Jan's New "Class"--Writing Basics

[browniesgal]

Hi Jan, Thank you so much for coming back to help us 'youngins' I love this lesson, This passage is from Charles Martin's book, Wrapped in Rain.

'When the ache woke me, I poked the tip of my nose out from under the covers and pulled my knees hard into my chest where my heart hung pounding like a drum.'

Salsa words: ache, poked, hard, hung, pounding,drum

Plainly said, I had to go,tried to hold it,scared to move. No OOmph!

Also how about a lesson on italics so we can feed it back to you to see if we got it!

Thanks again, Ruth Brown[/quote]

[Verna]

Jan, writing a first sentence to grab the reader's attention is important to writers at any level, and it's not that easy to do.

Some writers have a gift at fresh description is another skill to work on. (I know salsa verbs is one way, but there are more.)

Here are a couple of other topics for consideration:
Writing a good conclusion
Tightening the writing

[glorybee]

Ruth--did you want to know how to do italics here on the forums, or in your Writing Challenge entries (two different actions)?

Your passage was full of great salsa words (I'd remove 'hard' from your list, though). I could almost feel the ache along with the narrator.

[yvonblake]

Here are some topics you might cover:

* Keeping the verb tense consistent throughout
* Using subordinate clauses to join two sentences.
* Writing dialogue with action, instead of "tags"
* Keeping the theme woven throughout the story

[glorybee]

Thanks, Verna and Vonnie--some of those were on my list already, some are better suited to Ann's class--and some I've added to my list! Keep 'em coming!

[yvonblake]

*Showing setting throughout the action
*Giving characters their own "characteristics"
*Using sounds of words to create a mood

[browniesgal]

Well Jan, I think I'd need to know both. I really like the author Charles Martin. Ahh to write like that. I appreciate Vonnie's topics too.
Any thoughts on when things are too trite to say or too predictable to write about? Or when things are understood without saying it? Also prhaps some more about the voice, please. Thanks, Ruth

[glorybee]

Ruth, to do italics here in the forums, just highlight the word or phrase you want italicized (by holding down your mouse over the words), and then click the little square with the 'i' near the top of the large blue reply box. A few bits of HTML code will show up in your typing, and when you hit 'submit', your words will be in italics.

Go ahead, try it!

In your Challenge submissions, you have to type in the HTML, and it's slightly different code. I'd type it like this:

Jan vowed that she'd <i>never</i> feed the dog beans again.

And it would show up like this:

Jan vowed that she'd never feed the dog beans again.

By the way, there's a FAQ section at the bottom of these message boards that explains this and possibly other questions you might have...check it out!

[Ms. Barbie]

Jan, this virtual chocolate is for you in appreciation for doing this class! Fresh strawberries are in season now here in Southern California. (Very wet day today)




Where did they go? Ok, now they are back. Cue the Twilight Zone music

[Verna]

Jan, actually it is I having a hard time with italics---both places! I've read how to do it, but something hasn't clicked in this "old" brain.

[kmacor]

Thanks for helping me find this class, Jan. I think it will be very interesting.

The passage I chose is from Twilight by Kristen Heitzmann.

"Cal stooped to lower her to the ground, and she bounced away with tiny springy steps."

Salsa words: stooped, bounced, tiny, springy.

Rice cake version:

Cal put her down and she walked away.

[glorybee]

Okay, Verna, now I'm taking it as a personal challenge to get you to italicize.

Let's take the forums first--it's easiest.

You have to do it BEFORE you hit submit--while you're typing your response in the white box. That might be your problem.

1. Type out your complete sentence just as usual, without stopping to italicize.

2. Still in the response box--hold down your mouse and drag it over the word you want in italics, so that it's highlighted.

3. At the very top of the response box, there's a "subject" box. Ignore that--the NEXT row down has a row of square buttons. The second one has a little "i" in it. Click that.

4. You'll see some symbols added to your text, but it won't be in italics yet. But when you hit either "Preview" or "Submit", the bit that you highlighted should be in italics.

Let me know if that works for you, or at what step I lose you...we WILL figure this out!

[browniesgal]

Here Goes, What if I get this wrong I will feel so stupid.
But Jan is so nice she will understand! Now I hope I can get it right without another big oops when I submit for next week's topic. Hurray this might work!
Thanks so much, Ruth

Ps. Ok it looks like I had to disable all those boxes, if the preview is working properly! Thanks

[browniesgal]

Ok , What did I do wrong? Sorry, Ruth

[glorybee]

Hmmmm, Ruth. Good question; it looks right. Look at the boxes below your text box. Is the first one checked? If so, uncheck it and try again.