and you are ready to email it off to the first publisher who will recognise your genius...
But you are not done yet. So far, you have only used a 4-pound hammer and chainsaw to hew a living thing out of rock. You are tired and your masterpiece is looking better than ever. Don’t be deceived, for your tears and sweat will mean nothing without now fine tuning the features. “Third draft: The rush of discovery is over. The comfort of completion far off. You bleed syllables. One an hour” ~Clive Barker. You have been warned!
It’s a good idea to sometimes put a piece aside for a while. Get a haircut and start on a new story or chapter... A week or a month later, haul it out again and review it as though it doesn’t belong to you. This space makes it easier to separate yourself from the piece, makes it not as personal, therefore easier to edit.
This is one of those fine lines writers need to walk – over-editing can also kill a piece as well as your passion to write. If you spend too much time editing and not enough time writing, you’ll never finish the book. Editing can join the legion of excuses to not write, so tread this line carefully!
22. READ ALOUD
If you can’t read it aloud, something is bound to be wrong – not with your voice but with the writing. When words leap away from your tongue and plunge back down your throat, it’s a good indication you may need to revise. If they argue amongst themselves as they leave your mouth, they will not concentrate on their destination: your audience.
The words need to flow with each other, painting a picture the audience can see, taste and smell. Good punctuation, accurate and succinct descriptions and paragraphs that move the story forward with every sentence all contribute to a story that leaps off the page. An audio conversion will help you spot where the words become stuck.
And here’s a biggie: if you can’t pronounce it, don’t use it! Words we can’t pronounce (and in the case of made-up words/names, at least be able to say without having to memorise an entire website dedicated to their etymology) are easily forgotten and they tend to drag the others down with them too.
23. REMEMBER THIS IS FUN!
There is no joy like writing and if you’ve read this far, you know what I mean. We’re not saying ‘writing something good’ or ‘writing something that gets accepted by a publisher’ – although those have their own joys. But the thrill of inspiration, the hard labour of creating, the growing lines of words across crisp white pages, the three-worded sweetness of balance...
We may write many stories never to see the light of a bookshop until we’re dead and famous. We may never finish a story because the plot just fizzles out and our love for the characters die. And that’s just fine because if the thrill is gone, it’s gone. But there will also be those stories that stalk our heads like a crazed lover, or those that woo our senses like a summer’s day. There will be those we coax out of hiding with patience and titbits on a string, those we wrestle to the page in a mad frenzy and those we flirt with outrageously.
Whatever you’re going through, no matter what anyone else says about your abilities or responsibilities, always remember that there is no joy like writing!
24. IN THE MANUAL
Despair and feelings of hopelessness can sweep us away at anytime – just remember to always have safety lines anchored by your will. Forgive yourself those wobbly-kneed plots, those profound statements written when drunk and that clichéd, sucrose-laden imagery you proudly showed off to your friends. It’s all In The Manual.
Anchor lines could include taking a break – going for a walk, chatting with friends about the hairball the cat brought up or treating yourself to a new pair of shoes/PC game.
Another anchor line could be chatting with other writers either online or people you may know in your community. You’ll soon discover you are all at different levels and experience similar doubts and fears. It’s all In The Manual.
Go crit someone else’s work. You’ll find you’re not the only one making those mistakes! Somewhere, someone is writing worse than you are!
Reading is research, so if you can’t handle the pain of your own work, haul out a favourite story (or a new one) and let yourself be swept away by its honed magic. If you’re not swept away, refer to ‘Crit Someone Else’s Work’.
And remember that you are a writer. It’s nasty and grisly work. Get over it. It’s all In The Manual.
I AM WRITER, HEAR ME WRITE!
We would love to hear from you on whether these tips have helped you or not. We don’t expect everyone to agree with everything, so please share your thoughts. Complimentary views accepted too! If there is a topic you feel should be included here and we’ve neglected to do so, please share your wisdom either in the comments box below or email us: fictionbitz@gmail.com
For more on writing, visit our RESOURCE LINKS.
Writers - Writing Tips PART 2
Tell someone you’re a writer and you can see their thoughts of you projected like a hologram -a whimsical, daydreaming figure with that an ethereal haze fuzzing the outlines like a cheap family portrait.
Squash it. Zap it with an army-grade ‘tazer. Then grin manically.
Writing can be like giving birth to a child then systematically chopping off its appendages, slashing its baby-blue eyes and plastering the body back together with gore-covered fingers.
I would love to allude to pottery or tending a garden here, but I fear I’d be deceiving you. Once that moment of inspiration has left and your love and soul has been poured into countless flowing pages, it turns grisly. It’s often nasty work. Get over it.
5. HAMMER & CUT
You want to be a wordsmith? Then get out your hardware because now it’s time to shred your soul-creation. Get rid of every word, phrase or description that has nothing to do with the story. Make sure that every word counts. You may not weed out every devil on the first sweep, but get rid of as much superfluous junk as you can.
6. THE INFODUMP
The first thing to look out for is infodumping. If you ramble on about how the MC’s (main character’s) mother grew up in happy poverty until, oh unlucky day, she gave birth to an illegitimate child... you’ll lose your readers before you even get to the MC’s first birthday.
And unless there is a piece of technical information the reader needs to know about a piece of equipment, because it’s vital to the story, don’t spend a whole paragraph describing the inner workings of the thing. If you are a passionate engineer and these inner workings fascinate you, it doesn’t mean everyone else is as enthralled. Just supply what is needed to move the story forward. And if the information does not move the scene forward, cut it.
The characters each know their own stories and won’t continuously drift off and stare into the middle-distance, reminiscing. They will sometimes share a bit of their background with another character, but only use this if it’s realistic and necessary. Too often we write “And did you know, Bob...” bits to stick in some extra background for the reader. This is lazy and boring. Cut it.
Don’t be tempted to give the story away too soon. Readers want a certain amount of intrigue and mystery. Just get on with the story and don’t colour in the background too quickly. Readers will get the picture soon enough...
7. SHOW, DON”T TELL
This is a buzz phrase – always remember it.
So much of the back story is in our heads and flying around as we’re creating our first draft that we spontaneously vomit it onto the page along with the actual story. Editing is where you clean up that mess.
The reader gets to know the back story, where necessary, as the characters act, react and interact with each other. The reader is easily insulted when the writer assumes they will never be able to figure something out on their own and must point it out, either in a long-winded paragraph or using a Bob-moment.
Another example of “show, don’t tell” is when we are trying to ascribe an emotion or feeling to a character. Let us ‘hear’ and ‘see’ them rather than being told how they are feeling. Saying someone is ‘angry’ or ‘sad’ has its place, but be careful of over-using it. Rather show us crossed arms, legs akimbo, shoulders hunched, or let us hear their angry words or the nervous stutter as they fiddle with their hair. Body language is as important in writing as in real life.
We make judgements and assumptions all day based on people’s actions and words and are fully able to do the same with characters in a story we read. Run with it – and avoid Bob.
8. THE KISS
Heard of this rule? It doesn’t only apply to romances either. Keep. It. Simple. Stupid.
If there is a field of flowers below a sunset sky, tell us exactly that. There is no need to ramble on for a whole paragraph about how romantic or how full of doom it was. Unless of course the flowers and their feelings are an integral part of the story.
The use of adjectives can be a sensitive topic. Use them wisely. If you read the piece out aloud and you sound like a pompous arse, your work is probably just that. If you have to, try “The sun raged across the sky...” or “Light tore the clouds apart...” to denote mood and then get on with the action. The mood you assign to inanimate objects can be powerful if used carefully and can set the tone for your characters’ state of mind. But always remember to KISS.
9. KEEP IT REAL
We want to believe you, we want to live in your story, but if something is too fantastical without reason – or too fortuitous – your story will lose credibility. Don’t go for neat endings or serendipitous moments. Life isn’t like that and although we want to escape into someone else’s super-world, we also want to pour blood and sweat buckets with your characters. We want to experience an adventure with them, not have everything fall into place like some fairytale.
Also listen to the way people speak. Don’t have your eight-year old character use words like ‘serendipitous’ or ‘fortuitous’ or a granny greeting her daughter by saying ‘howzit’.
You make a promise to the reader at the beginning of your tale: this is an adventure, a horror, full of wizards and magic, a romance... the reader trusts you will deliver. Don’t abuse them of that trust.
10. BEGINNINGS
Talking of beginnings, how do you start your story? How do you know your story will grab the reader? It’s rather simple really – always start with a change in status quo. “It was just another day for Mary-Jo, but little did she know everything in her life was about to change.” Okay, don’t use that because it’s cliché and badly written, but start with some kind of movement, some action that allows the reader to instantly start moving with your characters. E.g. “He stopped.” “She stared.” “I fell.” And then proceed to show how things have changed for your MC.
This is standard fare and may seem like a cheap trick, but the real trick comes in how subtly you deal with it. You will either have the reader within the first paragraph or you won’t. Don’t blow it. Remember too, that your characters are unique and their situation is different to anyone else’s. And if you love them, you’ll show everyone just how special they are by giving them words that do them justice. No pressure. Just write.
Also remember that many stories, especially those written by the novice, start too early in the plot – there isn’t enough attention-grabbing tension in the opening scene. If you find your beginning lacks impact and isn’t drawing people in as quickly as you would like, look at whether you could use a later event as an opening chapter and move the story forward from there.
11. PLOT
There are only seven story plots in the world. Every story known to man is merely a variation of these. Some say there are a few more, some say a few less. Regardless of the count, we know that there are not a whole lot to choose from.
If this is so, how can I hope to make my story different? How can I hope for originality? This is sounding too much like pre-ordained fate!
Question your existence and purpose on earth later. For now, concentrate on how to make your story engaging. Vivid world-building, solid characterisation and concise writing techniques will go a long way to earning the respect and trust of your readers, but what makes a page-turner?
One of the best ways to create one is to continuously ‘up the ante’.
“If you up the ante, you increase the importance or value of something, especially where there's an element of risk...” (ref www.usingenglish.com)
... Not only is our hero faced with the challenges of an unexpected journey, but there are mounting reasons why he can’t leave. He then finds out that not just his life depends on it, but the fate of the world. Then his father is imprisoned and his wife kidnapped! His ultimate decision whether to stay of go cannot be foreseen...
... The lovers part but how will they ever overcome their past to reunite once more? Events cascade between them making it ever more impossible that they will meet again and if they do, the question bloats with ‘upped ante’: will they still reunite?...
Not only do you move your characters through the actions of the story, but you instil the importance of their actions in the readers. Make them care about the MC’s decisions/actions. ‘Upping the ante’ is a gambling term, so who cares if R20 is in the pot? At R20,000 most people’s hearts would be beating a little faster!
Pacing plays a large role in reeling your readers in, tease them with new information at just the right times and they’ll soon be running to you for more.
12. ENGAGING PACING
A long, lazy walk on the beach is lovely for a Sunday afternoon, but we can’t keep walking into Monday. Same as running a marathon – at some point you just go numb.
We want to hold the reader all the way to the end, so you’ll need to pace each scene without either boring them or anesthetise them with too much action.
A ‘slow’ scene will have longer sentences, bigger words and less action, more description. A ‘fast’ scene would generally have short sentences, no big words and lots of dialogue and/or action, little description.
Play around with this and come up with some practise scenes on your own. See what you get. Perhaps write the same scene from two points of view (POV): one from a person in the middle of the action with little or no time to think and the other from someone watching the scene unfold.
13. CLICHÉS CAN BE OKAY
...but beware. If you’re going to use a stereotype or cliché, be very conscious of it and make it obvious that you know it’s a cliché – perhaps even get your MC to poke some fun at how cliché a person or thing or situation is. The more you read, the more obvious the clichés become so treat them consciously.
Or turn the cliché on its head. For instance, Cinderella is really a spell-casting sorceress and her step-sisters are in fact caring peasants just trying to better themselves (this has been done so don’t do it yourself unless you are certain to be original)...
And sometimes that originality needs to be worked in, so don’t be too alarmed if after reading through your first draft you find personalities that are paper-thin and faces stuck on like a child’s first collage attempt. That’s all part of editing.
14. SOAPBOXING
Never use your work of fiction to make a point. If you have an issue with recycling or idiots breeding or legalising marijuana, feel free to use knowledge you may have on these subjects in your story, but don’t put your characters on soapboxes and get them preach to your audience. Rather allow them the opportunity to speak for themselves.
If you want to tell the world of your pain or bad childhood, then produce reams of angst-ridden poetry or be a star on Oprah. Leave your characters to bring their own story to the world. If your character had a bad childhood and is suffering emotional pain, let them voice it or act on it but don’t let them be your voice piece in fiction.
Jumping a vulnerable audience and bashing them over the head is not entertainment (unless you’re sadistic that way). If you want a soapbox, join a rally or write non-fiction. You will need to convince the reader that it’s really the character talking when you write about something that’s intensely personal. That’s entertainment. That’s fiction.
15. GRATUITY
Gratuitous sex, violence and excessive bad language – this is not just about what concerned citizens should complain about to the broadcasting commission; this is about poorly written stories.
If you are writing erotica, naked bodies and sex marathons are to be expected. If you write a horror story, blood and gore are to be expected and if you write a story about gangsters and teenagers, generally it’s accepted that excessive swearing will appear. It comes back to delivering what you promised your reader. So when do these elements become poor writing?
If the plot or story line does not stand up on its own and the sex, blood or swearing are only included as shock-factor, it’s a poor story no matter how artfully you describe the scene. If you are going to include a rated scene in your story, always question your motives first. Is the scene included to serve the story or does the story serve the scene?
Often an implied action creates a far more vivid picture than laying it out for the reader. Treat these subjects carefully as more often than not they can detract from the story enough to lower the overall quality. Include these things in your story but only when it serves to move the story forward – and then don’t use a chapter to do so when a line will do.
While a character may swear every second word, reading and re-reading every single one in his vocabulary gets tedious – and ask yourself if it is really necessary for him to have this particular trait at all. If so, then for the purposes of the story, use just enough swear words that the reader knows he swears a lot, but then cut out the superfluous.
Sex and violence are present in everyday life. If they are part of your story, don’t be afraid to show them – just be sensitive to the role they play and how you handle them.
Next, the nitty gritty high school stuff... basically!
Go to: Writing Tips PART 3
Squash it. Zap it with an army-grade ‘tazer. Then grin manically.
Writing can be like giving birth to a child then systematically chopping off its appendages, slashing its baby-blue eyes and plastering the body back together with gore-covered fingers.
I would love to allude to pottery or tending a garden here, but I fear I’d be deceiving you. Once that moment of inspiration has left and your love and soul has been poured into countless flowing pages, it turns grisly. It’s often nasty work. Get over it.
5. HAMMER & CUT
You want to be a wordsmith? Then get out your hardware because now it’s time to shred your soul-creation. Get rid of every word, phrase or description that has nothing to do with the story. Make sure that every word counts. You may not weed out every devil on the first sweep, but get rid of as much superfluous junk as you can.
6. THE INFODUMP
The first thing to look out for is infodumping. If you ramble on about how the MC’s (main character’s) mother grew up in happy poverty until, oh unlucky day, she gave birth to an illegitimate child... you’ll lose your readers before you even get to the MC’s first birthday.
And unless there is a piece of technical information the reader needs to know about a piece of equipment, because it’s vital to the story, don’t spend a whole paragraph describing the inner workings of the thing. If you are a passionate engineer and these inner workings fascinate you, it doesn’t mean everyone else is as enthralled. Just supply what is needed to move the story forward. And if the information does not move the scene forward, cut it.
The characters each know their own stories and won’t continuously drift off and stare into the middle-distance, reminiscing. They will sometimes share a bit of their background with another character, but only use this if it’s realistic and necessary. Too often we write “And did you know, Bob...” bits to stick in some extra background for the reader. This is lazy and boring. Cut it.
Don’t be tempted to give the story away too soon. Readers want a certain amount of intrigue and mystery. Just get on with the story and don’t colour in the background too quickly. Readers will get the picture soon enough...
7. SHOW, DON”T TELL
This is a buzz phrase – always remember it.
So much of the back story is in our heads and flying around as we’re creating our first draft that we spontaneously vomit it onto the page along with the actual story. Editing is where you clean up that mess.
The reader gets to know the back story, where necessary, as the characters act, react and interact with each other. The reader is easily insulted when the writer assumes they will never be able to figure something out on their own and must point it out, either in a long-winded paragraph or using a Bob-moment.
Another example of “show, don’t tell” is when we are trying to ascribe an emotion or feeling to a character. Let us ‘hear’ and ‘see’ them rather than being told how they are feeling. Saying someone is ‘angry’ or ‘sad’ has its place, but be careful of over-using it. Rather show us crossed arms, legs akimbo, shoulders hunched, or let us hear their angry words or the nervous stutter as they fiddle with their hair. Body language is as important in writing as in real life.
We make judgements and assumptions all day based on people’s actions and words and are fully able to do the same with characters in a story we read. Run with it – and avoid Bob.
8. THE KISS
Heard of this rule? It doesn’t only apply to romances either. Keep. It. Simple. Stupid.
If there is a field of flowers below a sunset sky, tell us exactly that. There is no need to ramble on for a whole paragraph about how romantic or how full of doom it was. Unless of course the flowers and their feelings are an integral part of the story.
The use of adjectives can be a sensitive topic. Use them wisely. If you read the piece out aloud and you sound like a pompous arse, your work is probably just that. If you have to, try “The sun raged across the sky...” or “Light tore the clouds apart...” to denote mood and then get on with the action. The mood you assign to inanimate objects can be powerful if used carefully and can set the tone for your characters’ state of mind. But always remember to KISS.
9. KEEP IT REAL
We want to believe you, we want to live in your story, but if something is too fantastical without reason – or too fortuitous – your story will lose credibility. Don’t go for neat endings or serendipitous moments. Life isn’t like that and although we want to escape into someone else’s super-world, we also want to pour blood and sweat buckets with your characters. We want to experience an adventure with them, not have everything fall into place like some fairytale.
Also listen to the way people speak. Don’t have your eight-year old character use words like ‘serendipitous’ or ‘fortuitous’ or a granny greeting her daughter by saying ‘howzit’.
You make a promise to the reader at the beginning of your tale: this is an adventure, a horror, full of wizards and magic, a romance... the reader trusts you will deliver. Don’t abuse them of that trust.
10. BEGINNINGS
Talking of beginnings, how do you start your story? How do you know your story will grab the reader? It’s rather simple really – always start with a change in status quo. “It was just another day for Mary-Jo, but little did she know everything in her life was about to change.” Okay, don’t use that because it’s cliché and badly written, but start with some kind of movement, some action that allows the reader to instantly start moving with your characters. E.g. “He stopped.” “She stared.” “I fell.” And then proceed to show how things have changed for your MC.
This is standard fare and may seem like a cheap trick, but the real trick comes in how subtly you deal with it. You will either have the reader within the first paragraph or you won’t. Don’t blow it. Remember too, that your characters are unique and their situation is different to anyone else’s. And if you love them, you’ll show everyone just how special they are by giving them words that do them justice. No pressure. Just write.
Also remember that many stories, especially those written by the novice, start too early in the plot – there isn’t enough attention-grabbing tension in the opening scene. If you find your beginning lacks impact and isn’t drawing people in as quickly as you would like, look at whether you could use a later event as an opening chapter and move the story forward from there.
11. PLOT
There are only seven story plots in the world. Every story known to man is merely a variation of these. Some say there are a few more, some say a few less. Regardless of the count, we know that there are not a whole lot to choose from.
If this is so, how can I hope to make my story different? How can I hope for originality? This is sounding too much like pre-ordained fate!
Question your existence and purpose on earth later. For now, concentrate on how to make your story engaging. Vivid world-building, solid characterisation and concise writing techniques will go a long way to earning the respect and trust of your readers, but what makes a page-turner?
One of the best ways to create one is to continuously ‘up the ante’.
“If you up the ante, you increase the importance or value of something, especially where there's an element of risk...” (ref www.usingenglish.com)
... Not only is our hero faced with the challenges of an unexpected journey, but there are mounting reasons why he can’t leave. He then finds out that not just his life depends on it, but the fate of the world. Then his father is imprisoned and his wife kidnapped! His ultimate decision whether to stay of go cannot be foreseen...
... The lovers part but how will they ever overcome their past to reunite once more? Events cascade between them making it ever more impossible that they will meet again and if they do, the question bloats with ‘upped ante’: will they still reunite?...
Not only do you move your characters through the actions of the story, but you instil the importance of their actions in the readers. Make them care about the MC’s decisions/actions. ‘Upping the ante’ is a gambling term, so who cares if R20 is in the pot? At R20,000 most people’s hearts would be beating a little faster!
Pacing plays a large role in reeling your readers in, tease them with new information at just the right times and they’ll soon be running to you for more.
12. ENGAGING PACING
A long, lazy walk on the beach is lovely for a Sunday afternoon, but we can’t keep walking into Monday. Same as running a marathon – at some point you just go numb.
We want to hold the reader all the way to the end, so you’ll need to pace each scene without either boring them or anesthetise them with too much action.
A ‘slow’ scene will have longer sentences, bigger words and less action, more description. A ‘fast’ scene would generally have short sentences, no big words and lots of dialogue and/or action, little description.
Play around with this and come up with some practise scenes on your own. See what you get. Perhaps write the same scene from two points of view (POV): one from a person in the middle of the action with little or no time to think and the other from someone watching the scene unfold.
13. CLICHÉS CAN BE OKAY
...but beware. If you’re going to use a stereotype or cliché, be very conscious of it and make it obvious that you know it’s a cliché – perhaps even get your MC to poke some fun at how cliché a person or thing or situation is. The more you read, the more obvious the clichés become so treat them consciously.
Or turn the cliché on its head. For instance, Cinderella is really a spell-casting sorceress and her step-sisters are in fact caring peasants just trying to better themselves (this has been done so don’t do it yourself unless you are certain to be original)...
And sometimes that originality needs to be worked in, so don’t be too alarmed if after reading through your first draft you find personalities that are paper-thin and faces stuck on like a child’s first collage attempt. That’s all part of editing.
14. SOAPBOXING
Never use your work of fiction to make a point. If you have an issue with recycling or idiots breeding or legalising marijuana, feel free to use knowledge you may have on these subjects in your story, but don’t put your characters on soapboxes and get them preach to your audience. Rather allow them the opportunity to speak for themselves.
If you want to tell the world of your pain or bad childhood, then produce reams of angst-ridden poetry or be a star on Oprah. Leave your characters to bring their own story to the world. If your character had a bad childhood and is suffering emotional pain, let them voice it or act on it but don’t let them be your voice piece in fiction.
Jumping a vulnerable audience and bashing them over the head is not entertainment (unless you’re sadistic that way). If you want a soapbox, join a rally or write non-fiction. You will need to convince the reader that it’s really the character talking when you write about something that’s intensely personal. That’s entertainment. That’s fiction.
15. GRATUITY
Gratuitous sex, violence and excessive bad language – this is not just about what concerned citizens should complain about to the broadcasting commission; this is about poorly written stories.
If you are writing erotica, naked bodies and sex marathons are to be expected. If you write a horror story, blood and gore are to be expected and if you write a story about gangsters and teenagers, generally it’s accepted that excessive swearing will appear. It comes back to delivering what you promised your reader. So when do these elements become poor writing?
If the plot or story line does not stand up on its own and the sex, blood or swearing are only included as shock-factor, it’s a poor story no matter how artfully you describe the scene. If you are going to include a rated scene in your story, always question your motives first. Is the scene included to serve the story or does the story serve the scene?
Often an implied action creates a far more vivid picture than laying it out for the reader. Treat these subjects carefully as more often than not they can detract from the story enough to lower the overall quality. Include these things in your story but only when it serves to move the story forward – and then don’t use a chapter to do so when a line will do.
While a character may swear every second word, reading and re-reading every single one in his vocabulary gets tedious – and ask yourself if it is really necessary for him to have this particular trait at all. If so, then for the purposes of the story, use just enough swear words that the reader knows he swears a lot, but then cut out the superfluous.
Sex and violence are present in everyday life. If they are part of your story, don’t be afraid to show them – just be sensitive to the role they play and how you handle them.
Next, the nitty gritty high school stuff... basically!
Go to: Writing Tips PART 3
Survey Results
Has anyone else been sitting on the edge of their seats waiting for these results? No? Well, I have! Even though I've been looking at each survey as they come in, I don't trust my head to collate the information accurately. I like to see the numbers added in little columns with formulas and cross-references dotted around before I conclude anything.
As more surveys come in, these stats may change but considering the wide demographics of those surveyed, I would expect this is a good place to start. So, here are some of the results from the past few weeks with comments by me:
What do South Africans want to read?
Thriller 41%
Detective 41%
Comedy/Satire 39%
Fantasy 37%
Historical 35%
Romance 30%
Sci-Fi 30%
If you are a writer looking to be read in South Africa, here is your answer on where to start! Readers want to be thrilled and follow detectives in their hunt for criminals. People also want to laugh and escape to lands of magic, be enthralled by history and swept away by romance...
Some added comments also specifically requested some South African science fiction! I wonder what we could come up with?
Would people want to buy Fiction Bitz regularly?
No, it looks like a waste of time and money 0%
I might buy it every now and again to help the unemployed 52%
Yes, I think it's a great idea 48%
Whether people enjoy reading fiction or not, it seems they would at least be willing to purchase a copy to help those in need.
How much would you be willing to pay per issue?
Free 0%
R1-R5 46%
R6-R10 46%
R10+ 9%
So it looks like R5 would suit everyone's pocket! This is fabulous news. We will do our best to ensure you never have to pay more for your favourite fiction.
Do people prefer hardcopy or reading online?
Online 52%
Hardcopy 48%
While many people are still not either connected or are not comfortable reading on the computer, the younger generations are seeing a different world. Internet providers are working on cheaper solutions while the cost of paper and printing are rising. As sad as the decline of the printed book is, it's a fact we can not ignore. This does not mean, however, that Fiction Bitz will be a predominately electronic publication any time soon!
If size counts, in your opinion, how large should each spread be?
A3, folded 83%
A2, folded 17%
This was probably one of the most interesting answers for me. For some reason I thought a larger page with a larger font, and possibly more story, would appeal to people more. Apparently I was wrong! So we will be bringing Fiction Bitz to you just the way you want it!
As more surveys come in, these stats may change but considering the wide demographics of those surveyed, I would expect this is a good place to start. So, here are some of the results from the past few weeks with comments by me:
What do South Africans want to read?
Thriller 41%
Detective 41%
Comedy/Satire 39%
Fantasy 37%
Historical 35%
Romance 30%
Sci-Fi 30%
If you are a writer looking to be read in South Africa, here is your answer on where to start! Readers want to be thrilled and follow detectives in their hunt for criminals. People also want to laugh and escape to lands of magic, be enthralled by history and swept away by romance...
Some added comments also specifically requested some South African science fiction! I wonder what we could come up with?
Would people want to buy Fiction Bitz regularly?
No, it looks like a waste of time and money 0%
I might buy it every now and again to help the unemployed 52%
Yes, I think it's a great idea 48%
Whether people enjoy reading fiction or not, it seems they would at least be willing to purchase a copy to help those in need.
How much would you be willing to pay per issue?
Free 0%
R1-R5 46%
R6-R10 46%
R10+ 9%
So it looks like R5 would suit everyone's pocket! This is fabulous news. We will do our best to ensure you never have to pay more for your favourite fiction.
Do people prefer hardcopy or reading online?
Online 52%
Hardcopy 48%
While many people are still not either connected or are not comfortable reading on the computer, the younger generations are seeing a different world. Internet providers are working on cheaper solutions while the cost of paper and printing are rising. As sad as the decline of the printed book is, it's a fact we can not ignore. This does not mean, however, that Fiction Bitz will be a predominately electronic publication any time soon!
If size counts, in your opinion, how large should each spread be?
A3, folded 83%
A2, folded 17%
This was probably one of the most interesting answers for me. For some reason I thought a larger page with a larger font, and possibly more story, would appeal to people more. Apparently I was wrong! So we will be bringing Fiction Bitz to you just the way you want it!
FAQs
Why should I publish in Fiction Bitz? Wouldn’t it hurt my chances of getting published elsewhere?
If my work has been published before, can I submit the same work to Fiction Bitz?
As long as there are no copyright infringements and the work still belongs to you, you are welcome to publish it where you like. We are merely a vehicle for writers to bring their work to the public.
If I have self published a book, can I market it through Fiction Bitz?
That is the idea! Just so long as you are aware that we will not print more than 12 episodes at a time and only at the end of the pre-arranged term will we then advertise where people can purchase your book.
If my work has been published before, can I submit the same work to Fiction Bitz?
As long as there are no copyright infringements and the work still belongs to you, you are welcome to publish it where you like. We are merely a vehicle for writers to bring their work to the public.
If I have self published a book, can I market it through Fiction Bitz?
That is the idea! Just so long as you are aware that we will not print more than 12 episodes at a time and only at the end of the pre-arranged term will we then advertise where people can purchase your book.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Readers - Where can I?
Our ultimate goal is to have weekly copies of Fiction Bitz at every coffee shop, doctor's waiting room and airport lounge. Every Friday, readers (and non-fiction readers) can assist the unemployed by buying copies of Fiction Bitz at traffic lights, bus stops and train stations. If none of these places suit you, you can even subscribe online and receive your latest copy in your email inbox!
Initially, distribution will be online and in Cape Town only, but will expand countrywide as our distributor network grows. Fiction Bitz aims to be easily accessible to anyone in South Africa so you never have to search far for something new or quick to read.
Back copies will also be available from the website if you want to catch up on a favourite story or simply read it all!
Initially, distribution will be online and in Cape Town only, but will expand countrywide as our distributor network grows. Fiction Bitz aims to be easily accessible to anyone in South Africa so you never have to search far for something new or quick to read.
Back copies will also be available from the website if you want to catch up on a favourite story or simply read it all!
The Fiction Bitz Core
CATERING FOR THE READERS:
Being a reader in SA is a tough business especially if you want to support local writers. One of the core goals at Fiction Bitz is to make local fiction easily accessible to readers - at an affordable price.
For a few rands each week, readers are not only exposed to local works but will be given a choice of genre too. Instead of walking past the increasingly expensive bookstores, readers will be able to meet new writers every week with little cash outlay.
Readers will also have the opportunity to comment on each story and let our writers know where they are going right - or wrong! This is accomplished either on our interactive website (coming soon), email or by using the time-honoured tradition of ink on paper and a post box.
In serialised works, readers can also be involved in the eventual outcome of the heroes and villains as the stories are written!
DEVELOPING OUR FICTION WRITERS
For the most part, SA writers live in obscurity with very few outlets available for their fiction works. And of course the chances of getting published is like hoping to win the lottery! Writing is a difficult career anywhere in the world.
Fiction Bitz gives our writers a platform to display their work and opportunity to receive feedback from readers. Not only can they gain valuable insight from readers but can also interact with other writers, thus developing their art into something people are willing to invest in.
PROMOTING LITERACY
Our education system is doing as much as it can to get people of all ages to read, but rising costs of living and printing make books out of the financial reach of many.
Often people simply do not read because no story has yet captured their imagination and so the appeal of reading an entire book fades into grey boredom. It only takes one good story to get someone hooked on reading and Fiction Bitz aims to bring variety of genre, style and entertainment to readers of all ages.
More writers getting their work published means more potential readers are exposed to good stories. Fiction Bitz hopes to expand the local reader circles in SA.
BREADLINE SHIFT
High unemployment and more people living on the breadline every day is a big concern for everyone. Our distribution method offers a secondary income to just about anyone. Vendors purchase copies directly from Fiction Bitz at a low cost and sell to either the public or local businesses, making more than 50% back on their investment immediately in cold, hard cash. Cash outlay for vendors are kept to a minimum, enabling even low income people to make extra money.
Distributorship is granted to those with a little more buying power and they purchase larger quantities at an even lower rate. Distributors can either sell to vendors or directly to the public.
Prices are set by Fiction Bitz so vendors, distributors and ultimately the readers are never short-changed.
It is important to Fiction Bitz that opportunities are given to those in need and that we give back to the community where we can.
STRICT ENTERTAINMENT QUALITY POLICY
While we like to tackle important issues such as poverty and literacy at Fiction Bitz, we also focus on pure entertainment because getting wrapped up in a good story can be sheer joy.
If you eagerly look for constant ad breaks or blazing banners, Fiction Bitz will disappoint. The few advertising spaces are reserved for those we approach and those we feel will contribute to the reader's experience.
And there is nothing worse than a good film with bad acting, or excellent performances without a good script, so we strive to bring you only the best fiction available in the format you, the readers, prefer.
Being a reader in SA is a tough business especially if you want to support local writers. One of the core goals at Fiction Bitz is to make local fiction easily accessible to readers - at an affordable price.
For a few rands each week, readers are not only exposed to local works but will be given a choice of genre too. Instead of walking past the increasingly expensive bookstores, readers will be able to meet new writers every week with little cash outlay.
Readers will also have the opportunity to comment on each story and let our writers know where they are going right - or wrong! This is accomplished either on our interactive website (coming soon), email or by using the time-honoured tradition of ink on paper and a post box.
In serialised works, readers can also be involved in the eventual outcome of the heroes and villains as the stories are written!
DEVELOPING OUR FICTION WRITERS
For the most part, SA writers live in obscurity with very few outlets available for their fiction works. And of course the chances of getting published is like hoping to win the lottery! Writing is a difficult career anywhere in the world.
Fiction Bitz gives our writers a platform to display their work and opportunity to receive feedback from readers. Not only can they gain valuable insight from readers but can also interact with other writers, thus developing their art into something people are willing to invest in.
PROMOTING LITERACY
Our education system is doing as much as it can to get people of all ages to read, but rising costs of living and printing make books out of the financial reach of many.
Often people simply do not read because no story has yet captured their imagination and so the appeal of reading an entire book fades into grey boredom. It only takes one good story to get someone hooked on reading and Fiction Bitz aims to bring variety of genre, style and entertainment to readers of all ages.
More writers getting their work published means more potential readers are exposed to good stories. Fiction Bitz hopes to expand the local reader circles in SA.
BREADLINE SHIFT
High unemployment and more people living on the breadline every day is a big concern for everyone. Our distribution method offers a secondary income to just about anyone. Vendors purchase copies directly from Fiction Bitz at a low cost and sell to either the public or local businesses, making more than 50% back on their investment immediately in cold, hard cash. Cash outlay for vendors are kept to a minimum, enabling even low income people to make extra money.
Distributorship is granted to those with a little more buying power and they purchase larger quantities at an even lower rate. Distributors can either sell to vendors or directly to the public.
Prices are set by Fiction Bitz so vendors, distributors and ultimately the readers are never short-changed.
It is important to Fiction Bitz that opportunities are given to those in need and that we give back to the community where we can.
STRICT ENTERTAINMENT QUALITY POLICY
While we like to tackle important issues such as poverty and literacy at Fiction Bitz, we also focus on pure entertainment because getting wrapped up in a good story can be sheer joy.
If you eagerly look for constant ad breaks or blazing banners, Fiction Bitz will disappoint. The few advertising spaces are reserved for those we approach and those we feel will contribute to the reader's experience.
And there is nothing worse than a good film with bad acting, or excellent performances without a good script, so we strive to bring you only the best fiction available in the format you, the readers, prefer.
Readers - I Don't Have Time!
"I don't have time to read anymore!"
People are finding less and less time to read and the thought of getting lost in a book for a few hours sends their time-manager into a panic and in our rushed, modern lifestyle, people are losing their ability to concentrate on anything for longer than 30 minutes - at best.
Everything is shortened nowadays - texting is a whole new language and advertisers continually search for succinct slogans. Half hour sitcoms replace 2 hour sagas and newspaper headlines whipping by as we dash to work replace any meaningful journalism.
For all this mad rushing about, we often find ourselves waiting - at a coffee shop for a friend to arrive, at the train station, in traffic, at the doctor's room, half an hour spent at home before collapsing in bed...
So why read Fiction Bitz? It's short, it's local and it's something different from the every day news of murder and political mayhem. It's (almost) free entertainment without a power cord or aerial.
If that doesn't work for you, think about supporting local artists or helping the unemployed. Think of being 'proudly South African' and 'go local'.
If you're already an avid reader, you get the choice of four stories, with at least one new story, every week. You also get the chance to give the authors your views and opinions - possibly even a chance to affect the outcome of your favourite story!
Maybe you enjoy your TV more - how tantalizing is it to make a date every week to watch the next episode of a series and discuss dilemma possibilities with like-minded people during the nail-biting week in between? Now you can do the same with Fiction Bitz anywhere, any time.
People are finding less and less time to read and the thought of getting lost in a book for a few hours sends their time-manager into a panic and in our rushed, modern lifestyle, people are losing their ability to concentrate on anything for longer than 30 minutes - at best.
Everything is shortened nowadays - texting is a whole new language and advertisers continually search for succinct slogans. Half hour sitcoms replace 2 hour sagas and newspaper headlines whipping by as we dash to work replace any meaningful journalism.
For all this mad rushing about, we often find ourselves waiting - at a coffee shop for a friend to arrive, at the train station, in traffic, at the doctor's room, half an hour spent at home before collapsing in bed...
So why read Fiction Bitz? It's short, it's local and it's something different from the every day news of murder and political mayhem. It's (almost) free entertainment without a power cord or aerial.
If that doesn't work for you, think about supporting local artists or helping the unemployed. Think of being 'proudly South African' and 'go local'.
If you're already an avid reader, you get the choice of four stories, with at least one new story, every week. You also get the chance to give the authors your views and opinions - possibly even a chance to affect the outcome of your favourite story!
Maybe you enjoy your TV more - how tantalizing is it to make a date every week to watch the next episode of a series and discuss dilemma possibilities with like-minded people during the nail-biting week in between? Now you can do the same with Fiction Bitz anywhere, any time.
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