Writing A Manuscript
Do Writing Groups Really Help?
By Dee Owens
You want to write about that heroine driving you insane or the hero of her dreams, but how to start? I suggest writing groups; you will find them both on the Internet and off. In your town or out of another country, but nowhere you go or where you look you will find the group that is right for you. How do I know, how can I be sure? Well i personally Co-Own my own group and am the member of another. I can tell you that my second novel would have not made it to paper without my writing group helping me through the rewrites and rough drafts, the writers block, and getting the heroine and the hero finally get together. No without them, my second book would still be driving me insane to finish it.
I can also attest that without the help of the first writing group i joined i would not have ever gotten my first novel published. They kept me from going to the wrong people how to format the manuscript and what it really took to submit the book to the Publisher.
Yes, writing groups have helped my career immensely, however finding the right group for you is the key to getting the right help. Therefore, what to look for when picking out that perfect group. First off, I suggest making sure; they offer both honest critiques and helpful feedback.
Secondly what type of critique submission ratio they have, many offer a 2 to 1 ratio, which means for every two critiques you do you can submit one chapter for help with. You also need to see how many critiques and submissions are required to remain active.
Another thing to consider is whether the moderator and owner are actively participants in the group, or just run by other people. How many members are in the group and whether or not chats are encouraged between members? In addition, do they accept multiple genres or just one?
Knowing each of these can help you find the perfect group for you.
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As far as any poetry goes, an old writer’s trick (even used by Paul Simon to write songs) is to look around your environment (room, park, street, etc.) and make a list of the things that you see. Later, try and write a poem using the words from your list. Be sure to throw in your feelings (if any) about the items as well such as “family” or “brother”. For story ideas, try “The Reading Teacher’s Book of Lists” 3rd Edition. On pages 233-234 are 50 “Story Starters” designed to help young authors get started. Some examples:
# 2 We watched in horror as Ben came running out of the boys’ bathroom and bumped right into the two men carrying the _______.
# 8 Gus had always wanted a puppy.
#42 Jesse couldn’t pass up any opportunity to enter a contest.
# 21 Anna hated her new school shoes. But she hated her _____ even more.
# 32 Jenn couldn’t wait for math class to be over.
Put in your own characters. You can write a page about each ones characteristics to help get started. Good luck!
Creative writing manuscript. Who wants to be my inspiration?
I have to have a 20 page manuscript complete by April 23 for my Imaginative writing class comprised of a few short stories and I’m sure she’s gonna toss some poetry in there… Anyway, I have a lot of blank pages to fill and when I’m pressed like this I get terrible writers block.
Anyone have any interesting short story ideas that might spark my creativity again? Much thanks!
So far all great suggestions. Anyone have any more?
When I write my name in the snow in a few minutes, should I use cursive or manuscript writing?
I’ve been drinking a lot of water so I won’t run out of yellow “ink”. That would be embarrassing in front of my neighbors.
When writing a manuscript, does dialogue or thoughts have to be in complete sentences?
Hello, I am writing a story and was simply wondering, when writing dialogue or putting someone’s thoughts into the text do they have to be in complete sentences? Do they need a subject or predicate? I have always wondered this, because when we speak sometimes we don’t talk in complete sentences, and you kind of want your characters to actually sound like people that way people can sort of relate to them. But anyways, thank you for taking the time to read this question. Have a good day.
No, it’s not the editor’s job. Italicizing words for emphasis is the author’s choice. Just don’t get carried away. (I’m speaking as a frequent user–ahem–OVERuser of italics.)
House style will also play a role. Some publishers italicize thoughts, for example, and others do not. After you sell a manuscript, your editor will tell you what’s expected.
Don’t sweat it.
When writing a manuscript how do you determined the word count by using the computer?
I am using MS word to write my story. Do I go by the word court already on the computer or do I use the characters and divide by five to get a word count? If you use the characters, do you use the one with spacing or without spacing. Also, do you count the words that are not actually apart of your story in the word count. Such as the title, page number, and chapter number. My goal is to produce a 60-65,000 word manuscript.
Italics in writing a manuscript; Yes or no?
Does anyone have direct experience with submitting written work to a publisher? If so, I would like to know if, when submitting a manuscript to a publisher or editor, it is appropriate to italicize words within one’s writing.
I have seen some author’s work which have no italics, and many who’s work do have italics. I feel sometimes it is important to place emphasis on certain words in certain sentences for clarity. Yet I have been told it is not professional and placing words in italics is the editor’s job.
Anyone have actual experience with this issue?
Use the character count you find in MS Word or WordPerfect and divide it by five. This gives you an approximate word count as used in the publishing industry.
Rule of thumb is 50 pages per 10,000 words. This takes into account the beginnings and ends of chapters, the short lines, etc.
60,000 words would be approximately 300 double-spaced pages with 12 pt and 1″ margins.