The Writer's Compass » Archive
Writers Lost in Need of Finding
Yesterday I spent time with a friend, who is a writer, helping him rewrite an article. The problem was that a national magazine had asked him for an article about an ordeal he had faced with his health. When the magazine editor got the article from him, they reassigned it to another writer to rewrite according to the magazine’s “style.” My friend hated the rewritten article. It no longer had his voice, although written in first person, and because the person the magazine assigned didn’t know my friend or talk to him for more details, the new writer had made up dialogue and events to serve the story’s theme rather than using the facts. My friend felt he had two choices. Rewrite the article or pull it and refuse to allow the magazine to publish it. He had already analyzed what … Read entire article »
Filed under: Becoming A Writer, About Writing, Critiques and Feedback
Reaching the Christian Market
This post has been moved to http://nancyellendodd.wordpress.com/2012/02/06/reaching-the-christian-market/. … Read entire article »
Filed under: About Writing
The Writer’s Compass Video Presentation
September 15, 2011, my 45-minute lecture at the Pepperdine Payson Library was videotaped and can be accessed for free here. http://itunes.apple.com/us/itunes-u/nancy-dodd-the-writers-compass/id499064657 … Read entire article »
Filed under: FREEBIES & PURCHASE, Becoming A Writer, The Story Map, The 7 Stage Process, About Writing
New Audio Interview on Writing and the 7 Stages
Wise Bear Media Audio Interview Quinn Barrett, author of Invisible Snow, interviews me on writing and the 7 Stages for an audio podcast which can be found at: http://www.wisebearbooks.com/2012/01/26/podcast-nancy-ellen-dodd/ http://youtu.be/LMDq9LDdkfw http://www.blogtalkradio.com/wisebearbooks/2012/01/26/meet-nancy-ellen-dodd-author-of-the-writers-compass January 26, 2012 … Read entire article »
Filed under: Becoming A Writer, The 7 Stage Process, About Writing
Event Update
I’ll be speaking at the Writers of Kern meeting at The Clarion Hotel in Bakersfield on Saturday morning. The meeting starts at 10:00 and my presentation will be from 11:15 to noon. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Uncategorized
Interview, Blog on Critiquing, Upcoming Seminar
1 Kris Wampler, author of Love Train, interviewed me on his indie writer’s blog on January 12 covering a variety of topics indie writers may be interested in reading. In the interview we discuss: the 3 most common mistakes writers make, the 3 things a writer should do first, what are the signs of a well-written article or story, getting criticism, and marketing techniques, 2 On January 12, 2012, Morgen Bailey posted my guest blog on “How Do You Handle … Read entire article »
Filed under: About Writing, The Writer's Life, Critiques and Feedback
LOOK HERE for FREEBIES and eBOOKS to PURCHASE
Guidelines for Getting & Giving Feedback DOWNLOAD FOR FREE Updated February 2012, Guidelines for Getting & Giving Feedback offers information on The Big C – Criticism. This ebook includes 10 Guidelines for Giving Feedback, 10 Guidelines for Getting Feedback, and 10 Tips for Moderating Critique Groups. Sample Writers’ Group Agreement and Writer’s Critique forms are also included. The Hero Short Story Purchase for 99 CENTS on Amazon Kindle In the heat of the Vietnam War, two American soldiers, morally polar opposites, find themselves … Read entire article »
Filed under: FREEBIES & PURCHASE, Critiques and Feedback, Featured
Bringing Your Inner Writer to Life
January 6, 2012, Edie Crabtree wrote a review of The Writer’s Compass in the Newport Beach Independent, highlighting the book as an amazing tool for aspiring writers. “A very well mapped out book, ‘Compass’ covers every topic necessary to see a writing project through to completion, including simply setting time aside to write, and not letting the distractions of everyday life keep us from fulfilling our goals,” Crabtree says. The review and additional insights into the book can … Read entire article »
Filed under: Becoming A Writer, About Writing, The Writer's Life
New Year’s Approach to Writing
Donna Renzulli, author of the children’s book “Dangerous Reading,” posted an interview with me on her blog “A Writing Primate” as an inspiration for New Year’s resolutions for writers. http://awritingprimate.com/2011/12/30/nancy-ellen-dodd-author-of-the-writers-compass/. Below are the questions she asked: Tell us what you mean by developing a “mind-set” for writing, and how important is it to the creative process? You equate story-telling with building a house: foundation, adding structure of walls and roof, the flooring, painting and adding designer touches. Elaborate for us … Read entire article »
Filed under: Becoming A Writer, About Writing, The Writer's Life
More on Writing Hooks
A key element of the hook is letting people know what your story is going to be about, giving them an idea of what you want to say. This comes in two forms: the theme or the dramatic question. You can say something through a narrative comment or through the voice of one of your characters that in a phrase gives the reader an indication of what your story will be about, the theme. The … Read entire article »
Filed under: About Writing, Writing Exercises
More on Creating Characters
Mike Angley, award-winning author of the Child Finder Trilogy interviewed me for his blog. Much of the conversation had to do with developing strong characters, as well as some other thoughts I hope you will find interesting. Check out the interview and more about Mike and his trilogy at http://childfinder.us/?p=3822. Also, if you missed it, be sure to check out Sylvia L. Ramsey’s “Thoughtful Reflections” blog with our interview at http://wwwthouhtfulreflections.blogspot.com/search?q=dodd. Sylvia has some interesting questions … Read entire article »
Filed under: Becoming A Writer, About Writing, The Writer's Life
A Creative Tool For Developing Business Stories
Lou Hoffman invited me to write a guest blog for “Ishmael’s Corner.” The blog is a writing exercise to help people in business with idea generation using a story development technique. Check out the exercise and the blog at http://www.ishmaelscorner.com/2011/12/07/a-creative-tool-for-developing-business-stories/. … Read entire article »
Filed under: About Writing, Writing Exercises
Article in Writers Digest
Be sure to check out my article, “Put Your Novel On The Map,” in the Writers Digest magazine January 2012 issue. The article has an interesting graphic representing a structure map and access to a free map Writers Digest created as a giveaway. … Read entire article »
Filed under: The Story Map, About Writing, Writer's Digest
The Short Story Ending
Writing short stories poses unique challenges. How do you tell a story that is engaging, in fewer words, with less room for character development? One of the key elements to writing a great short story is ending the story with an impact, a punch, something that brings it home as to what the story is all about. In other words, a moral to the story, an answer to a dramatic question, or a dramatic question that … Read entire article »
Filed under: About Writing
The Rats Ate My Posts – Ending with a Hook
I apologize for not updating in so long. Last May our lives started going haywire, not the least of which was a rat falling through the open window screen in my bedroom onto my head as I slept in the dark of early morning. Yeah, everyone has that reaction. I woke up feeling like I was in a Stephen King novel. Let me just say, it got worse from there. My friends call the events … Read entire article »
Filed under: The Story Map, About Writing, Writing Exercises
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