Search found 124 matches

by violin4jesus
Mon Aug 25, 2014 1:44 am
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--TINY POEMS
Replies: 17
Views: 20885

Re: Be a Better Writer--TINY POEMS

Here's an entry where I tackled several forms of poetry from your lessons a few years back: Ode(s) To A Spider (Or Two) Here's my haikus in honor of California living: tiny hummingbird attempting to be boisterous quite hilarious hot late August wind stifling, oppressive, and dry turn up the A.C. idi...
by violin4jesus
Tue Aug 19, 2014 8:18 am
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--ADJECTIVES in the proper order
Replies: 14
Views: 18314

Re: Be a Better Writer--SOME THINGS ABOUT ADJECTIVES

I like the chart, too. I tend to err on the side of fewer commas so as not to interrupt the flow of my writing. Just personal preference, though.
by violin4jesus
Sat Aug 09, 2014 1:51 pm
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--LEARNING FROM CRITIQUE
Replies: 7
Views: 8838

Re: Be a Better Writer--LEARNING FROM CRITIQUE

Just as a side note, this story didn't place anywhere in the rankings. And I worked pretty hard on it before posting. So this is a great example of a "Huh?" moment when one thinks they have a good, solid piece and it just falls short. The standards are very high in the Challenge, and clear...
by violin4jesus
Fri Aug 01, 2014 11:47 am
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--DEALING WITH NEGATIVE CRITIQUE
Replies: 48
Views: 56109

Re: Be a Better Writer--DEALING WITH NEGATIVE CRITIQUE

It's still here: http://www.faithwriters.com/Boards/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=67&t=38177 and I get notifications when people comment, so that I can respond in a timely manner. Also, any comments will bump it up to the top of this forum. Feel free to start the conversation up again! j Done! :roll:
by violin4jesus
Fri Aug 01, 2014 11:46 am
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--GIVING AND RECEIVING CRITIQUE
Replies: 17
Views: 23093

Re: Be a Better Writer--GIVING AND RECEIVING CRITIQUE

I'm sorry, Jan, for not seeing this before. I must have been super busy in my own life and away from FW at the time you posted this lesson. One thing not yet mentioned about the benefits of the "little yellow boxes" - because they're permanent, they can help other authors learn from one au...
by violin4jesus
Tue Jul 29, 2014 8:18 am
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--DEALING WITH NEGATIVE CRITIQUE
Replies: 48
Views: 56109

Re: Be a Better Writer--DEALING WITH NEGATIVE CRITIQUE

She can start with mine because I already posted the link. :mrgreen:
by violin4jesus
Mon Jul 28, 2014 9:20 pm
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--DEALING WITH NEGATIVE CRITIQUE
Replies: 48
Views: 56109

Re: Be a Better Writer--DEALING WITH NEGATIVE CRITIQUE

I've always welcomed the critiques, even when it stung to have my deficiencies pointed out. But my image has always been too important to me, and I need that humility that comes from recognizing my weaknesses. I just do better the next time when I see what I'm doing wrong. That said, one commenter o...
by violin4jesus
Mon Jul 28, 2014 8:46 pm
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--TELL, DON'T SHOW? WHAT?
Replies: 42
Views: 45705

Re: Be a Better Writer--TELL, DON'T SHOW? WHAT?

glorybee wrote:Leah, I respectfully disagree--that story was lovely just the way it was.
Oh, you misunderstood me. I liked it just the way it was, too. It just used way more telling than I usually use. :wink:
by violin4jesus
Fri Jul 25, 2014 3:59 am
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--TELL, DON'T SHOW? WHAT?
Replies: 42
Views: 45705

Re: Be a Better Writer--TELL, DON'T SHOW? WHAT?

I get in trouble sometimes for not telling enough, but it's because I don't like long descriptive passages. I get bored, and want to skip over them. So naturally when I write I don't describe my characters or the scenes in detail. I like leaving it to the reader's imagination. I also like to keep th...
by violin4jesus
Sat Jun 07, 2014 8:40 am
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--BREAKING THE RULES, part 2
Replies: 24
Views: 23633

Re: Be a Better Writer--BREAKING THE RULES, part 2

Thanks, Leah! I love The Giver, too--have read it dozens of times, and I used to teach it, so I know it backwards and forwards. I'm highly skeptical of the movie--have you seen the trailer? It doesn't seem to resemble the book in the least. I'll watch it, because it exists, but I'm kind of expectin...
by violin4jesus
Tue Jun 03, 2014 5:46 am
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--BREAKING THE RULES, part 2
Replies: 24
Views: 23633

Re: Be a Better Writer--BREAKING THE RULES, part 2

Leah, you've posted recently with a few books you disliked. Can you list a few that you've enjoyed, and tell why? Oooooh. Great idea for a future topic. You can hold off on responding, if you want. :) Okay, I won't give away too much, but in general, the books I enjoy are very much plot-driven. If ...
by violin4jesus
Wed May 28, 2014 12:50 pm
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--BREAKING THE RULES, part 2
Replies: 24
Views: 23633

Re: Be a Better Writer--BREAKING THE RULES, part 2

Oh, and I just re-read the Divergent series, and she does use a lot of exclamation points. Probably overuses them. But since I found out that she was only 22 when she wrote the first book and 24 when she finished the third, I can give her a little grace. Though her editor should have caught that. :w...
by violin4jesus
Wed May 28, 2014 12:47 pm
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--BREAKING THE RULES, part 2
Replies: 24
Views: 23633

Re: Be a Better Writer--BREAKING THE RULES, part 2

glorybee wrote:Thanks for posting that page, Leah. I think I might have to get that book!
*Shudder*

Ugh - how can you stand it? It's like nails on a chalkboard for me! :shock:
by violin4jesus
Tue May 27, 2014 3:49 am
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Be a Better Writer--BREAKING THE RULES, part 2
Replies: 24
Views: 23633

Re: Be a Better Writer--BREAKING THE RULES, part 2

I'm all about breaking the rules in dialogue for sure. I think my written dialogue is probably my strongest area of writing, because I strive to make it realistic. I don't like long descriptions of characters (even just reading them annoys me), so I tend not to do so, and I get comments to that effe...
by violin4jesus
Mon Mar 10, 2014 4:53 am
Forum: Jan's Writing Basics
Topic: Conclusion #2--the 5th judging criterion
Replies: 40
Views: 58332

Re: Be a Better Writer--GREAT ENDINGS

I've done both. Some great endings, and some fizzl-y ones. Since I often typed up my Challenge pieces the night before or the last hour or two before closing of entries, I would sometimes be at a loss as to how to end them. One of my favorite pieces, A Place for the Lonely had a nice tie-in with the...

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