Alexander M. Zoltai's Blog, page 61
April 5, 2017
#Writing & #Games ~ They Can Coexist…
I’m going to link to an article that helps you see the writing process as a game; but, first, I’ll list my past posts that deal with writing and games:
[image error]Image Courtesy of Nick Benjaminsz ~ http://www.freeimages.com/photographer/KillR-B-30820
Game Writers Are Indeed Writers
#Writing Can Be All #Fun & #Games . . .
April 4, 2017
You know what your book means… but does the reader? Tackle it with two mindsets
Once again, Roz Morris comes through with practical and powerful advice in today’s re-blog :-)
Have you ever had this type of comment in feedback?
‘You’re grasping for a strong thematic purpose. The characters’ actions and the plot are full of significance. Somewhere there’s a strong message. But it’s too abstract or muddied to come through.’
If so, this concept might help. It’s borrowed from writing instructor Lynn Steger Strong, and described in this article in Catapult. Thi...
April 3, 2017
#MainStreetWriters Founded by Persevering Publisher
This is my seventh post about the Main Street Writers Movement that link goes to the main post with All the details…
[image error]Click this Image to find out How to Join…
One quick and important quote from the Movement:
It’s for “writers, readers, booksellers, publishers, editors, publicists, agents, and anyone who wants to participate in the literary conversation.”
And, joining gets you the newsletter as well as, “…earning you access to literary community building tools, industry insights, and connect...
April 2, 2017
Habits
Today’s re-blog is a great thought-piece on habits, with a couple book recommendations :-)
I’ve been thinking about habits a lot lately.
What is a habit? How do we create “good” habits? How do we get rid of “bad” habits? And one question specifically for my writing life: Can I be a successful writer without habits?My reflexive answer to that last question is, “No, I can’t.”
But that’s just me. Turns out, there are a number of people—successful, happy, creative...
April 1, 2017
April Fools ?
Rather than my normal re-blog today, I’m sharing something from Smashwords.
[image error]Image Courtesy of Michelle Dennis ~ http://www.freeimages.com/photographer/saine-39175
However, before I share that, I must reveal a particular confluence of my writing and my gullibility…
Yesterday, I published the Thirty-Seventh Tale on my Friday Feature, “Story Bazaar”.
It was called “Alternative Facts”—that title echoing something that became an “issue” here in the USA (and, I’m sure, a few other countries…—and, i...
March 31, 2017
Friday Story Bazaar ~ Tale Thirty-Seven
“Alternative Facts”
by
Alexander M Zoltai
~~~~~~~~~
“What are you talking about?!”
Jim had been arguing with his friend Tom for about an hour—they thought they were discussing various points about the way the city had encouraged so much business construction.
Tom responded: “You don’t know what I’m talking about? After everything I’ve been saying?
“Well, I know What you’re talking about but it still makes no sense…”
“It’s just like the papers say; my god, this is the fifth time I’ve said it…”...
March 30, 2017
Three steps to a smoother writing style
My favorite sentence from today’s re-blog from Roz Morris:
“Verbs are your propellant” :-)
This week Joanna Penn invited me to her podcast to talk about writing style and voice, which you can see in a few weeks’ time. We got so involved in the subject that we didn’t finish her question list and this point didn’t make the cut. So I thought it would make a useful post.
Joanna asked me to pinpoint a few easy style fixes – so here they are.
1 Ditch the filler words
Look at this:
...March 29, 2017
#MainStreetWriters – Joining Together to Improve the Literary Landscape
Click this Image to find out How to Join…
Since I published my first and the most complete post about the Main Street Writers Movement, I’ve begun my own little campaign in my own location—Akron, OH, USA—by emailing info to the local library’s Adult Services Librarian and receiving a very positive response. I’ll be calling local bookstores, writers’ groups, and publishers next.
Actually, I’m hoping I meet someone else during this process who’s also promoting the Movement :-)
I must share that...
March 28, 2017
The MFA is Not a Calling Card: The Low-Residency View
Today’s re-blog is a relatively deep look into the Master of Fine Arts programs…
A guest post from Kevin Haworth:
Kevin Haworth
Like other Brevity blog readers, I have been following the thread of conversation this week started by Emily Smith and continued by Dinty W. Moore. As the director of a low-residency MFA program, I have my own investment in this conversation, and a desire to see my students’ experiences represented. And while each of these writers makes sa...
March 27, 2017
Author Interview ~ Fatima Ammar
I met Fatima very recently and haven’t, yet, read any of her works (except for a brief peek to let me know she could actually write); but, from her profile on Wattpad, her presence on Twitter, and her WebSite, I deduced a critical quality for writers—an independent power of creativity…
Let’s get this interview in gear…
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> So, Fatima, want to tell the folks your a.k.a. and what you consider your writerly function? And, a bit of Bio would also be very nice… [image error]Moonshine Noire is the a...
