Mad Writers Workshop

Volume 1, Issue 3 ~ April 15, 2011

L Mad Hildebrandt — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 01:21:27 +0000

I’ve been incognito the past couple of months. I apologize for that. Today I have a couple reviews for you. The Power to Write, a writing how-to by Caroline Joy Adams is reviewed. Check it out, especially if you need a little help getting started as a writer, or find yourself blocked. Second, I’ve reviewed Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. I’ve enjoyed this little, paperback style mag for years. If you like mysteries, and haven’t ever read the magazine, you should. It’s a wonderful collection of short stories, brought to you every month. Finally, I’ve connected you to Robert Lee Brewer’s recent blog entry in which he provides Speaking Tips for Writers. Read on.

THE POWER TO WRITE – review

The Power to Write; a Writing Workshop in a Book. By Caroline Joy Adams. New York: Barnes & Noble, 2003. 180 pp.

More “inspirational” than “how-to,” The Power to Write seeks to do just that: empower the fledging writer. Getting started is hard, and that’s where Caroline Joy Adams assumes her reader to be…at the start of a writing career. To that end, she presents seven themes to help get the reader off the couch and to the keyboard.

Part 1 is dedicated to helping the writer create an ‘intriguing story’ and separates the book into chapters which she calls ‘keys.’ (Warning: this is a cute device. If you shy away from cute, beware). She opens with key one which encourages the reader to delve into their store of memories, experiences, and emotions. From this seemingly endless pool, the spark of story can emerge. Key two discusses the ‘powerful opening.’ Key three focuses on creating the most emotional experience possible for your future reader. Then key four has the new writer ask six important questions of what they’ve written thus far: what is the main conflict, who are your characters, when is your story set, where is it set, what events take place BEFORE your opening – but aren’t in the story, and why your story is worth telling. She goes into each of these questions in depth, and they are well worth paying attention to.

Part 2, devoted to helping ‘develop and refine your writing voice’ is comprised of three ‘keys.’ Key 5 helps you focus on adding sensual touches (sight, sound, taste, touch, scent) to your writing. Key 6 helps you look for your unique voice, and key 7 is designed to help you find the courage to share your work.

One part instructional, two parts inspirational, Caroline Joy Adams has created a nice recipe for a writing workshop. (Cute warning again: you may love her calligraphic inspirational quotes adorning each chapter. But then again, you may find them corny). All in all, this is a cozy little read. You can blitz through it fast, or take your time over a cup of coffee. My advice? Advanced writers take heed: this one isn’t for you. It’s for the beginning writer who needs a little help taking that first step over the threshold. If you’re just starting out, pick up a copy…and DO the exercises at the end of each chapter.

Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine – review

If you love mysteries, then you should be reading Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine (known as EQMM). As the January, 2011 edition proclaimed, the mag has been on news stands for seventy years! That’s an impressive achievement. They’ve achieved this record by presenting good, solid mystery stories in each issue. So good that many of them have won prestigious literary awards, including the Agatha, the Edgar, and many, many more. Nearly every year, since 1946, the magazine has included at least one award winner.

Ellery Queen contains a variety of mystery styles. These include hard-boiled detective stories, “cozies,” psychological suspense, crime noir, and more. There is a Department of First Stories, which debuts the work of a new fiction writer. There is also the Black Mask, which caters to Chandler and Hammett fans. The Review section provides a first-look at new novels, to help you narrow down your book store choices. And don’t forget the Puzzle – an action packed crossword filled with mystery.

Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine? Highly recommended.

LYNX – to My Name is Not Bob

Robert Lee Brewer’s new blog entry discusses what he considers the 10 keys (plus a bonus) that a writer needs to keep in mind when beginning to speak publicly. Now how many of us don’t want to present at a conference, or get on Oprah? Anyone? We all do! It’s a given, though we might be scared silly. In a nutshell, his hints are as follows:

1) Make your introduction brief.

2) Use the podium.

3)Use the microphone.

4)Encourage audience interaction.

5)Act confident.

6)Be organized.

7)Slow down.

Make personal, add humor.

9)Stop before you’re asked to leave.

10)Provide next steps and/or a conclusion.

BONUS)Provide handouts.

Read the blog in detail at: http://robertleebrewer.blogspot.com/2011/04/speaking-tips-for-writers.html?et_mid=332121&rid=2985750

Volume 1, Issue 2 ~ January 16, 2011

L Mad Hildebrandt — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 03:15:17 +0000

If you’re looking for quotes, check out all the new entries. I’ve gone quote happy, and have added a number of them under each topic – Beginnings, Encouragement, Blocked?, Rejection, Revision, Criticism, and Humor. Take a look. My favorite might be:

–Robert Frost

~ All thought is a feat of association: having what’s in front of you bring up something in your mind that you almost didn’t know you knew. Putting this and that together. That click.

_____

If you’ve got a mind to write children’s books you might want to read Writing Children’s Books by Lesley Bolton and Lea Wait. Take a look at the review under Review~Writing Books.

And then we can all gain inspiration from Colleen Houck’s unusual route to publication and ‘earning’ an agent. Read more under Industry News, and then follow the link to her article. She’s offering a contest for a free copy of her latest novel. Be sure to follow that link!

~Mad

Volume 1, Issue 1 ~ December 27, 2010

L Mad Hildebrandt — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 18:46:39 +0000

Welcome to the inaugural edition of Mad Writers Workshop. Previously, I’ve published a few articles in more of a ‘blog’ style. I’ve chosen to republish them in e-zine fashion for a professional tone. This first edition contains just three articles, all published earlier in December. Under “Industry News” you will find an interesting look at a guest blog written by Glen Scott Allen for Scott Sambuchino’s blog. Allen is the author of a new thriller called The Shadow War, just released in November 2010. Sambuchino is an editor for Writer’s Digest Books and the author of How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack.

If you want a quick quote, click the “quotes” button for a little inspiration from Kurt Vonnegut.

This issue ends with a review of The Write Type, by Karen A. Peterson. She’s a psychologist and brings her years of knowledge to writer’s block. Maybe she can help you.

I hope you enjoy this issue.

~Mad

About me

L Mad Hildebrandt — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 14:06:09 +0000

I am a professional researcher. You see, I’ve got a Ph.D. in history, and NOBODY is better at research than a trained historian. MBAs learn about business, MFAs learn about writing. Medical doctors learn about bodies and how to cure them. We historians learn about research. That’s all we do. We browse libraries and bookstores like word vampires sucking the wisdom from between their pages. Then we boil down what we’ve accumulated into a few meaningful lines and start the process all over again. We don’t observe people. We don’t play with numbers, or compute with ones and zeros. We are trained to do research. Nobody does it better than we. Strike that. Nobody does it nearly as well.

So, next time you’re at the library, or even the bookstore, and a gray-skinned creature passes you, pay close attention. Is she really a library morlock? Or is she a book vampire…er…a historian? Maybe she’s me.

And maybe, if you’re stuck, and simply can’t figure out who did what, and when, you can turn to this blog for a little research advice. What you learn can inform your writing, even if you never use it in a finished story, regardless of whether it’s a murder mystery, science fiction, fantasy, or horror. Heck, even if it’s historic romance, though that’s not my genre. Of course, maybe a guest blogger might have your answer, even if I don’t.

Welcome, then, readers, writers, and hopeful researchers. During the weeks ahead we’ll read and review histories, mysteries, and worlds yet to be. I’ll even throw in a contest or three. Bring something to read…I’m feeling a wee bit hungry.