This blog is written by Linda Style, co-founder of Bootcamp for Novelists Online, for Bootcamp students and anyone interested in writing and would like to to talk (mostly) about writing related topics. I can't guarantee I won't talk about other things, but I can always relate it to writing in some way. If you'd like to post something yourself, email me at bootcamp4novelists2@yahoo.com or through our website - BootcampforNovelists.com. I love to have guest bloggers as well.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

LAST CHANCE THIS YEAR...

If you've been wanting to take Escalating Consequences and Scene Sculpting, do it now! These two classes won't be offered again until 2012.

Late registration for March 18 classes closes on March 25.

March 18 to April 15
3B Scene Sculpting
a Basic Track Course taught by Connie Flynn
Structuring scenes for maximum impact is the third pillar of story
structure. You'll leave this course knowing where and when to place a scene
and how to connect it with other scene for ease of flow and maximum impact.

3P Escalating Consequences
a Polish Track Course taught by Linda Style
Have you ever been so excited about a story that it almost seems to write
itself...and then somewhere after the third chapter it stops dead? If so
it's probably because your conflict is static. This workshop examines Dynamic Conflict...what it is and how to use it with escalating consequences to make your story move along naturally...with high drama.

Fee: $28 each course
To enroll go to http://www.bootcampfornovelists.com/index.html

What people are saying about Bootcamp for Novelists

Connie I feel like I've learned a ton. You are a great teacher and it's
rare you learn a skill that's so tangible and practical. Very much looking
forward to Plot.


Just had a great experience taking Linda Style's Bootcamp for Novelists
course on Emotion. I thought it was an excellent course! After taking many
courses at the RWA conference and reading a lot of writing books ,I have to
say this is one of the most valuable experiences I've had thus far. The
material was detailed and provided lots of new insight I haven't come across
before. Highly recommend taking one of Linda's courses.


Thank you so much for this course Connie. I'm looking forward to moving
ahead with the Plotting course. I've gotten so much insight into
characterization from your teaching. I can't wait to learn more!!


I'm pleased to see that a friend of mine took my advice and signed up for
Linda's "Infusing your Story with Emotion". Slowly and surely, I hope to
get all my friends from the Ottawa Romance Writers of America to know all
about "Bootcamp for Novelists". By the way, I really enjoyed Denise
Domning's course.


Enroll now at www.bootcampfornovelists.com

Friday, March 4, 2011

How to Find Your Writer's Voice...


A fresh voice...that's what we're talking about...that intangible, elusive quality in a novel that all the editors say they’re looking for. Do you have that fresh voice? Do you have an identifiable writing voice?

To start, let's not confuse voice with style. Voice is what you say. Style is how you say it. But you can’t have one without the other. Style is a part of our writer’s voice and both are totally individual and unique. I like to think of voice and style as ingredients in a recipe that when combined become one entity –- a delicious meal to be consumed ravenously.

But, it’s voice we’re talking about. Your distinct writer’s voice is you...it’s your defining way of thinking and speaking...it’s individual and unique...it’s your personality on paper, and it’s recognizable the moment a reader delves into one of your books.

Or not.

If you’re not one of the lucky ones who have a natural voice and style that crackles and sings and floats down from some heavenly muse the moment pen meets paper...or fingers meet the keyboard...then you might want to listen up. The truth is, in the beginning, most of us are more concerned with creating the story and learning our craft. We focus on the important stuff first and we’re not even thinking about some elusive quality that seems to have no definition whatsoever. But there’s no escaping it. Sooner or later, we have to find our voice, coax it out, and then develop it.

How important is voice when everything else in the story is as good as you can make it? Well, consider this-–voice is the first thing an editor notices when she picks up your query letter, synopsis, or first page to read. Readers notice it the moment they start reading. We can make that first sentence, that first paragraph, and that first page as interesting as we can, and yet, in the end, if there is no unique voice--if the prose sounds like anyone in the room could’ve written it--the story will feel flat and lifeless. Voice is king! Books with a great voice are forgiven many sins. Not that you want to be a sinner, but you get the idea.

And by now, I bet you want me to shut up and tell you how you can find your writer’s voice. Okay. Here are a few tips that might help.

1. Before you begin writing for the day, warm up with some free writing. Just go with the flow, write about anything that’s on your mind…for 2 or 3 minutes. Keep your fingers on the keys or pen to paper.

2. Forget making your manuscript perfect. Yes, grammar is important, but that’s what revisions are for. Too many times beginners looking for perfection edit their voice right out of the manuscript.

3. Write like you talk. Yeah, that’s right. Just lay it out there. We all have our personal patterns of speech, our favorite words and phrases. Look at some of the emails that you’ve sent a best friend and you’ll see what I mean.

4. Put the tape recorder on when you’re talking on the phone to a friend. That’s you, that’s the person you want on paper. No one else in the world thinks exactly like you. There’s no right or wrong. You’re unique. Can your voice and style be off-putting? Sure. But that’s something for you to decide and work on during revisions. The important thing is to get your voice out there. Then refine it.

5. Write what you know. Yes, I know, you’ve heard that one a million times, but maybe not the reason. When you write what you know, you have feelings about it…emotions… and those feelings will come out in your natural voice. Voice is your passion. Style is how you carry it off. I’ve heard that the best essays students write are always about their mothers, and it’s easy to see why. Everyone has strong feelings about their mothers, one way or another.

6. Read your work out loud and if you stumble over some words, so will the reader. If you’re writing naturally in your own voice, you shouldn’t stumble.

7. When writing the first draft, don’t-overanalyze. Edit carefully, but don’t over edit the life out of it. Go for passion over perfection.

8. Remember, your word choices are part of you. They should be natural and pleasing to you, not a critique partner or anyone else. (except the editor) Be ruthless when cutting, but be kind to your voice.

9. Rewrite an excerpt of a favorite author’s work in your own narrator voice… then try it with your main character’s voice. (hint...they should be different)

Hmmm. It seems like there should be ten points here, doesn't it, but nine is what I ended up with. C’est la Vie.

Okay, here’s a fun one for practice right now, right this minute. In your very own unique writer’s narrative voice, write a spontaneous comment here and tell me how you met me...only lie about it. If you don’t know me, it doesn’t matter. Be creative. Okay…go…