To Outline or Not, part 4

More reasons why I outline a manuscript before writing:

Avoid Writer’s Block. An outline helps me break down the story into manageable parts and to see the story from beginning to end. Little by little, I know I can complete the manuscript without feeling so overwhelmed that I completely give up. 

More comprehensive coverage of a topic. When I write biographies, I add every major event to the outline so I won’t overlook or eliminate an important issue. In my dual biography, HAPPY BIRTHDAY: THE STORY OF THE WORLD’S MOST POPULAR SONG, I wanted to relate how the two Hill sisters’ parents influenced their work. I also wanted to showcase the impact of the song on national and international levels. Just a line or two on my outline allowed me to quickly determine that I included these elements. 

Writer motivation. Earlier, I discussed how an outline helps develop character motivation. It also offers emotional advantages. When the outline is staring back at me, I am more motivated to write, since I don’t have to sweat bullets in trying to figure out what the character will do next or what obstacle pops us to hinder his/her efforts. This is already thought out and all I have to do is write the scene. For me, the outline makes my work so much easier and simpler. Easy and simple win. I know what to write next, and all I have to do is figure out how to write it.  

Call for submissions for Young Writers:

"It's All Write!" Teen Short Story Contest. Restrictions: Open to Grades 6-12. Genre: Short story, and flash fiction, unpublished. Prize: 1st Place $250, 2nd Place $150, 3rd Place $100. 

Deadline: February 24

Submission guidelines at http://www.aadl.org/events/itsallwrite

Call for submissions for Adult Writers:

PER DIEM PRESS will publish a single chapbook of poetry in early 2017, eight 4” X 5”pages, saddle-stitched, with a cardstock cover. The poet will receive $1,000 and copies. Poets of every stripe are encouraged to submit eightish pages of previously unpublished poetry in English to Per Diem Press, 912 Cole Street #331, San Francisco California 94117. Submissions need to be received by February 28, 2017. All rights, of course, will be retained by the poet.

Submission guidelines at https://www.facebook.com/daniel.handler/posts/10154017560371837 

Nancy Kelly Allen has written 40+ children’s books and a cookbook, SPIRIT OF KENTUCKY: BOURBON COOKBOOK.

Small Publishers/Biography/Contest

Entering contests can pay off. I’m living proof. This weekend, I won a contest in which I had the golden opportunity to talk with literary agent Mark McVeigh. McVeigh had sage advice for writers trying to break into the publishing world. Here are the highlights of our conversation:

*Picture books are not top priority with large publishers but these books will make a comeback.
*Pitch to smaller, regional publishers. They produce top quality picture and chapter books and they keep books in print longer.

Check out McVeigh’s new blog at http://themcveighagency.blogspot.com/. Sign up as a Follower so you can keep up with the latest in the publishing industry.

In celebration of my latest book, Happy Birthday, the Story of the World’s Most Popular Song, I’m continuing with tips on writing biographies.

Choose a subject that interests you. If you hate baseball or don’t find the sport interesting, maybe a biography on Babe Ruth is not your best choice. When you select a person you want to write about, get nosy. Become a fact-finding detective. Sniff out juicy details. Most writers find facts from at least two different sources before using them in a biography.

Fire up the beginning with a bang. The first sentence should reach out and capture the attention of your reader. Babe Ruth was born in 1895 may be accurate, but is it fun reading? Does it fire up with a bang? Is the first sentence exciting enough for the reader to continue? Try beginning with a little known fact about the person or an interesting statement. Continue the flow as you weave intriguing and relevant [also called juicy] facts into the story.

Teachers, here’s a fun writing activity.

Make biography boxes.
Who would you like to see on the next box of Wheaties? Create biography boxes by pasting an illustration that reflects the person’s life on one side of the box. Write a biography of the person and paste it on the opposite side. The inside of the box can be used to store items that represent the person’s life.

Invite students to share their biographies and boxed items with the class.

Contest:

This contest will whet your writing appetite. National Public Radio is having a "Three-Minute Fiction" writing contest: http://www.npr. org/templates/ story/story. php?storyId= 123573329. The deadline is Feb. 28, 2010 and the maximum word count in 600. Have fun creating a story based on a photograph.

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