Be a Better Writer--CONTEMPORARY FICTION

These lessons, by one of our most consistent FaithWriters' Challenge Champions, should not be missed. So we're making a permanent home for them here.

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Re: Be a Better Writer--CONTEMPORARY FICTION

Post by glorybee »

I haven't read anything by Maeve Binchy, so I can't really categorize her. If they meet most of the criteria above, then she's probably a contemporary fiction writer--maybe someone else who is familiar with her work will chime in.

The word "uplifting" makes me wonder, though. Although Contemporary Fiction may have a positive ending and/or a positive lesson for the reader to learn, their overall tone isn't generally one that could be described as "uplifting."
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Re: Be a Better Writer--CONTEMPORARY FICTION

Post by Deb Porter »

helen1975 wrote:My favourite author is Ireland's Maeve Binchey. Sadly, she passed away last year. I'm not sure if her novels would be classed as Contemporary Fiction or Chick Lit? They are mostly uplifting, with threads of reality running through them.
Ohhh ... I didn't know she died. I'm really sorry to hear that. (I just went and looked it up because I didn't think she could have been all that old--she was 72).

I think you're right, Helen. Probably a mixture of contemporary fiction and chick lit, and that would be fine. It just shouldn't go over the line into full blown chick lit (and there is nothing wrong with chick lit as far as I'm concerned). :lol:

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Sibermom65
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Re: Be a Better Writer--CONTEMPORARY FICTION

Post by Sibermom65 »

I missed getting anything in to this challenge - being new to FW I'm still discovering all the opportunities. But I do have some questions for another time - ho do you tell a story in just 150 to 750 words? Do you just submit a short chapter - no wait, my last one ran close to 2,000 words., so even a single chapter might be too long.
Second question, to post something as "homework" to discuss, I see we're supposed to post a link. So where is the posting to be that the link refers to?
I have a piece that needs to be illustrated with photos- is there a place or way to do that?
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Re: Be a Better Writer--CONTEMPORARY FICTION

Post by glorybee »

Sibermom65 wrote:I missed getting anything in to this challenge - being new to FW I'm still discovering all the opportunities. But I do have some questions for another time - ho do you tell a story in just 150 to 750 words? Do you just submit a short chapter - no wait, my last one ran close to 2,000 words., so even a single chapter might be too long.
Second question, to post something as "homework" to discuss, I see we're supposed to post a link. So where is the posting to be that the link refers to?
I have a piece that needs to be illustrated with photos- is there a place or way to do that?
Hi, Sibermom, and welcome to the "Be a Better Writer" lessons! I hope to see you here every week.

Hoo boy, that first question is a doozy. I'm not sure there's one answer that will entirely work, since we all have different styles of writing. This lesson on "tight writing" might be a good place to start:

http://www.faithwriters.com/Boards/phpB ... 67&t=37453

...and also this lesson on "self-editing"

http://www.faithwriters.com/Boards/phpB ... 67&t=38143

I'll recommend that you read through those first, and if you have any follow-up questions, feel free to post them here.

When I ask for links for homework, that really only works for people who've been submitting entries to FaithWriters for a while (either in Regular Articles or in the Weekly Challenge). Since you're new here, you won't have many of those yet, but once you do, if you have something that works for the homework question, you can link to it by getting the URL at the top of the article. Some people also link to blog entries or other places online where they may have writings posted.

In many of my lessons (but not the ones on writing genres that I'm currently posting), I have more homework choices--practice exercises in the specific skill I've covered, for example. But homework is always optional. Replies like this one, with questions or comments, are always welcome.

There's no way to include photos with your writings on this site--sorry.

If you have any additional questions, ask away! I love to help out FW newbies.
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Re: Be a Better Writer--CONTEMPORARY FICTION

Post by Anja »

Sibermom,

Another way to see how to write a story within the prescribed word count would be to read some of the Challenge's past entries, paying particular attention to Editor's Choice entries, which will have qualified on all counts for character and plot development.
Ann Grover Stocking

"What remains of a story after it is finished? Another story..." Eli Wiesel
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