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Suzanne Pitner's Blog

Oct 4, 2009

Online Fiction Writing Courses

Posted by Suzanne Pitner

As October rushes in with a fall of leaves on my lawn, I’m enrolling in another writing class. One thing about fiction writing is there is always plenty to learn. Each writer I talk with brings a new perspective or a new technique to the conversation. As most writers, I’m curious, and always looking for ways to refine and improve my writing, to deepen the writing experience.

There are plenty of writing courses available; the trick is finding the ones that are the most valuable to you. If you like free, (and who doesn’t,) I’ve found some online fiction writing courses that are university based, or offered by published authors. Over the next couple of months, I’ll be reviewing the courses and posting the article links here, so everyone can benefit from them.

Online Fiction Writing Courses, Charis Tsevis
        

Sep 13, 2009

Twitter for Writers

Posted by Suzanne Pitner

There is something powerful about collaborating in a writer’s group that lights the fires of creativity. Other writers in the group encourage, motivate, and inspire one another. One place to find other writers and join informal groups is Twitter. Twitter has several active communities of writers and editors.

This weekend, someone announced a #wordathon, and suggested we each keep track of our wordcounts and report them on Sunday at 6:00 p.m. to get a combined grand total of words written. Always ready for a challenge, I joined the #wordathon. (If you’re not familiar with Twitter, the # sign, or hashtag, is how to send and receive messages to a group.)

If you’ve ever been involved in a writing challenge, you may be familiar with the feeling that everyone else is writing more than you, writing faster than you, writing better than you. That’s exactly how I felt this weekend. My words spilled onto the computer screen, but they weren’t quite what I wanted, and they weren’t spilling fast enough. I forged ahead anyway, muttering to myself that I could revise and expand later.

Sunday at 6:00 p.m. I reported my word count with an apology, thinking it would be much lower than the other 70 or so writers reporting. Surprisingly, it wasn’t. My word count was about average for our group. A few writers had practically written novellas over the weekend, a few had barely completed one page, but together, we all produced well over 142,000 new words in our manuscripts. Fellow writers cheered and congratulated each other, and then we went back to our writing. It was encouraging to be a part of such a simple activity.

If you’d like to view or join some of the writing conversations at Twitter, here are a few popular hashtags to use. It’s a great way to get in touch with other fiction writers.

#amwriting

#writers

#writegoal

#kidlitchat

#yalitchat

#litchat

#wordathon

#FlashFriday

While you're there, check out Suite101 on Twitter. I'm there, too, using my fiction pen name, SuzanneLilly.



Aug 16, 2009

What Are Your Writing Rituals?

Posted by Suzanne Pitner

Writers have rituals, just as sports stars have rituals. Have you ever noticed when a major league baseball player comes up to the plate to bat, he usually has a routine he follows. It might be adjusting his helmet, tapping the bat on the plate, and digging his foot in the dirt. Others wipe their hands on their shirts, squat down, and wave the bat in a circle above their heads. If you watch enough baseball, you’ll notice the same players following the same ritual each time they are on deck.

Writers have rituals too. Every serious writer I know follows a routine before they sit down to write. Some have a cup of coffee and watch the sun rise before they write. Others use a journal to warm up their writing muscles. Some take the dog for a walk, and work out their creative plot ideas in their heads. When they get back, they are ready to start.
My own ritual involves rising before anyone else in the house is up. I need the quiet time to think while I write. I turn on my computer and stumble into the kitchen to get a cup of coffee with cream. When I sit down, I check in with my Twitter friends, look at my writing to-do list, (yes, I plan out my writing weeks ahead of time,) then get started. Each morning, this little routine puts me in the frame of mind to do my most productive writing.
How about you? What is your writing ritual?


Aug 4, 2009

How Do You Research Your Fiction Writing?

Posted by Suzanne Pitner

As soon as I finish one novel, I start another. I don’t give lethargy a chance to set in to my writing brain. I finished a middle grade novel in July, and spent about two weeks tossing new story ideas around. Most of them I tossed out the window. I finally settled on a new idea the last week of July, started working through the plot points, and then began my research.

Everyone’s writing process is different. I am a planner. I plan everything, from meals to novels. When I don’t have a plan in place, I’m stalled. I need to have everything researched early in the writing process, because I can’t stand having to go back and rewrite things, or stop writing to do research. So I do it before I begin writing. But that’s just me.

As I worked on researching my book, I found some information online, two documentaries to watch, and I’m heading to the library today. It was all going so swimmingly, that I thought it would be a good idea to write a short article about it. Research for Fiction Writers went online yesterday, with my views on research.

Shortly after the article appeared, a writer left a comment in complete disagreement. I’m so glad this person responded. As I stated at the beginning of the article, everyone’s writing process is different. This person does research as needed, at any point in the process. And is perfectly happy with it. I would venture to guess that this person is more of a pantster, than a plotter.

I think the moral of this story is:

Find what works for you.

It’s like trying on clothes. You pick the garments that appeal to you, try them on, and if you’re lucky, you find one that fits perfectly. Sometimes you find a garment that you love, but it needs a bit of altering to be the perfect fit.

It’s the same with writing. You have to try as many different processes as you need until you find one that fits you. You may need to adjust it just a bit to make it the perfect match for your writing style. You’ll know you’ve found it when your writing begins to flow.


Writing Flows When You Find Your Process, http://freephotos.com/index.php?photoid=17352
        

Jul 29, 2009

Celebrating the Writers in the Writing Fiction Section

Posted by Suzanne Pitner

The amazing and prolific Jennifer Jensen has taken the Feature Writer position in the Genealogy section, leaving this exciting opportunity open. I moved here from Media Literacy, and I’m happy to be the new FW. Yes, we’re playing musical chairs with our sections, but soon enough, we’ll all have a seat

The tremendous talent we have here in the Writing Fiction section compels me to celebrate and acknowledge all that our writers have produced. The authors have created such a comprehensive resource that you can find an answer to almost any question you may have about writing. Many of the authors are published, some are award winning, and all are passionate about the craft.

Mystery and Suspense writer Vicki Britton takes time out from her novel writing to enlighten us with her expertise in plot, placing, and tension.

If you love science fiction, check out some of the articles by Lynne Jamneck. She’s done an incredible job sharing her extensive knowledge of the genre.

Do you get a bit tremulous when you think about writing love scenes or sex scenes? Then be sure to read the articles by Nina Munteanu, author of Darwin’s Paradox. Her tips will help you write sensual, scintillating sex scenes. How’s that for alliteration?

Janice Hally swept up the writer’s rituals topic. She has an entire series of interviews with published authors about this fascinating subject. You can check the list of articles on her blog.

Are you looking for details on the mechanics of writing? Award winning author Camy Tang has written several articles on dialogue, POV, and characterization.

If you find yourself facing a bad case of staring at a blank screen, What the Author Can Do About Writer’s Block, by Rachel Wills, may be just the prescription you need to get the words flowing again.

There are plenty more writers here sharing their tips, tricks, advice, and successes about writing fiction. So get a cuppa, put a pillow in your chair, and get comfortable. You might be here a while.




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