Search found 45 matches

by GeraldShuler
Wed Mar 02, 2016 4:34 pm
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Purple Prose
Replies: 4
Views: 7188

Re: Purple Prose

I've got to admit, the biggest reason my writing isn't more purple is because of the 750 word limit in the challenge. The only way to get it down to size is to shave purple. There have been times my entry was nearly triple what the count would allow. Just for fun, Jan, I added some purple to a story...
by GeraldShuler
Wed Aug 19, 2015 6:29 pm
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer -- Last lesson on VOICE
Replies: 5
Views: 7513

Re: Be a Better Writer -- Last lesson on VOICE

Jan, I have loved these classes on voice. I've been told (in yellow box comments) that I have an easily recognized voice in my writing. Maybe I should stop feeling insulted and take those comments as compliments. I've been trying to NOT be so easily identified. Here is my homework: Jake had taken al...
by GeraldShuler
Mon Mar 30, 2015 5:10 am
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--MINI-CRITIQUES, THIS WEEK ONLY
Replies: 7
Views: 9909

Re: Be a Better Writer--MINI-CRITIQUES, THIS WEEK ONLY

This was hard. I had almost 400 hundred words and I had just started. Most of this sample was lost to the word count. I went with "homeless person" and "horrible weather." My original idea was to have the reader fall in love with the homeless man and feel bitter toward the ones w...
by GeraldShuler
Mon Feb 09, 2015 11:10 pm
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--A TOUCH OF POV
Replies: 36
Views: 36495

Re: Be a Better Writer--A TOUCH OF POV

Jan, I didn't realize it before, but, I have written far more first person stories than I thought. I picked three that shows some of the reasons I love first person POV. The first one was written in response to a lesson you did on POV back in 2009. I just wanted to see if I could pack some emotion i...
by GeraldShuler
Sat Jan 17, 2015 10:46 pm
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--PLAYS, SKITS, AND SCREENPLAYS
Replies: 7
Views: 9310

Re: Be a Better Writer--PLAYS, SKITS, AND SCREENPLAYS

I'm so glad you did this lesson. Writing skits and plays is something I have always wanted to do correctly but have never been taught the proper way. One skit I wrote is being made into a movie but I think it was just the idea they liked because they asked my permission to have it completely rewritt...
by GeraldShuler
Fri Nov 21, 2014 4:29 pm
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer -- COMING OF AGE STORY
Replies: 27
Views: 24130

Re: Be a Better Writer -- COMING OF AGE STORY

Jan, I have a question. I wrote a story about bullies that would qualify for the age part of your lesson. The last part of the story, though, takes place 20 years later. Would that disqualify the story for this topic? The story is Not What I Had Intended . http://www.faithwriters.com/article-details...
by GeraldShuler
Sat Oct 25, 2014 11:07 pm
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--SUSPENSE/THRILLER
Replies: 10
Views: 12163

Re: Be a Better Writer--SUSPENSE/THRILLER

I wrote a short piece called "Tick Tock" http://www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=74976 that I think fits the guidelines for suspense. The only reason I wrote it was to see if I could get some emotional inner turmoil realistically on paper (or on the ethernet, or wherever it is w...
by GeraldShuler
Mon Oct 13, 2014 10:52 pm
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--HUMOR WRITING
Replies: 33
Views: 32778

Re: Be a Better Writer--HUMOR WRITING

There seems to be a certain point of "optimal" depression where humor writing can flourish. I'm certainly not rejoicing that I (or other writers) am often depressed--just stating what I've observed. Gerald, what do you think? I think you hit the nail on the head (which is a cliche, breaki...
by GeraldShuler
Mon Oct 13, 2014 12:51 pm
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--HUMOR WRITING
Replies: 33
Views: 32778

Re: Be a Better Writer--HUMOR WRITING

Loving a Writer Ain't Easy http://www.faithwriters.com/wc-article-level4-previous.php?id=35121 The Way to a Man's Heartburn http://www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=78440 Jan, I am sharing two of my stories with a question about them: Is it common for humor to stem from heartbreaking situ...
by GeraldShuler
Sun Sep 28, 2014 9:39 am
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--FREE VERSE #1
Replies: 20
Views: 20597

Re: Be a Better Writer--FREE VERSE

This is one I did for a mini-challenge a few years back. The form is meant to flow like the ebbing waves on an ocean shoreline. It probably would have been better if I had read this lesson years ago so the poem would have used harsher sounds in certain parts and gentler sounds in others. Oh well... ...
by GeraldShuler
Sun Sep 14, 2014 7:58 am
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--USING IMAGERY
Replies: 50
Views: 54502

Re: Be a Better Writer--USING IMAGERY

Jan, here is a poem I wrote several years ago. I am submitting it in this lesson only because I have a question. Are all the guidelines for imagery applicable to poetry? Poetry is already loaded with excessive amounts of imagery, but is it the same standards as what is in any other style of writing?...
by GeraldShuler
Tue Sep 09, 2014 5:39 pm
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--MEMOIR AND 1ST PERSON NARRATIVE
Replies: 31
Views: 100599

Re: Be a Better Writer--MEMOIR AND 1ST PERSON NARRATIVE

The best example I found from my challenge entries was The Great American Cookie Heist http://www.faithwriters.com/wc-article-level4-previous.php?id=23009 It was all memoir except for the treehouse... that was only something my brother and I would have loved to have, but didn't. I also wrote one tha...
by GeraldShuler
Sun Aug 31, 2014 2:08 am
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--BIOGRAPHY
Replies: 16
Views: 18883

Re: Be a Better Writer--BIOGRAPHY

I wrote an entry called "When Mama Fainted..." (http://www.faithwriters.com/wc-article-level3-previous.php?id=21849) that was about a well know silent screen star. The research material wasn't documented but what was used in the story was from a hodge-smodge picking of facts from several p...
by GeraldShuler
Thu Aug 28, 2014 1:23 am
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--TINY POEMS
Replies: 17
Views: 20876

Re: Be a Better Writer--TINY POEMS

I wrote these years ago but I'll submit them for critique. First, a haiku: I see you flying in defiance of science stay free bumblebee Then three limericks (the last two just to break the rules :wink: ) A gallant old gent from Jafar Desired to buy a new car. He had money enough Although counting was...
by GeraldShuler
Sun Aug 03, 2014 11:46 pm
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--THE FINAL JUDGING CRITERION
Replies: 8
Views: 15493

Re: Be a Better Writer--THE FINAL JUDGING CRITERION

I know this is about how the "judges" look at the publishing potential of the piece, but here is what I have noticed in my own entries. The ones that get EC's almost always have comments from the readers about how they would love to see this made into a book. The 750 words has caught their...

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