writer's beat issue #11

8/14/2019 Writer's Beat Issue #11

1/11

Writers BeatMarch - Monthly Publication -www.writersbeat.com A monthly newsletter for writers... Issue 11, March - 2007

Writers Beat Monthly Comic by Wade K.

W R I T E R S C L U B

Monthly Writers Beat Overview www.writersbeat.com
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2/11

Fiction Contest ThreadFlash Fiction

This month's challenge, should you choose to accit (and it's a toughie!), is to write a piece of ashction. That means a word limit of 200. So trim tstory line down to the minimum by any meanspossible (dieting, lipo-suction and exercise are alviable options) and turn it into a lean, mean ghtimachine.

oetry Contest Threadimerick

his month we'd like to tip our hats in honor of St.atrick's Day and the Irish by asking you to writemericks, which seem to be permanently associated

with Ireland. (Your limerick may but does not haveo have an Irish theme.)

You heard it from the mascot, so why dontou take this opportunity to win a contest andet published? It really is that simple. Youlle included into Writers Club and thats anfcial credit of publication. How awesome ishat? Pretty awesome if you ask the mascot.

Non-Fiction Contest ThreadUnspecied

Based off the overwhelming success that was lastmonth's non-ction contest, we've decided to con-tinue the rant, rave and ramble theme. However,we'll spice things up a little so no one gets bored bycutting down the word count to 1,000. Other thanthat, you have free rein, so have fun!


January Contests at www.writersbeat.c

January ContestsParticipate in a contest, its a chance to ll in those published credits.
http://www.writersbeat.com/http://www.writersbeat.com/http://www.writersbeat.com/contest-non-fiction-yet-another-unspecified-march-2007-t8970.htmlhttp://www.writersbeat.com/contest-non-fiction-yet-another-unspecified-march-2007-t8970.htmlhttp://www.writersbeat.com/contest-poetry-limerick-march-2007-t8971.htmlhttp://www.writersbeat.com/contest-poetry-limerick-march-2007-t8971.htmlhttp://www.writersbeat.com/contest-fiction-flash-march-2007-t8966.htmlhttp://www.writersbeat.com/contest-fiction-flash-march-2007-t8966.html


3/11

Non-Fiction Contest WinnerCongrats to OnceUponATime

n July of 1993, a legend emerges from the smallArizona village of Chinle. The diminutive gure,arrying only a wooden cane and a black um-rella, sets off down the sun-baked highway forseventy-two mile trek to the city of Window

Rock. Marjorie Thomas, a local celebrity alreadyor her series of Navajo childrens books, hasecided to take a three-day stroll for a muchreater cause: the children of Chinle. Everything

Grandma Thomas does is for the children.

he summer wind plasters Grandmas three-ered skirt against her legs and tears at the um-rella. Grandma keeps her gaze to the groundnd counts her footsteps. How many will itake? It is, at rst, something to occupy her

mind. After a while her mind shuts off, her feetrowing minds of their own. Her body soonecomes nothing more than a machine provid-

ng locomotion for her legs. A few of the curiousollow her and when they try to speak to her, herps remain shut. She continues, undisturbed, oner silent three-day journey. If she hears their

words, she gives no sign. A rivulet of sweatavels from her forehead, through the delta of rows feet around her eyes, then down into theanyons on her cheeks and disappears over the

liff of her chin. Grandmas face, rugged andrown as the land, remains solid and unmovings her spirit.

What is she doing, some ask right away. Shellie out there in the heat, say others. She couldave made her point in October, some of thelders opine as they shake their heads. Still

more Dineh notice in nearby towns and theiralopies park along the edge of the road. It seemshat some have nothing better to do than watch,ut every Dineh soul marvels at the elder-

womans mettle. Why is she walking? Everyoneasks each other that very question.

Meanwhile, Grandma Thomas disappears overthe hill, only the top of her umbrella visible for amoment, then it is gone, too. The children aloneknow what Grandma is up to.

By the time Grandma reaches another nativevillage, Ganado, she is limping. Her left footdrags with each step. By now the word hasspread. Cell phones jingle all over the Rez, and afew more jingle in local press rooms across theupstate. By the end of the second day, a helicop-ter from Phoenix follows the old woman. Thecamera pans her slow progress while facelessradio commentators take turns in the debateover her motives. The children watch and wait.Grandma had told them that by the third day,everyone will know why she walks.

And so they do.

Day Threes sun rises and Grandma becomesaware of her body once more when she glimpses

a signpost. Window Rock, ten miles. Nerve end-ings in her feet mend their connections with her brain as the town grows closer. Her limbs singthe song of pain. In her self-imposed isolation,Grandma has discovered a new land in thecountry of her mind. A place where the children,free from the inuences of drugs, alcohol andmalaise, could run like deer through elds of waving golden grasses. They fear nothing andno one, and the gentle breeze whispers messagesof hope into their ears.

In Window Rock the Dineh and non-nativesalike gather to greet Grandma. Her feet clump

across the asphalt, sometimes taking a full min-ute between each step. When she passes the"Welcome to Window Rock" signpost, a cheer issounded. Everyone knows why she has come.During her journey, over a thousand dollars indonations was raised, the money going into afund for a new youth center in Chinle. Shewants it to be a safe place for the children to goand be educated. Happiness, she thinks, iswrought by the learning of the old ways and thenew. Grandmas next conscious thought as shesits down in a wheelchair brought to her by theEMTs is that she only has a little time left and itmay not be enough. Only a thousand dollars has

been gathered, as the upstate media informs her, but it's a start. She releases a sigh and someonewipes her forehead with a cool, wet cloth.Twenty-ve million is needed, says the NavajoNation, and Grandma's contribution is but onlythe tiniest of droplets in the water gourd.

Twelve years later, Grandma completes her journey in a wheelchair, pushed by none otherthan the Speaker of the Navajo Nation himself.The Navajo Nation has nally agreed to helpher. Well, sort of. They will form a committee

that will think about helping her. She cries frofrustration and exhaustion as they wheel her

into Window Rock. The word comes about threaching her goal of over a hundred thousandthe fund. Twenty-ve million seems so far awDiabetes and other ailments addle her, breakiher body and leg muscles down. But her spiriintact. Grandma gets out of the wheelchair anhobbles toward an ambulance. Maybe in threlifetimes her mission will be completed. Aftetrip to the hospital, she goes home again, wondering if she can make the journey one moretime in the summer of 2006. Interest has wanshe knows, but as long as shes able, she willwalk for the children of Chinle.

April, 2006. She rests in her rocking chair, staout at the barren landscape of rocks and rollingolden hills beyond the village and thinks of youngest of the children, a boy with eyes aslarge, round and clear as the fall moon. Hischances of staying out of gangs and jail are slRight now, he listens to her stories of the an-cients with unalloyed wonder. She knows in afew years, his gentle, loving face will harden sullen sneer. He needs something to do, shethinks aloud to the elder rocking beside her,something with purpose. Until the day thesummer winds steal her breath, she says, sheplans to walk, roll or crawl from Chinle to Wdow Rock if she has to. The youth center willa reality, even if she suspects she wont be theto see it.

For the children and for all of the Dineh, theelder beside her thinks, Grandma Thomas wilalways walk in beauty.


oetry Contest Winning Entry


4/11

A shadow and a sillohuette,

walked side by side, but never met,

nd journeyed far across the sea,

efore a sunset faithfully,

or one is form, the other shape,

Where if a step two steps should make,

ut a single footprint in the sand,And they meet, at the sole

y Nathan

Your wok could be here as well, simply par-ticipate in the monthly contests.

You're walking away

my heart attached to your sole

like toilet paper

by Kriss


Poetry Co

Poetry Contest WinnersCongratulations to Nathan101085 and Kriss Nichol on their excellent and vdifferent pieces


5/11

Mother stops her gray sedan directly in front of the schools main entrance. Sheods to me before speeding down the road. We never say good-bye. I know thathell be waiting in front of the school at precisely three oclock, as she knowsll be waiting there for her at precisely three oclock. Its the joy of love: consis-

ency.

stagger under the weight of my backpack, only offering the smallest nod toOld Janitor, who holds the door open for me every morning. Ive never beenond of janitors. Still, I nd myself wishing that the school would provide uni-orms for all the students. Nothing too fancy, just something to concisely stateur identities, maybe even with our GPAs in parenthesis. This idea cementsself in my mind as I pass Drug Dealer, Drug User, C-Student, and Minimum

Wage Worker. Avoiding these people as best I can, I walk into the schools li-rary, heading to my usual table in the corner.

With a sigh of relief, I throw my book bag on the oor, and open my worn copyf Cyrano de Bergerac. Ive never really cared what Im reading so long as oth-rs instantly recognize the title, and nod their heads in approval. It makes i tasier for them to dene me as a young intellectual. Oppositely, whether theiryes light with recognition as they notice the name Edmond Rostand boldly

written on the cover, or whether their eyes furrow for a moment in confusionells me a great deal about them. In a way, adults almost make teenagers appearasily dened.

As I raise my head to turn the page, I survey the room for a moment. Withinhese seconds, I can quickly name every student present: Goth sits in a cornerstening to a Marilyn Manson CD; Drama Queen cries as she reads a text mes-age from her boyfriend; and Nerd One and Nerd Two discuss some sort of apanese game in hushed tones.

or some reason, people seem genuinely upset when I call them Sci- Geek nstead of Ted, or Makeup Obsessive instead of Christine. I never understand

why. Ive always viewed names as superuous. Whats the point of memorizinghem when everyone can so easily be categorized?

I begin to pick up my book again when she enters the room. She looks for amoment, smiles, and begins to walk towards me. I grimace slightly, wonderingif there is anyway to politely leave before she begins speaking.

Hey, Tom.

Hello, I murmur, somewhat awkwardly. Why does she always want to talk tome? She could be Beautiful Cheerleader or Gorgeous Senior.

How was your weekend?

Fine.

You say that every Monday.

I know. I cough, and begin to shift my book towards my chest. I should bereading a book, or typing numbers into my calculator.

Well, I spent almost all of yesterday working on that stupid English paper. Idont know how you manage to get a 100 on every paper. Maybe you could juswrite mine next time, she says with a giggle.

I think they would know it was mine.

Oh, I doubt it. How would they anyway? Were writing on different novels.

But theyd recognize my style.

So change it.

No, Id rather not.

Oh, she says, looking slightly annoyed with me. Her eyes suddenly light upwith passion. Shes often swept up by impetuous thoughts. Do you remembewhen we rst met, Tom? It feels like weve been having these little conversa-

tions for years.We have. Its been at least ve years since we both helped set up for the Dis-trict Band concert.

Oh, thats right. I remember now, you were helping for community servicehours for Junior National Honor Society, and I was just there because I was bored. Do you remember me there?

Only very vaguely. She wore a black tank top with a pink skirt that day. Shereminded me of Desdemona, seeming so innocent and pure.


iction Contest Winner

Fiction Contest WinnerCongratulations to Leon of Prussia


6/11

No, we are not going to prom, I manage to say. Youre right. I have too mucwork to do. You know that I am a potential candidate for a full scholarship atPrinceton? Im not going to sacrice that for something as frivolous as prom.Were just friends, ok? Well never be more than that. What the hell am I say-ing? I turn my head, and see her staring back at me. Her lower lip t remblesslightly, and her aqua eyes glisten with tears. With a gasp, she presses a sleeveagainst her mouth, and runs from the library.

I sit there stunned by what Ive just done, what Ive just ruined. The bell soonsaves me from the crowds accusing eyes. I stare at the ground, too annoyed to

mentally catalogue everyone I pass as I make my way for homeroom. I expectthe feeling to dissipate as the day continues, but for some reason it wont leaveBlocking the memory is simple, but the emotion persists. By the end of the daI begin to realize that she might simply be Paige. Perhaps she needs no othername.

These thoughts continue to swi rl through my mind as Mother stops her graysedan directly in front of the schools main entrance. With a sigh, I look down my watch. Its three oclock. Ive read Cyrano de Bergerac enough times to reaize that some people offer something far deeper than simple consistency, andthat nothing should prevent us from leaping across that vast abyss separatingfriendship from romance. Yet Ive always feared the fall. Im afraid I alwayswill.

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I guess we didnt really start talking though until freshman year when we bothigned up for marching band. She suddenly begins to laugh. Remember

when you and I couldnt remember any of the steps, so we wrote them inmarker on the back of our cymbal straps. She says this loudly. A few peopleook towards us.

Not really, I say uncomfortably. She looked charming in her band uniformhose three years ago. She was my pragmatic Mrs. Pembroke, and I was her

weak Rickie. Now shes too perceptive and clever for me to think of her as Des-emona.

look up to discover her frowning at me. I dont remember you ever being thiserious when we rst met, Tom.

I guess some things have to change. I didnt care nearly enough about myrades back then.

But you were in the top fteen!

And not the top ve. I never would have gotten into Princeton with thoserades. I try and avoid discussing grades with her as much as possible. Sherustrates me on this matter. She could easily be in the top ve as well, buteems to enjoy dating one jock after another, or spending her time shopping

with Pretty Brunette and Gorgeous Redhead. I look at her again, even morennoyed than I was before. Shes more beautiful than the rest of her friends, but

dont feel right about calling her Gorgeous Woman or even Pretty Senior. Evener spurts of idealism and kindness prevent me from calling her Mrs. Pem-roke. Theres too much else that lies beneath the surface with herGod, how Iate people who cant be stereotyped.

So are you going to prom? The buses nally arrive as she asks this question.As though an invisible gate has just opened, the library lls with students,many of them deciding to sit right next to us. I hate speaking when surroundedy strangers.

I-I havent decided quite yet.

Me neither. You know Jeff and Iwait, do you know Jeff?

Not really. How could I not know Dumb Jock 3? I never understood why they

were dating. He could never offer her the same type of future that I could.

Well, we broke up a while ago. I think it was about two weeks ago. It wasctually seventeen days ago during her 7th period lunch.

Im sure youll nd another date.

Well, I was actually considering going with a friend this year. Maybe you and Iould go?

efore I have a chance to reply, Loud Girl spins around in her chair to stare ats. Wait, you two are going to prom together?

Well--

Oh my God, I wouldve never guessed it. Erin! Kristin! Can you believe thatom is going to prom?

Really? I thought that hed be too busy studying. I guess hes too busy datingo study now.

Yeah, I always thought he was some kind of genius who read weird books allay. The sudden buzz of gossip seems to enthrall the passing students. Theoom has become too crowded for me to identify them all. Lets see, theres

Goth, Nerd 1, Nerd 2, and---wait, is that Nerd 4? Maybe its World of WarcraftGeek or even Thick Glasses. Jesus, why cant things go back the way they were

moment ago?


Fiction Contest Wi
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7/11

Describe the natural environment around the cas-tles. What plants and animals abound? Which arerare? What towns or villages are nearby? Whatforms of transportation are available?

Draw a map of each castle as it was in its glory.Map the roads, paths, villages, or even the country.

What types of boats do these societies make or use?Who do they trade with from other locations, if any?

Are there musical instruments? What kind? Wheels?Whizz-bangers? Whirly-gigs? Hot air balloons?

A natural phenomenon occurs such as a lunareclipse, an earthquake, a volcanic eruption, a largemeteorite impact, or an 100-year ood. How is itseen by the communities? What is the impact?

Who has committed murder? Who has died? Whohas lived longer than anyone can remember? Whotells stories? Write the stories, songs and poems thatform the traditions of each culture.

Who is in love? Is it allowed or frowned upon?Open or in secret? Who parents the children? Arethere children? What do children do? Work? Play?Get spoiled rotten? Keep silent and still?

Follow a child from birth to death. Is he or she goodor evil? What powers does he have? What is herpurpose in life? Does he live forever? Does she dieyoung? Who inuences her life? Who frustrateshim? Who does she admire? Who does he resent?

What would happen if a plague swept through oneof the communities? Who would live or die? Is therea religious or political elite that has access to bettermedicines or care? What is the medical philosophy?Magic? Science? Is a healer feared, envied, wel-

comed? Take any branch of knowledge and detailwhat the society knows about it.

What is used to enhance or change mental acuity?Alcohol? Herbs? Meditation? Physical stress? Whatare the important transformations or stages for themen and women? What rituals carry a boy to man-hood or allow a girl to claim her womanhood?

Imagine the castles are miniatures in a display in-habited by a very small race of magical folk. Howdid this come to pass? How do they hide from themaker of the castles? Or do they? Perhaps, the sceneis so tiny it is in a snow globe or a china egg with aglass lens on one end. What do you see when youlook inside?

Three Castlesy Katherine A Minden

Once upon a time, there were three castles or for-esses in an island country, perhaps a few days ride

rom each other. Where and when are they in yourmagination? Describe the climate and seasonalhanges.

Who lives in each? Are there classes of people or ishere an egalitarian society?

Describe some of the residents in full, includingwhat they look like, how they dress, their culturalnd educational backgrounds, likes and dislikes.

What religious practices go on here? What is theegal system? How are crimes dened and pun-hed? Are the communities run by men or women,r both? How are the roles of people dened?

s it a time of peace or of war? Who threatens theafety of each community? What strengths doesach one have in weapons, magic, knowledge,ommunication and other resources? What weak-esses?

What secrets lurk within?

s there a man who longs to be more gentle than hiseers?

s there a woman who will become a pirate andlans her escape?

f there were a treasure in the castle, what is it, ando whom would it matter?

Are there any time travelers here? If yes, why? Whato they bring with them?

s this Earth or elsewhere? If elsewhere, how manyuns and moons are there?

Are there any aliens about?

Who built the castles and how was it done? Deciden the materials, the technology available, the wayhe design was developed and by whom. How longid it take? How many generations were involvedn creating them? What caused the decline of theastles? Did the societies decline, move on, buildomething else?


hree Castles


8/11

Book of the Month - The Namesakey Cuteangel

Its hard to write a review about a book that has been internationallycclaimed everything that you want to say about it has already been said.till, I am going to try to give you a fair glimpse of The Namesake.

Written by Jhumpa Lahiri, thirty years of love, turmoil, deaths and nally ac-eptance are brought together in this fair-sized narrative. At its core it is a com-ng of age novel, with the Gangulis trying to nd their identity in a differentlace. It follows their livesan American family with deeply entrenched Indianoots and traditions. As the years go by, their struggles to incorporate Americanulture into their Indian customs are delicately portrayed, with just the rightmount of subtlety.

ollowing an orthodox arranged marriage, Ashima and Ashoke Ganguli leaveheir hometown of Calcutta and settle in America. By a twist of fate their new-orn son is named Gogol after a Russian writer who oddly enough, saved

Ashoke after a train accident.

he Namesakefor the most partfollows Gogols life and many (failed)oves. At rst, he attempts to distance himself from what he regards as his em-arrassing Indian culture and attempts to build a more mainstream identity.

However, as the novel begins to end, events are brought around full circle whenGogol embraces what he once rejected: his heritage and identity, in more thanne way.

Of all the characters, Ashima and Gogol are the ones we relate to the most. Per-aps it is because they are the people whom we see this book through. They arell at once endearing and strange; not one of them is perfect.

Gogol Nikhil Ganguli monopolizes most of the novel. His movement fromndian values to American and then back again is vividly brought to life. As itovers his struggle to nd an identity for himself, he is never in-your-face. You

nd yourself sympathizing with him, almost wishing alongside him that hisamily never nds out what he is up to. Gogols failed romances and manyirtations with vices never fail to keep you interested and engrossed. When at

ast he seems to nd happiness, your heart sinks when you realize it is not thease. And when he nally returns to his origins, you cannot help but smile athe way events have brought him back there. Gogol is of course, at the end of he day, someone everyone can identify with.

Ashima Ganguli is the solid Indian. All through her upheaval from Calcutta toAmerica, she has clung to her Indian heritage and traditions. At no time doeshe make any compromises on her values, sometimes to her detriment. Ashimas the quiet rock in Gogols life; her value is not realized until he loses someoneear to him. All through her sons transition from Indian to American, she is

steadfast and rm in the belief that he will one day return to his roots. Despiteher rigid grasp on her culture and at times annoying habits at the end of theday, Ashima is one person who can be depended upon.

Ill admit it. Being Indian, I was able to relate to this book at more levels thanaverage reader was. It was perhaps this bias that led me to enjoy The Namesakso muchat several points, I was able to grin at a particular scene and say tomyself, That is so typical. Despite this, I have tried to give it a fair review,trying to see it from the perspective of a non-Indian reader. I honestly think thaany reader who is interested enough to pick it up will be more than satised as

Jhumpa Lahiri is a truly international and multi-cultural writer.

So, should you buy this book? Let the readers themselves decide for you: Re-viewers at both Amazon and Barnes & Noble give The Namesake four out of ve stars.

In case youre interested in more stories by Jhumpa Lahiri, look out for TheInterpreter of Maladies, a Pulitzer Prize-winning collection of short stories.

The Namesake has also been made into a feature lm starring Kal Penn of VanWilder fame. The movie opened in theaters in the U.S. on March 9th, 2007.


Book of the Month - Namesake www.writersbea
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9/11

However, with non-ction articles it is not so easy to gloss over things. It isimportant to do a certain amount of research prior to developing your pitchI have heard of a writer who sent off a proposal to a womans health maga-zine that she regularly contributed to. The editor contacted her by phone,and asked to expand on her proposal there and then. Which she did, with allthe facts and gures she had researched. The editor asked her to write thepiece. It was only later she learned that three other writers had proposed asimilar idea. She got the job, not just for her skills as a writer, but because teditor was impressed by her knowledge of the subject.

Interviews and personal accounts : Doing interviews or personal accountcan provide valuable, rst hand information. Interviewing can be a bitdaunting for those who have never done it before. Initially the main problemis identifying subjects to interview. Advertising in local newspapers, postinup requests on web forums specic to your subject area, or contacting webauthors, or companies directly via email, or letter are all acceptable. Check out the 'contact us page', or the 'links page' on websites, many hold contactdetails for all sorts of people.

Again, preparation is the key. You need to know what exactly you want toknow. A polite, respectful enquiry, outlining what the limits of your researcand the reasons for it, can produce many willing participants. After all, whodoesnt want to talk about themselves. Tell them a litt le about yourself, as

well as the project you are working on. You need to be honest with yourintentions. For the sake of all writers who come after you, and for you inyour future career, integrity is a very important factor. If they feel betrayed,then you will not be able to use them again, and neither will anyone else.

If just making the approach is scary for you. Think of it this way. The worstthey can do is tell you to shove it, or ignore you. Either way you have losnothing and there is always another expert waiting in the wings.

What you can see and what you cannot: Some information is readily avaable through legislation. For example, in the UK, local Government, the Police and other Public bodies are required by law to have certain informatioopen to public scrutiny, on the other hand Data protection, or Privacy lawsand even National Security regulations may restrict the type of informationyour require. Yes, even little ol me is bound by the UKs Ofcial Secrets A

Each country has its own legislation on this and you would have to identifythis information for yourself. A quick Internet search will reveal a myriad oguidelines on this subject.

Library etiquette: Often your quest for information will lead you to the library. You may be able to have photocopies of certain archives, referencematerial and local historical documents, your friendly neighborhood librar-ian may be able to assist you with this. Always take a notepad and pencilwith you, in case this is not possible. I stress the word 'pencil' as many libraies do not allow pens to go anywhere near historical or archive documents.You may need to make an appointment to view certain material or to usecertain microlm machinery, or computer les. They will not thank you forturning up unannounced. It is best to check with your local library before-hand

And nally the Internet: There is no doubt that over the last twenty yearsthe Internet has become the biggest and most easily accessible source of in-formation. This however, does come with a very big health warningforevery true fact that you nd there will be dozens of bogus ones. Whereverpossible try and verify your ndings before you use them, it will save youembarrassment and protect your reputation in the long run.

*(The Collins Paperback Dictionary reprint 2002)

Research by StarpandaResearch n. 1 the systematic investigation to establish facts or collect information on

subject. 2 vb. to carry out investigations into a subject.

Whether you are thinking of writing a piece of non-ction or ction,esearch will undoubtedly play a big part in its development. There are two

main reasons why writers do research, - to identify facts and evidence aboutspecic subject, or to generate ideas. No matter the type of work you areoping to complete, there are some tips to help you when you are doing youresearch.

Dening the boundaries of your research: This is a big one for me. For someeason, I have it in my head that I need to know the ins and outs of a gnat'sear-end, before I feel I have the authority to write about a particular subject.his has, over the years, resulted in archive boxes in the attic, full of articles,rinted out web pages, newspaper clippings and reams and reams of notes. Iave had to curb myself. In fact, I have resorted to a note above my desk thatays, You dont have to be a surgeon to write about one.

Deciding beforehand exactly how much information you need and what youeed to discover, does cut down on the need for storage, or the need to moveouse, and more importantly, saves you more time to actually do the writing.

With non-ction pieces, the parameters for research are generally straight-orward. It should be no different for ction writers pieces. Look at it from aeaders point of view and ask yourself how much do they need to know.

f you are researching for ideas, scoping out the l imits of the research is a bitickier. I would start of with some idea of a subject, if not, then think about. What interests you? Whats the next big thing? What is popular rightow? Read general, all-encompassing articles, books and web pages. Theny and pin it down further. Is there anything new here? Can you give it aifferent slant?

Write what you know: This can be difcult for the ction writer. I tend towrite in the horror genre. Although I have had some pretty hairy momentsn my life, I can honestly say that I have never been stuck in a small room

with a serial killer, or been approached by a charismatic vampire, or hadunch with a demon (to my knowledge anyway). So writing about what younow needs to be done a little more creatively. Taking my surgeon analogylittle further as an example, what would we know about doing a particu-

arly serious procedure? Probably nothing, but what we do know is that theurgeon is human and would have human feelings. We can all extrapolatehe feelings of nervous anxiety of doing something new, the fear of failure, of eing scrutinized, feelings of responsibility. Concentrating on that elementnd adding the researched facts of the medical condition, some basic operat-ng theatre procedures and the risks associated with the procedure, we canegin to write a scene with conviction, without having to do seven years of

medical school.


he Collins Paperback Dictionary www.writersbeat.com
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10/11

Force, in this context, refers to events occurring; Mass refers to the size of tobject affected. It's harder to make a country change its direction than itwould be to change a town's mind, or a family's. Many people nd them-selves easily swayed by a speech, or a taunt; to affect much larger groups,something truly stunning must occur. Though there aren't any exact ruleshere one country-declaring-war equals three related-bombing-incidents many stories are made weaker because they insist on too little changing toomuch. Try and keep some context.

Rule Three: For Every Action, There Is An Equal And OppositeReaction

Worlds are not isolated in nature: a single death, for instance, might make atown go into mourning for a long time to come. Any time something occursit changes other things which, of course, is extremely useful for plot deveopment. While it can be a great aid in some cases, it needs to be treated witrespect. If you ever ignore this rule just once, readers will be jarred out of their suspended disbelief. Not a good thing, you can be sure.

Why does this matter? Because in writing, you want your plot to stay asrealistic as possible. You know what you want to do, but you can't just jumpto it: not if you want to stay believable. Newton's Three Laws might not bethe most detailed guide; they might not be perfectly accurate, but they makfor three easy and quick guidelines you can use to keep your plot under youcontrol.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I know I probably paraphrased some of Newton's LawPhysics majors, please forgive me.

Plot According to Newtony Ronox

erhaps the most essential part of any story is the plot. Plot, of course, is aather vague concept: it tends to emerge on its own once characters are inlace, sometimes of its own accord. Despite this, there are usually parts of atory that don't advance without a bit of prodding. These parts are usuallyery difcult to handle: why are those orphans trying to kill the president?hey denitely ARE doing it after all, that's why the wizard nd himself

reed again. But why?

One thing writers often forget is this: despite their story being a medievalantasy / Star Trek ripoff, people tend to act the same, no matter where theyre from, and what they know. I've found that one of the best ways to keephings in perspective is to rely on Isaac Newton's famous three laws of mo-on. Just as objects follow a few rules regarding the way they move, so doharacters tend to follow a pattern regarding how they act. Hopefully, thesehree laws will help writers explain to their readers just why people are do-ng what they do.

Rule One: All Characters Have Inertia

Most people don't just randomly decide to do something: they need to have aeason for changing their daily routine. It might not be something huge:erhaps Joe wants to wander the world because he's bored. Then again,arger things tend to need larger causes: if Norman the peasant is going afterhe Evil Overlord, he'd better've had a few family members killed at the least.

Rule Two: Acceleration Is Equal To Force Divided By Mass


0 Plot According to New


11/11

In Appreciationrom Daniel Fischer, founder of Writers Beat:

really cant believe what Writers Beat has becomen just a years time. One thing is for sure, it couldnte where it is now if it werent for you reading thisght now. Every person has contributed to WB one

way or another. Whether it be creating content forther writers to take example from, by referringfriend to WB, or by being on the staff. I really ha-e to thank each and every one of you.

Writers Beat will continue to strive and becomeomething great. We have a great community herend I will never give up on you guys.

hope to see a lot of positive things happen this year.ets get some stories published, some books printed, andome authors to get known; lets make things happen.

just have to give another thanks to the staff, they are wonderful people and keep on contributing to the community in more ways than one. They help with everyingle aspect of Writers Beat. They deserve a thanks from me every single day. I encourage you to say thanks here and there to a staff member whenever you can.ust send them over a simple pager. Im sure they w ill appreciate it!

Text and photos are the property of Writer's Beat 2007.No part may be copied, printed, reproduced, or otherwiseirculated without prior permission of the authors.

Contact Us you d like to contact the staff there are quite a few ways to do so.

he best way is using the contact form on the bottom of the website.ocated here

he other way would to be contact a staff member via PM.

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writer's beat issue #11

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