The Storytellers Meetup TOOLS FOR WRITERS. Angus Glen Library, November 19, Topics for today: The Fab Five Writing Resources

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1 The Storytellers Meetup TOOLS FOR WRITERS Angus Glen Library, November 19, Topics for today: The Fab Five Writing Resources Research: Write What You Know/How to Know More Tips for World-Building Etcetera (not ex-cetera) 1

2 3 4 Stephen King said: "The most important things are the hardest things to say. They are the things you get ashamed of, because words diminish them - words shrink things that seemed limitless..." Opening paragraph, The Body (Stand By Me) 2

3 Edit Rewrite Research: inventory fraud, Chile coup d etat, Deep Web, criminal harassment Travel Reflection 5 Submit to contests & publications Solicit feedback Attend workshops & conferences Interviews Attend author presentations Use the feedback Read craft blogs Watch videos Conversations Brainstorming Rethinking My Research & Drafting Process Dictate Start typing Scribble notes Write an outline 6 RESEARCH TOOLS Do research. Feed your talent. Research not only wins the war on cliché, it s the key to victory over fear and its cousin, depression. Robert McKee, Story Ask questions don t just wing it. People love to talk about their work. Check for material in other countries public libraries, newspapers, museums, universities Start with a broad query then refine it. Don t rely on Google. Be cautious of Wikipedia. Use a variety of media old television shows, library archives, newspaper reports, etc. Images, photos, old movies, TV commercials and maps can provide visual details to enrich your writing 3

4 RESEARCH TOOLS 7 RESEARCH TOOLS 8 4

5 9 Steven Pressfield - What is Better Skill or Talent? 10 FAB FIVE WRITING RESOURCES 1. Devices for capturing your thoughts: Pen/pencil & paper Tablet (IOS/Android) Smartphone Laptop or desktop computer Digital voice recorder 5

6 SOFTWARE & APPS FAB FIVE WRITING RESOURCES Information about how to improve your craft 2. Books (buy, borrow, download) Web sites (authors, publishers, motivational, genre) Newsletters & Podcasts Conferences and workshops Writers groups 6

7 SOFTWARE & APPS

8 WEBSITES 15 The Story Grid Stephen Pressfield 5. Jane Friedman The Creative Penn You Tube Channels (Robert Mckee, Stephen King, etc. Free Learning MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) Writing & Self-Publishing Blogs Use word searches to discover research resources 16 THINGS TO NEVER SAY TO A WRITER Are you published? The last book I enjoyed was Fifty Shades. It must be nice to just sit around and write. Why are you taking so long to finish your book? It can't be that hard! When I retire I'm going to write a book, too. 8

9 You're a writer? Awesome. What's your real job? 17 Will You Read My Novel/screenplay/ memoir? You write romance/crime/fantasy/memoir/erotica/weapons porn. How can you sleep at night? People tell me my life story would make a good book. You should write it. Where do you get your ideas? They say, write what you know [nudge, nudge]. Did that stuff really happen? 18 What writing and editing are like -- shovelling words onto the page, then digging them up, repositioning, tamping them down until your want to give up...but you don t. 9

10 19 SOURCES OF INSPIRATION Books and articles all genres, ebooks, audio books, Kindle, PDFs Online and Print Media (newspapers and magazines are a great source of names and events( [ThePaperBoy.com] Eavesdrop (conversations overheard in malls, in stores and on public transit) Doing nothing letting your mind float free, meditate Travel gets you out of your comfort zone Get physical: exercise, walk, swim, do crafts 20 SOURCES OF INSPIRATION Lifelong learning conventional education, workshops & conferences, online courses (e.g., Identifying the Dead, MOOCs, itunes University, podcasts, film, books, YouTube, BookTube) Online Flipboard, Stumble Upon, social media, subscribe to blogs, download free publications [set up a specific gmail for subscriptions] Talk to people/brainstorm Join a respectful critique group with ground rules/boundaries Other creative activities 10

11 21 FREE IMAGES*** 22 Public Domain Pictures - Wikimedia Commons - Image After - Public Domain Photos - Stock.XCHNG - Pixabay - Unsplash - Death to the Stock Photo - Websites for Vector Art - *** BEFORE YOU USE ANY DIGITAL RESOURCE, ALWAYS READ THE TERMS OF SERVICE, EULA 11

12 23 What you can do with images 24 This philosophy is equally applicable to writers: Be observant Eavesdrop Take notes Talk to other writers Do your research (read, learn, join) Adapt for your purposes 12

13 25 Q&A My Social Media: Twitter Instagram between.the.book.sheets hyacinthe@hyacinthemillerbooks.com writinganswerlady@gmail.com 13