The Inside Story

As writers, we need to think of ourselves as the characters we’re writing about. If the main character is a raccoon, imagine thinking like the raccoon in your story. How would a raccoon express itself if it spoke? How would it react in the events/problems/struggles in which it’s confronted?

As you develop dialog and actions, imagine what the raccoon is thinking and feeling. That’s the heart of the story. Internal thinking and feeling—what’s going on inside the character’s mind—can be the opposite of the character's dialog and actions. Internal dialog allows the reader to better understand the character’s motivations, which adds to character development.

A character may agree with another character by answering, “Sure!” Following this with the thought, Never in this lifetime, triggers the true feelings of the character. The feelings and internal dialog reveal truths that allow readers greater insight into the character.

Exposing the character’s true sentiments can also be used as a method to lighten the story with a dash of humor or to advance the plot.

Let your readers listen in and raise the emotional level of a scene.

 Call for Submissions for Young Writers:

The Telling Room. Empowers youth (young writers ages 6-18) through writing.

Submissions guidelines at https://www.tellingroom.org/submit

Call for Submissions for Adult Writers:

Smarty Pants Magazine for Kids. We are taking submissions for children’s short stories (up to 800 words).

Submissions guidelines at https://smartypantsmagazineforkids.com/submission-guidelines/

Nancy Kelly Allen has written 48 children’s books and a cookbook, SPIRIT OF KENTUCKY: BOURBON COOKBOOK.

Leave a message or check out my blog at www.nancykellyallen.com

Know Your Audience, Part 1

In a recent post, I discussed writing to meet the needs and wants of a target audience. One of the most effective ways to target an audience with writing is to talk with members of a particular age group and simply ask what they like to read. Feedback is literary gold because the answers are authentic. Whether you talk with one or many, enjoy a friendly discussion on types of reading material and topics. The need of one may be the need of many. 

Knowing you audience is the key to the voice of the piece. Does an eight-year-old protagonist sound like an eight-year-old? If the answer is no, further revision is necessary. Imagine you were in an automobile accident. The way the character relates the details should be different according to the person s/he is talking with. If the character is talking to the police, a more serious tone would work. If telling friends, more humor may be expected. In fact, the character may brag to friends that he darted into traffic and tell the police that he stumbled.  

Either way, the character should mirror the actions/reactions and speech of a child the same age. The first question to ask is Who is reading or listening to this book? Adapt the content accordingly.  

Call for submissions for Adult Writers

Writing for Animals Nonfiction Anthology. Ashland Creek Press is currently accepting nonfiction submissions for a new anthology, Writing for Animals: An anthology for writers and instructors to educate and inspire.

From Franz Kafka’s Report to the Academy to Karen Joy Fowler’s We Are Completely Beside Ourselves, animals have played a central role in literature. Increasingly, writers are playing a central role in advancing awareness of animal issues through the written word.

And yet little has been written about the process of writing about animals—from crafting point of view to voice. Writers who hope to raise awareness face many questions and choices in their work, from how to educate without being didactic to how to develop animals as characters for an audience that still views them as ingredients. We hope to address these issues and more with a new collection of articles, by writers and for writers—but most of all, for the animals.

We seek articles from authors and educators about the process of writing about animals in literature.* Our focus is on including a mix of instructional and inspirational articles to help readers not only improve their work but be inspired to keep at it. Articles may be previously published and should not exceed 10,000 words.

The deadline is January 3, 2017. Accepted submissions will receive a stipend of $100 plus a copy of the finished book upon publication.

Submission guidelines at http://ashlandcreekpress.com/about/submissions.html

Ways to Improve Writing

Today, I’m continuing the series “Ways to Improve Writing” and focusing on character emotions.

A character’s actions can tell even more than dialog. A response that contradicts her words adds another layer of emotions. “Yes, of course you’re invited,” she answered, balling her hand into a fist so hard she cracked her favorite pencil. This works to elevate tension in a plot, as well. The reader feels the emotion.

When emotions run high, tension is increased and perceptions can be stronger. In a dark alley late at night, a character relies on all senses to guard against danger. Fear is shown different ways by different characters. One might not look directly into the eyes of someone s/he fears; another might stare wide-eyed. Some may sweat or shake due to the increased adrenaline. Does the character have a nervous tic? Make it noticeable in tension-filled situations.

Body language helps to develop a character, reveal emotions, and strengthen the story. Don’t just tell the reader the character is afraid, make the reader feel the fear. Describe the physical effects.

Think about a time when you were anxious, frightened, or panicked. Draw on those memories to write authentic emotions.

Call for submissions for Young Writers:

ONE TEEN STORY. Contest submissions will be accepted from May 1st to June 30th, 2015!
If you love to write, we’re looking for one great story. One Teen Story will consider original, unpublished fiction written by teens ages 14-19. We are interested in great fiction of any genre—literary, fantasy, sci-fi, love stories, and horror. What’s in a great short story? Interesting characters, a unique voice, and of course, a beginning, middle and end.

Submission guidelines at http://www.oneteenstory.com/index.php?page=contest

Call for submissions for Adult Writers:

Reader’s Digest Writing Contest. Contest is open to residents of the U.S., its territories and possessions, including Puerto Rico who are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry. Tell us your original poem, in 15 lines or fewer. The entry must not be lewd, obscene, sexually explicit, pornographic, disparaging, defamatory, libelous or otherwise inappropriate or objectionable, as determined by the Judges and/or Sponsor in their sole and absolute discretion.

Prize(s): One grand-prize winner will receive $500 and his/her story will be published in Reader’s Digest Magazine. Reader’s Digest will also select three (3) runner-up winners to receive $100.

 

Deadline: January 31, 2015

Submission guidelines at http://www.rd.com/magazine/poetry-contest-rules/#ixzz3MaCPeJpR

Today, I’m continuing the series “Ways to Improve Writing.”

If a scene can be deleted from a story without changing the overall plot, the scene is probably not needed. Consider rewriting so everything your character does results in repercussions. What are the consequences if the character enters the door with a sign: Do Not Enter. If the characters actions are big, so will be the consequences. Readers want extraordinary experiences when reading. The characters must take action. As writers, we cannot let the characters take the easy way out of the predicament.

Characters’ reactions should have passion and fervor if we expect the reader to become involved in the story. The key to gaining a reader’s attention is through the reaction of the character. Make the character curious and show this through thought, action, and dialog. Take the reader inside the character’s head to show varying levels of intensity. The character will be more upset with some events than others, and the emotional reactions well vary accordingly.

Reactions make the characters seem real. Allow them to have high and low emotions, to get angry or upset, speak out in anger, make mistakes, and react in way they later regret. Readers respond to characters’ feelings so invite readers to the emotional side of your story.

Call for Submissions for Young Writers:

 

One Teen Story accepts submissions from writers of all ages. Most of the stories we publish are by adult authors writing for a young-adult audience. While teen writers are welcome to submit during our regular submission period, we encourage them to submit instead to our teen contest, which opens on May 1, 2013. One Teen Story is looking for great short stories written for the young adult audience ages 13 and up. These stories should deal with the teen experience (issues of identity, friendship, family, coming-of-age, etc.) and should be geared primarily toward an audience of teen readers.

Submission guidelines at http://www.oneteenstory.com/index.php?page=submit

Call for Submissions for Adult Writers:

MONKEY STAR PRESS ANTHOLOGIES. We are looking for content for two mom lit anthologies 1) tantrums and babysitters, and 2) moms, children, and lack of sleep. We accept personal essay, creative nonfiction, flash memoir, and non-essay content including poems, lists, top ten, dos and don’ts, humor or inspirational, up to 2,000 words. Deadline December 31, 2014. One to two free paperback copies of the anthology and compensation ranging from $25 to $200 (to be paid after publication based on a payment structure that is explained and outlined in the contract that you sign).

Submission guidelines at http://www.monkeystarpress.com/p/call-for-submissions.html