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2007-07-18 - Page Under Construction. CSFWG website archives will be posted over the next week. Please check back then.

Under Construction

	Plot Versus Focus - All books that are picked up for publication have one thing in common. They all have good focus. No, plot and focus are not the same thing. You can have a great plot, but if there is no focus, your writing isn’t going anywhere.. By Hollie Snider.

	Creative Writing 101: Show Versus Tell - Anyone who has ever taken a creative writing course or picked up a book on the subject has surely encountered the famous refrain: show, don’t tell! What I wasn’t so frequently told, though, was what exactly that dire entreaty meant.. By R. Michael Burns

	The Country in the Mist - In ancient Greek theater, whenever things got too difficult for the merely mortal characters to handle, some deity would intervene. The actor portraying the divinity in question often was suspended over the stage by some impressive mechanical device intended to make the entrance properly awe-inspiring. From this theatrical form of divine intervention we get the expression deus ex machina — the “god from the machine.” And in modern writing, it is generally considered a major cheat. By R. Michael Burns

	Writer's Block: A 12-Step Cure - Most of us have stared at that blank page/screen with frustration, knowing that we have good ideas, just forgetting where in the heck we put them. Here's a few ideas on how to cure the most hated writer's problem. By Hollie Snider.

	It's All English - This list is far from exhaustive, and it should also be remembered that in both the U.S. and the U.K. regional expressions and usages are common.. By R. Michael Burns

	This Article is Brought to You by the Fine Folks at Brand X - Brand names add a quality of specificity. Saying that Lisa drinks sparkling water is generally less evocative than saying she drinks Perrier. Familiar brand names can help define characters. By R. Michael Burns

	Talking Head Syndrome - Ever try to stay awake while reading a full page of strictly dialogue? This article shows how to add a little action to spice things up without ruining the mood. By Hollie Snider.

	He Said . . . She Said . . . Who Said? - Ah, pronouns -- those wonderful words that cry out to the writer, “Love me, use me, I’m convenient,” only to whisper, “Identify me.” Think co-dependent. Without a noun to depend on, pronouns get questioned and can’t stand up in the spotlight. They become vague.. By Hollie Snider.

	After the First Draft - So, you’ve finished your manuscript or short story. Congratulations, that’s quite an achievement. Still, how do you know if it’s any good? Let someone else read it. Scary thought, isn’t it? By Hollie Snider.

	On Honesty - It might seem a strange demand to make of an art which is, by its nature, concerned with making things up. But I would humbly suggest that honesty is vital to writing good fiction.. By R. Michael Burns

	Interrobang: The Forgotten Punctuation - Need that startled, questioning exclamation for your prose? A nearly forgotten punctuation mark is revisited. By Hollie Snider.

	How to Create Realistic Scenes Part 1: Physical Description - Having three dimensional characters is the key to a good story, but what about they interract with the world? This article tells the best way to offer description without overdressing the experience. By Hollie Snider.

	Becoming a Novelist -People have asked me, "How do I become a novelist?" The answer is easy; hard work. The process is not.Becoming a novelist is not like becoming a doctor or an accountant. College creates these folks. It does not create the novelist. By Hollie Snider.

	Writing Fiction . . . Why Bother? - Those of us interested in fiction talk a great deal about how to write -- and why not? Insightful analysis of our craft is an indispensable means of honing our skills. What we seldom discuss, however, is why we bother to write. By R. Michael Burns

	How to Create Realistic Scenes Part 2: Scene Versus Sequel - Scene versus sequel? It’s not what you’re thinking. A sequel is not just Part Two of something. Scenes and sequels are writing terms, and both are types of scenes. Confused yet? You won’t be. By Hollie Snider.

	The Fallacy of Minimalism and Transparent Style - The concept that minimalist prose is somehow the optimum stylistic choice. By R. Michael Burns

	Creating Believable Characters - Creating characters in prose is difficult, but creating three-dimensional ones is truly a challenge. This article helps authors get past the two-dimensional barrier. By Hollie Snider.

	The Art of Flashback - The tangled issues of when (and how) to use a flashback effectively are addressed. By Hollie Snider.

	10 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Writing - 10 of the most common, but often unmentioned, things about writing. By Deb Courtney-Bertha.

	P.D. Cacek Interview - I first met "Trish" Cacek at World Horror Convention 2000 in DColorado. She wore a fashionable black dress and an ape mask. I stared like a geek and wondered if I should introduce myself. She was,after all, the first editor to accept one of my stories for inclusion in an anthology (the Horror Writers Association’s Bell, Book & Beyond from the Design Image Group) and was also a frequent and friendly e-correspondent. But she also had a creepy ape mask on. It’s surprisingly hard to introduce yourself to someone in an ape mask.. By R. Michael Burns

	Spotlight on Books For You - A look at a well-stocked Colorado Springs Bookstore. By Henry Snider.

	Spotlight on the BookBroker - Colorado's largest New/Used/Closeout bookstore is showcased. By Henry Snider.

	Spotlight on the Front Range Fiction Writers - A Colorado Springs area critique group is showcased. By Sue Allen.

	We Made It - CSFWG members win awards, teach and enjoy the battle of words at the 2007 Pikes Peak Writer's Conference. By Matthew Maloney.

	Grammar Girl: "Split Infinitive" - The Grammar Girl answers the question of Split Infinitives. By Deb Courtney-Bertha.

	Grammar Girl: "Too Tense" - The Grammar Girl addresses proper tense usage. By Deb Courtney-Bertha.

	Grammar Girl: "Misplaced Apostrophe Syndrome" - A simple mark in the wrong place can have hilarious results. By Deb Courtney-Bertha.

	Grammar Girl: "Politically Correct" - The Grammar Girl address politically correct name forms. By Deb Courtney-Bertha.

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