"STORY TELLING FOR NEW & UNPULBISHED WRITERS"

Below is Page 1 of my Writing Workbook

INTRODUCTION

When it comes to writing, I firmly believe two things.   Writing is the easiest job in the world…and the hardest job in the world. This applies to brainstorming for ideas, putting down the actual words on paper, and selling what I’ve written.  I sold my first book (after six rejects) to a traditional royalty paying publisher out of the slush pile (unsolicited or unagented ms.) with absolutely no knowledge of the publishing world or the market.  Equipped with all the thrills of a first sale, my second lovingly crafted novel was politely but firmly rejected.  I still remember thinking…HUH???

Twenty five published books later, I stand behind that “HUH?”  Writing and selling some stories is as easy as sleeping in on weekends, while others make me want to jump off the Coronado Bay Bridge.  It takes a certain kind of mind set to be an artist.  If you want to be a dentist, you go to dental school.  If you want to be a lawyer or doctor – well you get the idea.  But if you want to write a book, where does one learn the craft?

Many of the classic authors by-passed rare and expensive education.  The internet and Self-help bookstore sections were non-existent.  Today, colleges offer degrees in English Literature, journalism and writing for mass media.  Many of our early American and British book authors originally started out writing for English-speaking newspapers. It’s a tradition.  I can honestly say that writing for the college newspaper and other newsletters in pursuit of my degree honed my skills, and helped me go from

“writer” (definition:  writing for fun) vs. “author” (definition:  getting paid for it).

I’ve also met some fascinating people and been to some fascinating places, and have some great memories of my experiences.  I still can’t believe I actually get paid for what I do…but I would have liked to start with fiction, not journalism.  Hence this workbook. The following commentary is mine, and mine alone.  No two artists will ever be the same—if so, they wouldn’t be artists.  The short stories are also mine, and range from: bad to better to good to published.  If you read this workbook in order, you’ll notice the deliberate progression of terms and finished product.  If you want to skip around, that’s fine, too!  Free-lancers learn from their mistakes—and I’d like to share—and spare—fellow writers.  Hopefully this workbook will speed you along on your journey as a story-teller, whether you write for payment or not.  Somewhere, out there, is your audience—be it close family with your diary, or the world with your New York Times best-seller.  Best wishes and good luck!    (See page 1 for ordering information.) 

 

 

Thank you for visiting my website and check out my free fiction @  minigems.scriptmania.com