Guest Post by Janice Gillgren There are different levels of communication. As a writer, you need to be clear about who you are aiming toward.
Here are three possible levels:
• Personal, inviting and friendly.
• Informational; but still casually friendly.
• Educational and formal.
Most writing will fall roughly into these categories.
Personal writing is, well, personal. This can range from the not-to-seen-by-anyone personal to the published writing which is of a personal nature.
It could be sexually intimate, or casually friendly. It could be a note to your Mum; a card for your sick neighbor; a letter of thanks to the man who helped you when your car broke down.
While people might like to have a sneaky peak at someone else's diary, and some well-written diaries have been published; this sort of writing isn't generally intended for publication.
On the other end of the spectrum for this level could be those true-life inspirational stories that tell of how people have got through a difficult trial, or are pushing ahead to accomplish something great despite all the obstacles. The tone is friendly and inviting - or sometimes disturbing and even frightening - but there is a feeling as if you are in the same room as the writer, hearing and seeing the story played out before you. It is indeed personal.
Fiction is often written in the 1st person point of view to better convey this personal level of writing.
While this is wonderful for many stories, it is not appropriate for all, so let's move on.
Informational writing is probably the widest range. It includes such writing as:
• Most non-fiction.
• Some fiction - which may be using the frame of a fictional plot in order to say what life was like during a certain period in history. Historical Romances, for instance, often fall into this category.
• Advertising - often written with a casually friendly tone to help readers, listeners and viewers to be more attracted to the product.
Educational writing is aimed at readers who just want the facts. It's most often seen in text books, and has little appeal to the emotions of the reader. It tends to be 'dry'.
Is it valid? Of course. There are times when a reader just wants the facts, and to bring an informal tone to this writing might even cause a reader to suspect that the material is not correct.
Aiming for the right level - an analogy. Is it important to know what level to write for?
Imagine yourself now at a family gathering. Suddenly, your Great Uncle gets up to speak. He begins to relate some history about the wars of the 17th century, and talks for half an hour on the facts of who went in what battle and what armour they wore, and how many people they killed. Your eyes begin to glaze over. You try to be polite - but really; this just isn't appropriate for a family get-together!
Getting up quietly, you sneak out to the lounge. There are plenty of people chatting here. You're on your way to say hi to your cousins, when someone steps in your path. He's big, has a friendly smile plastered on his face, and he's in your personal space. You try to move around him, but he insists on telling you in a loud voice about how his Uncle overcame baldness using a special product created by none other than...
Squeezing between him and the seat behind you, you squirm away and escape. Finally, you get to sit and chat with your cousin Joe, who proceeds to tell you about how he and his sister walked the mountain track the previous week. Captivated, you urge Joe to continue.
Finally, someone is talking at the level you want to hear.
Write appropriately for the level you're aiming at.
Do you need help to write better? Do you want some inspiration to put your thoughts into words? Could you do with some encouragement to develop your writing skills? Click here to visit
http://www.wordsandscenes.co.nz by Janice Gillgren
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/7334650 ~~~~~
RECOMMENDED TOOL How to Start Your Own Virtual Assistant Business from Home offers easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions on just how to get your business up and running.
Check it out at:
How to Start a Virtual Assistant Business~~~~~
MORE ON WRITINGHow to Write Tight: Self-Editing Tips to Make Your Manuscript Ready for Publication Writing Goals, Detours, and Opportunity Cost
Writing Nonfiction: Using Quotes~~~~~
To keep up with writing and marketing information, along with Free webinars, join us in The Writing World (top right top sidebar).Karen Cioffi
Multi-award Winning Author, Freelance/Ghostwriter, Editor, Online Marketer, Affiliate Marketer
Writer’s Digest Website of the Week, June 25, 2012
Karen Cioffi Professional Writing Services
http://karencioffifreelancewriter.com/karen-cioffi-writing-services/Author Online Presence and Book Marketing Ecourse:
http://karencioffifreelancewriter.com/book-marketing-ecourses/ ~~~~~
I posted a bit ago about the photopoetry book I'm working on for an educational publisher. I got it turned in early last week, and yesterday I got the revision notes.
Now, there are several kinds of revision notes I get from educational publishers. The first kind is the best kind. It's where the editor says I nailed it, she loves it, and she has nothing further for me to do (or maybe just a few small wording changes). That kind usually only happens when I'm writing an entry for an existing series so I have something to match.
The second best kind is when I have plenty of work to do on the manuscript, but the notes all make sense and feel very doable. That's the kind of revision note I got on the photopoetry book. Some adjustment in voice, a bit of rearranging, and a few changes in material--but nothing overwhelming or earth-shattering. That's the kind I often get when I'm writing for a new series, as I am here.
And it's the kind of note I got yesterday. So now I can move forward with this revision, confident I'm giving the editor what she wants. Yay!
As for the third kind, the "you totally missed the boat with this attempt" kind? We're just not gonna go there.
Are educational writers the Rodney Dangerfields of children's literature? Sometimes it feels like we get no respect.
I spoke with a talented writer (published by several trade publishers) recently who's interested in writing for the educational market, as well. Her agent is not thrilled. Now, most agents don't handle contracts for educational writing because it generally doesn't involve royalties. My own agent and I have that same agreement--my work for the educational market is excluded from our contract. But she's fine with my writing for the educational market. She understands that I have to make a living. But this writer's agent actually doesn't want her to do any writing for the educational market at all.
This raises the old question: Does writing for educational markets help or hurt your career if you also hope to write for trade markets?
I think educational writing is getting much more respect than it used to. No, an educational market book is not going to win the Newbery or the Sibert. At least, it's highly unlikely! And not every writer for the educational market can also write for the trade market. They each require some very specific skill sets, and a writer might have the skill set for one but not the other.
But there are certainly plenty of writers who can and do write for both.
Sally Walker, writer of the Sibert-winning Secrets of a Civil War submarine
and also one of my favorite nonfiction books, Fossil Fish Found Alive, is also the author of many books, like this one, for the educational market:
And from what I can tell by the copyright dates, she has continued to write for the educational market even after being published very successfully in the trade market.
Talented writer and poet Mary Logue, who has poetry and fiction for adults and a fun middle-grade fiction series written with her partner, National Book Award-winner Pete Hautman, also writes nonfiction books for the children's educational market.
I'm really happy to see more and more trade writers also writing for the educational market--and using their own names. I hope that the old-school stigma of writing work for hire materials keeps fading. Being able to write quickly, accurately, and to a publisher's specifications should not be considered a bad thing!
I'd love to hear of other writers who have published in both the trade and educational markets. Are you one? Do you know of one? If so, please share!
by Maurene J. Hinds, Contributing Editor
Whether you write for children or adults, characters are the driving forces of your stories. What happens to your characters and how they solve their problems are the outlines of plot. A plot can be summarized in three simple questions.
1. What does my character want?
2. What is getting in his/her way?
3. How will my character solve or deal with what is getting in the way?
That’s it.
In order to answer these questions in a way that is compelling and leads to an interesting story, however, you need to know your characters well. Once you have an intimate knowledge and understanding of your characters, you can create interesting roadblocks for them while knowing how they are most likely to respond.
How writers choose to learn about their characters varies greatly. Authors’ personalities are as varied as the characters they write about. Here are some of tools and exercises that writers use.
The Profile A character profile is exactly as it sounds. It profiles everything you know about your character. Not all of this information ends up in the story, but the more you know about your character, the more authentic he or she will come through in the story. A profile can and should contain as many details as possible, such as:
* Physical description, including age
* Where he or she lives
* Favorites and preferences (favorite color, food, chocolate or vanilla, etc.)
* Likes and dislikes
* Hobbies
* Sports
* Occupation
* Family and marital status
A profile is similar to those email questionnaires that circulate among your friends every now and then. If you’ve ever received one of those emails, consider answering the questions about your character instead (whether or not you reply with those answers is up to you!).
The Interview This is similar to the profile, but conducted more like an interview than simply writing a profile. Consider it a “getting to know you” interview. You can talk aloud with your character (yes, many writers do this), or you can write the questions and then answer them as your character rather than yourself.
Write from the Character’s Point of View Get into “character mode” and have your character write about him or her. Invite the character to include as many details as possible. Include the types of information that are listed in the profile or conducted in a “getting to know you” interview. What your character writes may surprise you!
Talk to Your Characters Many writers do this. Yes, it means talking aloud, first as yourself, and then as your character. Allow yourself to “channel” the character so that his or her voice can come through as authentically as possible. If this process inhibits you, consider talking to your characters in places such as your car when you’re driving alone, or turn up some music in your room and hold a quiet conversation. The process can be surprisingly fun, and you may be pleasantly surprised at what you learn.
character descriptions character interviews Maurene J. Hinds writing for children Writing For Kids Writing Tipscharacter descriptions character interviews Maurene J. Hinds writing for children Writing For Kids Writing Tipscharacter descriptions,
character interviews,
Maurene J. Hinds,
writing for children,
Writing For Kids,
Writing Tips
.jpg?picon=694)