Poem or prose?????

I would like to enter a poem, but being away for a long time, I can't find where to post.  I found the Writer's Gallery, but have no idea where the text goes.  I can see where an image can be posted.

I've also written this post elsewhere in this forum, only I don't know how to find it... and an answer if there's one...

Please help?

Hanna

Oh, yes, something else just popped into my mind:

I was told once that before writing a synopsis for my novel, I should sum up the entire book into one sentence.  It was the worst task I have ever encountered - imagine - condensing 250,000 words into a short sentence! 

Has any of you ever done something similar?

Hanna

PS  I'm still not happy with the sentences I wrote...

I'm 100% with jstro.

I can write dozens of emotional sentences, but each on its own won't make a story.

One of the things that helped me with my writing was learning to shorten a story which I have already written and turn it from 2000 words to 1500 and then to 1000 until I reached the 500 line. You'll be amazed to realize how many "weak" and unnecessary words we put into our stories!

Even writing a short story afresh and limiting it to 500 words or less is a good exercise.  Why don't we have a couple of those, with a prompt from the organizers??

Hanna

:b_cool:

Congrats to the winner!

We'll meet again in the new challenge.

Hanna

Hi David,

Well, I was thinking about a two weeks challenge (twice a month) of 500 words dialogue pieces, different prompt each time.  After a few weeks the task gets harder - 250 words of dialogue. 

This kind of writing forces you to concentrate on each word you put in.  We can try later short stories without adjectives, then without adverbs.  Very good exercises. 

I think we have Halloween coming next month so in October we can use that.  Any topic goes.  Funny stuff as well.  We can use the form of letters from the members as answers to a short appeal for advice.  You'll be amazed at what members write.  Must adhere to all proper writing rules, punctuation etc.

Will you run a challenge like that?  I can supply prompt or short appeals for advice.

Hey David,

What on earth is "an open ended writing challenge"?

Hanna

Outstanding picture... it will make a good children's story!  Going to try, not sure if 1000 words will be enough!  

Hanna           

:b_cool:

Hey there,

Not a bad idea but only until you talk to the people who run this place and ask them to add a few items to the genre. 

At least that's what I think, and you'll have to post a permanent "read me" note to the forum for everyone to know. 

Thanks

Hanna

John dear,

Multi thanks.  I just finished loading my first poem here.  It's a shame one cannot change the font or the colour.  The poem looks dull...

It's a pain in the neck to be able to load only one item a day, but who am I to complain? Lol..

Thanks again.

Hanna

Good info - thank you all.

While waiting for the answers to come in, I tried to solve some of the mysteries myself, but I must admit I couldn't find the way to the page where I can post anything... :blushing:

I got as far as opening the writers gallery.  No sign of anything which will allow posting. Help again?

Hanna

Thanks a million

Here is the link to the Dramatica book: http://www.dramatica.com/theory/theory_book/dtb.html

I also would like to add that I found it useful in my novel and I always recommend reading it when you have a lot of characters in your book and sometimes more than one main character.  I made up a table which illustrates clearly the relationships between the character in a novel, based on Dramatica.  Anyone interested can have it.

Hanna

Hi Forum,

To begin with, I don’t think Mr. Welch meant “hero” as in protagonist in a literary work.  But as a subject for a forum discussion it’s an excellent topic.

When a writer decides to make his main character a villain, the amount of work put into this character is doubled.  The villain’s character must be described in more detail and to greater depth.

It is not necessary for the reader to identify with the main character, but it is vital that the motives and the fine tuning are clear.  I sometimes run across a story where the author tries to justify the actions of a villain protagonist.  This derives from the mistaken notion that the character would not be liked.  I say – on the contrary, a villain is what he is and as long as he/she holds the readers’ interest, that is fine.

I would also say that the word HERO as used in everyday language is not what it means in literature.  A hero(protagonist) in a book can often be a despicable man or lacking any attributes which will stand him above standard people.

As to discussing Tom Cruise and Arnold  Schwarzenegger or any other celeb of the kind – I can’t and won’t regard them as heroes in any capacity.

I’ve read an interesting book which teaches how to build your characters from scratch, how the relationship between them works and what gives the story a kick when the book has progressed and became complicated.  The book is called:

Dramatica: A New Theory Of Story
By Melanie Anne Phillips and Chris Huntley

I found it useful in my novel and I always recommend reading it when you have a lot of characters in your book and sometimes more than one main character.

Hanna

Dear Heartnsoul,

I like your poem, and I like bubbles too... always been fascinated by their rainbow colours...

If I may, I would like to point out a couple of points to notice in your poem.

1.  Second line requires the use of adjectives.  The word "rainbows" is a noun and together with the previous word "big" makes the line a sentence, a short one at that... lol

1. Line 6: Again, this line requires two adverbs.  The word "tickles" is eather a verb or a noun.

I think it would be easy to replace these words, unlike in other forms of poetry.

Hanna