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2 Ways to Really Connect With Your Customer in Your Copywriting
Copyright 2005 by Bruce Carlson One of the least talked-about areas in copywriting education is voice. This is probably because its tough to set general rules for something thats so personal to each of us. After all, the same things go into...
A Simple Contest with a Strong Message for All Writers: Wake Up Your Writing Spirit
The Blogfest 2005 Writing Contest has only been running for two weeks and already the results are overwhelming. And not because were getting far more entries than we expected. Its because along with entries, were also getting heartfelt messages...
Don't Miss These 10 Must Know Facts About Promoting Your Website with Article Writing
Most all ezine publishers need fresh content. Article writing is something that gets tedious to the publisher who sends out an ezine every week. Fresh, unique ideas are always attractive, and ezine authors don't mind publishing others work, (along...
Earn Money From Freelance Writing
If your writing skills are not so good, or youve failed your English test on the high school, you may be feeling a little slighted about writing an article, report, sales copy or ebook. If its your case, there is a solution just for you. ...
Voice in Narrative and Dialogue - A Contrast of Writing Styles
One of the nice things about being an author is that we can break any rule we want. (I just did.) It's part of our job description. Language changes through usage -- definitions, spelling, grammar -- and authors can help it do this. But on the...
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Understanding The First Rule Of WritingBefore You Start The Great American Book
Chaos and confusion comes when established rules and procedures are not followed. Even mixing and matching systems to favor ones own position can cause a great deal of consternation. In writing a book, the first rule is to know and understand why you want to write in the first place.
In other words, you need to develop a theme that will answer the question of why you want to write. I usually get a blank stare when I ask a budding author, What is your books theme? Eventually the answer I get may be the title of a manuscript.
When I explain that a title isnt a theme, I then may hear, Its the story of my life. That is unquestionably the number-one answer I get. There is a big difference between the title of your book and your theme.
While your title may be the sizzle, the theme is the flavor and is formally defined as a recurring, unifying subject or idea. This is the aim or the main message of your book. Generally speaking, in writing there are two themes: the authors theme and the books theme.
The authors theme is the usual subject matter the writer handles, or the one the writer is most comfortable with. For example, a writer may find his forte in the subject matter of healing or forgiveness. Another may write most of the time in the area of spirituality or motivation.
Dont confuse the authors theme with genre, which is the category of writing. In addition to establishing if you are writing fiction or non-fiction, there are several categories your book may fall into. Some of the most popular ones today are biography, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, romance, thriller/espionage, horror, inspirational, historical, and courtroom drama.
Your books theme is what the
reader should learn most after reading your story. There are two answers that you as a writer shouldnt give when questioned about your theme: 1) This book is about me and the things that have happened to me; and 2) A rambling, almost incoherent dissertation that leaves one asking, Huh? Every author should ask and answer the following questions: Why am I writing? What am I trying to articulate? What kind of outcome will the story have on the reader and what is the outcome Im aiming for?
In other words, what is the rationale behind your book? For example in his bestseller, The Purpose-Driven Life(Zondervan), author Rick Warren, founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, takes readers on a personal 40-day spiritual journey to find the answer to the question, What on earth am I here for? To me, the most important element of your book is its theme.
Writing professors will probably disagree with me, and that is their right. In fact, some say the title is the most important. I understand, because all of this is subjective and mostly based upon personal preference. After all, there are many elements to creating a successful manuscript. But after years of trying to get would-be writers to complete their novels, short stories or even church talks, Ive discovered that nothing has helped to move them off the pot quicker than having a well-developed theme.
Marvin D. Cloud is founder of mybestseller.com and author of "Get Off The
Pot: How to Stop Procrastinating and Write Your Personal Bestseller in 90 Days." Visit http.//www.mybestseller.com and grab a free copy of the "Get Off The Pot" newsletter, dedicated to motivating ordinary people to write, publish and sell their books faster, efficient, and more cost-effective.
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| grammar.ccc.commnet.edu |
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| Writing lab and resources. Email newsletter available. |
| owl.english.purdue.edu |
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| OWL at Purdue University: General Writing Concerns Handouts |
| This page contains important links to the writing: planning/writing/revising aspects of the OWL website. |
| owl.english.purdue.edu |
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| en.wikipedia.org |
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| www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu |
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| NaNoWriMo is an annual (November) novel writing project that brings together professional and amateur writers from all over the world. |
| www.nanowrimo.org |
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| Poynter Online |
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| www.poynter.org |
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| del.icio.us |
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| www.bbc.co.uk |
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| Menu of articles on writing written by professional SF/F writers. |
| www.sfwa.org |
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| A concise guide to some of the most frequently violated rules of writing, punctuation, and grammar. |
| www.junketstudies.com |
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| nces.ed.gov |
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| Free online English dictionary and reference guide. List of sites writers can use. |
| dictionary.reference.com |
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| Daily and interactive writing prompts. |
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