We love books!
The world of books is the most remarkable creation of man, nothing else that he builds ever lasts, monuments fall; nations perish; civilizations grow old and die out; new races build others. But in the world of books are volumes that have seen this happen again and again and yet live on. Still young, still as fresh as the day they were written, still telling men’s hearts, of the hearts of men centuries dead.
–Clarence Day
Write on, WordsmithSix friends, write on!
Cliché
By Natalie Bright
A worn-out and overused expression to convey a popular thought or idea.
I’ve blogged about cliché phrases before but I just love using them in new and interesting ways. It’s a fun exercise in word usage and can give your brain a real work out.
The cliché I wanted to use in my picture book manuscript was this:
If you love something, set it free; if it comes back, it’s yours. If it doesn’t, it never was.
The sentence I used in my story about a sister who gives something of great value to her little brother became this:
Now and then you might find something and keep it, or you can let somebody else love it more.
Types of Cliché
More Examples
The ball is in your court.
Every cloud has a silver lining.
Think outside the box.
It’s raining cats and dogs.
This is the first day of the rest of your life.
The grass is always greener on the other side.
Bad to the bone.
He’s one in a million.
Like a duck out of water.
The general rule is to avoid cliché phrases like the plague, but as a creative writer you can turn those old, worn out sayings into something fresh and unique. Make it your own and add some color to your stories. Have fun!
Today’s Ponder:
what writers can accomplish is pretty amazing!
But words are things, and a small drop of ink, falling like dew, upon a thought produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions think.
–Lord Byron
Happy writing and thanks for following WordsmithSix!
Plotting a Story
Once upon a time there was: _____________________________________.
Every day, _________________________. (regular world)
One day, ___________________________. (normal world changes)
Because of that, ______________________. (conflict)
Hero/heroine reacts how, ________________________.
Because of that, ______________________. (conflict)
Finally, he/she ___________________________. (resolution)
What does your character want more than anything in the world?
You, as the writer, must do everything you can to prevent them from getting it.
Happy ending or not? You decide.
Happy writing in 2015!
Natalie Bright
A room without books is like a body without a soul.
–Marcus T. Cicero
The Basics
By Natalie Bright
Noun – names a person, place, or thing.
Pronoun – takes the place of a noun, e.g. I, you, they.
Verb – shows action.
Adjective – modifies a noun or pronoun by telling how much, which one, what kind or describing it in other ways.
Adverb – modifies a verb similar to how an adjective it in other ways.
Preposition – shows a relationship between nouns or pronouns and is often used at the beginning descriptive phrase.
Conjunction – connects two words, phrases, clauses. The most common; and, but, or.
Interjection – often just one word injected into the sentence to show emotion, such as yea, uh-oh, or alas.
We built a ship upon the stairs
All made of the back-bedroom chairs,
And filled it full of sofa pillows
To go a-sailing on the billows.
—Robert Louis Stevenson
Here’s to discovering your inner child of fun and writing more stories in the New Year!
Book Review: Writing Down the Bones
By Natalie Bright
Over the holidays I read Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg, poet, painter, book author, and creative writing instructor on the Zen practice of writing. I’m so thankful that I did not read this as a newbie writer; it wouldn’t have meant so much way back then.
The Why isn’t Important
Presented in short chapters covering varied topics, Goldberg makes the point to dig deep into your writing. It’s an intense process where the writer has to step outside of themselves and just write, and it’s enough that we want to. Just do it. Psychologists can sort out the why—wow! Thank you, thank you Ms. Goldberg. Isn’t that a relief to know? And she gives us this great Hemingway quote: “Not the why, but the what.”
Don’t be a Goody Two-Shoes
One paragraph in particular really made me rethink this crazy process. In the section titled “The Goody Two-Shoes Nature” Goldberg talks about the age old rule of writing every day. She points out that some people go through the motions and follow this rule religiously, but does their writing improve? Is this a waste of time and energy if you stress yourself over staring at a blank screen? Instead, Goldberg suggests you are allowed to stay away, if your heart’s not into writing. Come back when you’re on fire for that WIP, when you’re “hungry to say something.” Don’t just put in the time, but put some heart into your effort as well.
Finding the Fire
I’ve been working on a picture book idea, which isn’t many words but every single word must be the absolute right word. I’ve read it a zillion times. Instead of staring at the manuscript every day during the holidays, I watched movies, cooked, re-arranged Christmas decorations more than once, and made a huge dent in my TBR pile of books. When I finally got a quiet morning to sit down at the keyboard, I was on fire for that story. It had been simmering in my head for several weeks and I stayed with it most of that day. That was a productive writing session and wow, what a great feeling. Writing is fun! I can hardly wait for critique meeting, so I can get everyone’s opinion.
If you read any story craft book in the new year, this is the one. You MUST add this to your writing reference library in 2015 and ASAP.
Hope you have a happy and productive 2015, and thanks for following us on WordsmithSix!
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
By Rory C. Keel
“Okay, somebody write a quick blog on trying to find a name for your blog!”
Choosing the one specific term that describes six different writers with very different styles and genres, can be a daunting task. One would think that such an imaginative group could quickly produce a name so extraordinary, so remarkable that the mere mention of it would describe each individual and their genres perfectly. We settled on something a little less complicated.
What about Tuesday?
Welcome to our blog. My name is Rory and every Tuesday I will be sharing with you some of the ideas and lessons that I’ve learned, and will learn along the way to publication. I’m excited to be a part of a group of writers ranging from beginners to the experienced, from the unpublished to multiple publications, and that has the motivation to move forward in their writing. I write Christian fiction and non-fiction, Historical western, short stories, and creative nonfiction. I have published several Christian devotionals, and I have song lyrics published on a CD, “Alabaster Box.”
Choosing the Name
So, how did we choose the name? We tossed words onto a dry erase board, and then the six of us wrestled them around until one stood up and screamed, “Pick Me!” And what is the name that captures the essence of our critique group?
Wordsmith Six
Wordsmith Six consists of six writers who cover the spectrum in genres—a group of a half-dozen close friends who love words, whether we’re reading, writing or researching them. We have individuals who write Women’s Fiction, Historical, Inspirational and Screenplay. Others love Romance, Western, Christian fiction and Middle grade children’s books. Included are authors with published Fiction and Nonfiction books, TV Documentaries, Song Lyrics, Humor and yes, even HORROR.
We have lots of stories to tell and you’re invited to follow along.
Click on the author page above to connect with Rory.
Half Price Books
By Natalie Bright
Voted best bookstore in Dallas/Fort Worth by viewers of WFAA-TV Channel 8, and voted best bookstore in Dallas by Nickelodeon Parent’s Pick, Half Price Books has always been a must stop every time we journey to Dallas. I remember our first experience there many years ago when my oldest was struggling to find reading material that would hold his interest so he could pass middle school Accelerated Reading. His teacher offered to give him credit based on the nonfiction books he read, after she looked them over. Upon the advice of my cousin, I turned him loose in Half Price Books. He discovered the military history section and passed AR that year.
Half Price Books – Flagship- Dallas, Texas
A converted Laundromat was the location of the first Half Price Books in 1972. Stocked with over 2,000 titles from the personal collections of co-founders Ken Gjemre and Pat Anderson, it has grown to stores in 16 states offering used books, music, movies and games. The simple philosophy of offering “a great product at a great price” continues under Pat’s daughter, Sharon Anderson Wright.
A recent trip to the Dallas area to visit family included a stop at the Half Price Book main store. I love digging through stacks of old, dusty books, but this isn’t your typical used book store. It’s clean, modern, and very well organized by genre with clearly marked sections by topic and alphabetized by author. “Preserving and recycling resources and entertainment of every form is our business“, and everything is half the publisher’s price or less.
As a children’s author, I particularly appreciate the Newberry Award section where I can find treasures for a few bucks. Featuring both medaled and honor awarded stories, these classics provide invaluable material for the study of story craft.
Classify yourself as a book hoarder? Bring a few books with you and leave with cash. The Coffee Shop and pastry was a delicious diversion too.
www.hpb.com for more information about Half Price Books.
Wordsmith Six 