can't help telling stories
When I was young, I had to walk to school every day. When I walked alone, I used the time to make up stories.
In college, walking between classes, I pondered sections of papers I needed to write.
This piece from the New Yorker tells me the act of walking may have made all the difference.
Why Walking Helps Us Think – The New Yorker
If you are done with your book, it’s time for an editor. Whether you publish traditionally or independently, you’ll want someone with fresh eyes to take a close look at your work.
One thing you’ll want is someone who respects your voice, but who can still find problems you may have missed.
Here are some tips for meeting your next best friend.
How to Find an Independent Editor to Review Your Work – Writer’s Circle
http://writerscircle.com/2014/09/how-to-find-an-independent-editor-to-review-your-work.html
When I saw an article from NPR about Chinese train passengers failing to help a stranger in need, I immediately thought about how to play on cultural differences in a story. What would happen to the person who fainted on the train?
I thought about the Good Samaritan story from the Bible. Someone helped the stranger, the “other.”
Then I remembered the Kitty Genovese story. She was a New York woman who was stabbed to death while dozens listened to her screams, but did nothing to help.
And when I thought about it some more, the plot I was imagining turned back on itself.
How do these true stories strike you?
Why Did Crowd Flee Shanghai Subway After Foreigner Fainted? : Parallels : NPR
http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2014/09/01/344033379/why-did-crowd-flee-shanghai-subway-after-foreigner-fainted?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20140901
Here’s some background on Kitty Genovese.
When I finished my master’s thesis and showed it to my advisor, the first thing he did was mention that my opening sentence was in passive voice. I told him I knew it. I said I started the sentence with the piece I wanted to emphasize.
I’ve encouraged journalists to avoid passive constructions by telling them to make it clear who’s to blame. “Council members voted to …” versus “An ordinance was passed … .” (And, yes, I know that’s a sentence fragment.)
Be a concious writer. Use your verbs wisely.
Here’s a longer discussion of passive and active voice.
This Itch of Writing: What is passive voice, and why are you told to avoid it
If your goal is to write a kids’ book, here’s some news for you.
Amazon launches KDP Kids, a tool to help authors self-publish illustrated books — Tech News and Analysis
http://gigaom.com/2014/09/03/self-publish-childrens-book-kindle/
sharon p. lynn 