WRITERS' Journal

Table of Contents
November/December 2005
Volume 26, Number 6

      .....Editor's Note, by Leon Ogroske 

In this issue we include different fundamental methods to creating a good story.

Hank Quense in "Story Construction" on page 14 explains how he builds a story. He shares with us what he believes to be the essential ingredients of a story and how to join together those ingredients to create a top-notch story. He admits this method might not work for everyone, but by adapting his methods to your writing style you should be able to form an outline that will help you put together your thoughts to more quickly create stories.

"Plants Can Make Your Stories Blossom" is not a gardening article. Have you ever read a story and from out of nowhere a character appears and you raise an eyebrow wondering if you missed something; wondering if the author omitted something? Where and how you introduce objects, places, or characters in your story can determine how effective they are. Subtly inserting plants in your story will enable you to create an intriguing tale.

On page 55 Lawrence and Suella Walsh explain how plot diagrams can aid writers in creating stories that tie many aspects together forming what may seem to be a complicated story, but in reality is just an organized story. Using subplots in your story can garner head-nodding approval from readers as they become involved in the intricacies of your tale.

Betty Ulrich, who helps judge many of our contests, also has some excellent insights into good story construction in her "Words…Tools of Our Trade" column. She divulges what the contest judges look for in winning stories. These concepts not only make contest-winning stories, but they are also concepts that can be applied to novels.

Five helpful articles on how to write better. It’s what WRITERS’ Journal is about.

The three contest-winners lists in this issue acknowledge poets, photographers, and short-story writers. Congratulations to everyone.

Columns

  4       .....Marketing Helps, by Janet Elaine Smith
           In the Spirit of Giving

  5       .....Massaging the Muse, by Lynne Pisano
           Tongue Twisters For Turkey Day and Other Holidays   

  6       .....Effective Screenwriting, by Christina Hamlett
           How to Improve Your Odds in Screenwriting Contests
           Everyone loves a winner. Especially production companies that look to screenwriting competitions as a resource for new material. Should you pay fees to enter a script contest? Who are the judges? Will you get feedback whether you win or lose? Such are the questions you'll want to ask when you get ready to put your work up against that of total strangers in a competitive forum....

   9      .....Photography Techniques, by Ronald D. Kness
           The Secrets of Taking Better Vacation Photos
            As I travel, one thing I constantly notice is the number of people carrying cameras. The other thing I notice is how many of those people don't know how to properly record on film or digital media their travel adventures. Learning how to take better vacation photos is the topic of this issue....

 11      .....Computer Business, by Colin G. West
           Using Microsoft Word, Part Four—More Useful Stuff
           The techniques outlined in these articles were tested on my computer, which runs Windows 98SE. If your computer uses Windows XP, one or two of the procedures may be slightly different. Nothing you can't cope with.

 44      .....Creativity Contests, by Dorothy J. Geiger
           November/December 2005
           At this time of year one often dreams of traveling to exotic and faraway places. We have three fabulous offers including a (a) trip for four to national parks, (b) a trip and pampering for two via "Silver & Blue," and (c) Hospitality and Service for two....

 55       .....For Beginners Only, by Lawrence and Suella Walsh
            Plot Diagram: The Structure of Your Novel
            Have you started your novel, only to put it down halfway through because you're not sure where it's going? Do you sometimes forget to include a scene about a subplot for four or five chapters, so far into the book that readers have long forgotten about that subplot? Is it difficult for you to see the whole picture of your novel, how the main plot and the subplots weave and interact together? If you haven't done a diagram of your plot structure, the chances are that your answer to all these questions is yes....

 57       .....Words...Tools of Our Trade, by Betty Garton Ulrich
            Plan to Be a Winner
            Have you ever entered one of the WRITERS' Journal writing contests? Have you been disappointed that you didn't win a first, second, or third place, or even an honorable mention? Did you ever say to yourself, "What in the heck do they want? What do I have to do to crack this challenge and win those judges' approval?"....

 59       .....WRITERS' Journal Market Report, by Laurie Graziano
            Something all writers realize at some point in their writing career is that some subjects and some subject matters are unpleasant. Yes, I am here to alleviate your frustration. It's not your fault if someone doesn't want to read what you have written because of the person you are writing about or because of the act the person has performed. But, bad news, your still have to make them want to read it....

                   Markets: Adventure Sports, Eastern Fly Fishing, Stargate SG-1 The Official Magazine, Time Out Chicago, Naples Illustrated, Greater Philadelphia House & Home, Bratz Magazine, On Wall Street, Encounter, Professional Collector.

Feature Articles

 14       .....Story Construction, by Hank Quense
            When Should You Write the Manuscript?
            As a subscriber to several fiction-writing newsgroups, I see messages asking for advice on a problem that crops up repeatedly. The writer—inspired by an idea, character, event, or scene—drops all other writing projects and throws herself into creating the first draft of a new story. After 1,500 words or so, the writer finds the story has run out of steam and she is unable to get it going again....

 16       .....The Importance of Being Earnestly Literary, by J. Birney Dibble
            Better Writing or Just Different Writing?
            I thought I was coming along pretty well with my writing. I'd sold a couple of dozen articles to sports magazines, including one to Field and Stream. I'd sold half a dozen short stories, including one to Saturday Evening Post and one to Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine. I'd sold half a dozen how-to articles, including one to Medical Economics. I'd published two nonfiction books and two medical-futuristic novels, all four by royalty houses....

 20       .....Turn Your Family History into Historical Fiction, by Helen Goodman
            Simple Guidelines for Preserving Your History
            The FIVE plus THREE formula will get you started. Make FIVE decisions before writing. Include THREE essentials for success....

 22       .....A Man of Letters, by Jim Couper
            Lexical Feast Features Zebus, Aas, Oes, and Quats
            Every Tuesday evening a gaggle of philologists gathers at Dorothy's house to feast on baps, orts, and assorted tidbits to be chewed and eschewed. Also on the menu is a soupcon of zebus, aas, oes, and qats....

 23       .....Two Important Lessons from the "Inklings," by Dennis E. Hensley
            Dual Fuel for Writers
            The hottest movies of the past three years have been The Lord of the Rings trilogy, based on J. R. R. Tolkien's novels. The most anticipated movie of the year is The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, based on C. S. Lewis's Narnia Chronicles. Obviously, these two authors were able to create great literature that has transcended time. I'm convinced we can learn something from them....

 41       .....Plants Can Make Your Stories Blossom, by John Mayres
            Raise the Believability in Your Storytelling
            Plot plants transport your readers into your world by writing back to the point from which you started....

Fiction

May 2005 Short Story Contest Winners:

 27       .....Blooey Pipe, by Cappy Love Hanson
            First Prize Winner of 2005 Short Story Contest

 28       .....Return to Bat House, by Emily Jean Carroll
            Second Prize Winner of 2005 Short Story Contest

 30       .....Atonement, by Patricia Shevlin
            Third Prize Winner of 2005 Short Story Contest

More Fiction

 32       .....A Private Reserve, by Kali E. Cozyris
            Honorable Mention Winner of 2004 Horror/Ghost Contest

June 20, 2005 Write to Win! Winner

 38       ....."Dry Bones"—The bottle was...," by Stephanie Peaden

Poetry

 46       .....Every Day With Poetry, by Esther M. Leiper
            "What about the New Formalism? Part Two of a Two-Part Column"
            Once upon a time William Carlos Williams, the baby-doctor/poet, quipped:....

 57       .....Esther Comments On..., by Esther M. Leiper
            The Winners—Aril 2005 Poetry Contest
            Congratulations to virtually everybody. This competition garnered many excellent entries with a wide range of intriguing ideas coupled with the poets' ability to fully explain them. Even spelling errors were at a minimum, though some poets miss on when to use an apostrophe to note the possessive. Example: