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Posts tagged ‘writing tips’

Benson’s Got Bling!

Benson Bling SWWhen you write a story, you’re never going to see it the same way a reader would. Because you’ve spent so much time thinking about it, writing it and revising it, it becomes impossible to separate the story that exists in your mind from the one that exists on the page.

And that’s why reviews, and other people’s opinions, are so important. That’s how you find out what worked and what didn’t.

Which is why I’m over here, still doing my happy dance, after No Ordinary Lizard received a 5 Star Review from Readers Favorite. (Click on the link if you’d like to read it.)

I wanted readers to fall in love with Benson, the lizard (and star) of this story, but I honestly didn’t know if anyone would. So yes, it feels awesome that Benson’s earned himself some shiny bling.

But. This is just one person’s opinion. What I really want to know, what I really care about, is what you think.

So I’ve made the ebook free at all major retailers and priced the paperback edition as low as Amazon allows. All I ask is that you give me your honest opinion by posting your review on Amazon.

Thanks for reading. Thanks for reviewing. I’ll be over at Amazon, ready to read your opinion as soon as it comes in. Yes, it does matter that much. After all, I wrote this story for you.  

 

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Two Awesome Stories

Two talented writers are back on the site, sharing two powerful stories.

In The Spark Diaries, Mikaela shares a complex world of her creation through several characters’ diaries. Her excellent use of dialogue not only shows us how this world operates but also how each character feels about it. In just a few short segments, the beginning of The Spark Diaries imparts lots of interesting information in a dynamic, captivating way.

Annie Song also uses different characters and snappy dialogue to share information and ramp up the action in The Dust Bunnies 7 – The Real Enemy. In this story, the team grows from an unexpected source after the real enemy is revealed.

I’m certain you’ll enjoy both stories, so go read them now and remember to comment.

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This is How You Do It

author at workAction. Strong characters. Conflict. Trouble. Recent change and more change about to take place. All the elements you need to create a powerful beginning.

Mikaela included every one of those elements in Chapter One of God is Now Here – not an easy thing to do, and yet the writing flows so easily.

Mikaela, awesome job. Everyone else, go read this story right now. You’ll see how great beginnings keep us wanting more.

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Show Me, Don’t Tell Me

We read stories to experience things we might not otherwise. The more we feel like we’re there, right in the middle of the action, the better we like it and the longer we’ll remember it.

The same is true for learning about characters. We don’t want to be told what a character is like; we want to form our own opinions and figure it out for ourselves. That’s why the best way to introduce a character is to show them doing something that is typically them, then show how other characters react and respond.

mean eagleWant to see how? Read the opening scene of Mikaela’s newest story, Eagle, for a great example of how to show, not tell. Well done, Mikaela!

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Welcome!

Here at All Write with Me, kids get tips from a children’s author, share their writing online and gain confidence in a fun, supportive environment.

Teachers & Parents –

This site is an effective instructional tool for writing in the classroom and at home. Learn more here.

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To see what we’ve been doing lately, scroll through the posts below.

Written

on February 10, 2015

Powerful Beginning

curiosityElsy keeps up the mystery and intrigue as she introduces her characters in the first chapter of Connie. She gives us just enough to give us an idea of what they’re like but she also lets us know that something’s not quite normal about these girls. Since Elsy doesn’t come right out and tell us what’s up, readers are sure to keep reading. It’s compelling and intriguing and a great example of building readers’ curiosity, all coming together to make a powerful opening.

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Action, Adventure, Great Characters

kid writing & computerLots of great writing to share today!

First up, Elsy shares Chapter 4 of Marcia. This story is an excellent example of using Voice. Voice comes from the words and tone and style you choose for your story. It also includes the details, descriptions, actions, and emotions you choose to share. Make these choices based on how your narrator tells the story and your readers get to know your narrator. In Marcia, Elsy does a great job of letting her narrator’s attitude come shining through. This is the opening sentence of Chapter 4: “It was… breathtaking? Awesome? Enchanting? I could go on for hours, but I won’t because there is slightly more to say here.” Actually, there’s a lot more to say here and you should go read it.

Next up, Ink Wolf wrote Chapter 2 of Misty Island. I love Ink Wolf’s wild imagination and I know you will, too. Ink Wolf comes up with the most incredible characters in this story and shares just the right amount of imaginative details to make them unique, interesting, and fun. Ink Wolf is also very good at showing characters’ personalities through the way they talk.

And last but not least, Ink Wolf shares Hunter’s Adventure. This is a complete short story with action and adventure, told through the eyes of a kitten.

Enjoy!

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It’s time to celebrate I Love to Write Day!

If you’re looking for something to do on I Love to Write Day, you’ve come to the right place. There’s plenty of writing tips and plenty of space to show off your writing.

If you have any questions about the site or about writing, please leave a comment. I’ll answer, I promise.

Happy writing!…

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Got information? Get your characters talking!

Dialogue, in my opinion, is the quickest and most entertaining way to give readers background information about your characters. The Purple Pheonix used this technique to let readers know how smart his main character is. Click on Purple Pheonix’s Story to see how he did it.

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