The Plot Thickens
Free & low-cost cont. ed.
In this newsletter: plot matters free & low cost programs for writers Elle Hartford's “Love Letter to Writing” follow-up on ellipses & em-dashes with a writing prompt If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, go to the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of the page.
Plot Matters
The phrase “the plot thickens,” which has been attributed to Sherlock Holmes, actually first appeared in a 1671 play.* Generally it means that a situation or series of events is getting more and more complicated and mysterious.
This may be how you sometimes feel as you navigate the myriad of advice and trainings out there for writers. Two recent ones I attended illustrate this.
The first was a program on plotting memoirs like novels. There are good resources available about using the techniques of fiction, such as those for character, dialogue, and point of view, in writing personal stories. A ghost writer and publisher, the presenter was engaging and offered a structure she felt was superior to systems like the hero’s journey, save the cat, and the three-act method. Essentially her method was the four-act model, one I prefer because it helps avoid “the middle muddle” or “the saggy center” that can plague the 3-act structure.
The second workshop about the foundation of plot was a comprehensive overview of the terms and concepts of plotting (inciting incident, rising action, climax, resolution, denouement). There are lots of resources that can teach you these, but this presenter, a writer and a developmental editor, argues that fixing your work’s structure can fix basically everything else.
There were some key takeaways from these programs: 1. Whether you are a plotter, a pantser, or a plantser (a hybrid, between the two), plotting can be done at any point in the composition of your novel or memoir, but all editors will ask that attention be paid to your work’s structure when revising. 2. An elite 0.06% actually write, finish, publish, and hold their book in their hands since only 3% of aspiring authors actually finish their manuscript, and only 20% of those manuscripts see the light of day.**
How can you be part of the elite group of writers? By being persistent in your vision and writing practice and by seeking support and continuing education for your craft in writers groups and in workshops. In addition to offering opportunities to writers in sprint sessions and workshops I run, I highlight free and low cost programs out there.
February, with its increase in light in the northern hemisphere, is associated with the Celtic goddess, Brigid, benefactress of inspiration and vital energy. May you find the inspiration and energy to continue to grow in your writing and craft. Ellen
P.S. There’s still time to hone your writing and editing skills in my two upcoming workshops: Self-Editing for Fiction Writers (2/28) and Intensive Writing Workshop (starting 3/11) where you’ll get proven and hands-on activities to take your writing to another level and take your work through publication so that you too can hold your book in your hands.
Slim pickings for offerings, maybe because of school breaks, but there’s also still time to sign up for cont. ed. in publishing and marketing, as well as writing skills. Check these out in the Cont. Ed. section below.
* The Rehearsal by George Villiers; **pageandpodium.ck.page/tmmchecklist
Cont. Ed. & other opportunities (Events are virtual or in-person & open at the newsletter date. Most require registration.)
Tues, 2/20: Orange County (FL) Library System (OCLS): Your Self-Publishing Timeline, 7:00 PM ET. Free
Weds, 2/21: Jane Friedman Classes: Find the Memoir Structure that Works for You with Lisa Cooper Ellison, 1:00 PM ET. $25
Weds, 2/21: Sisters in Crime (NY/Tri-State Chapter): Now You See Me: PR for Crime Writers, 6:30 ET. Free
Mon, 2/26: OCLS: Revising and Selling a Memoir, 7:00PM ET. Free
Weds, 2/28: Ellen’s WritingEssentials: Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, 7:00PM ET $39
from Elle Hartford
WritingEssentials – rhetorical strategies
I’ve talked about the support Reedsy offers writers, from free and paid classes, to all sorts of services, including editing. They also provide a weekly challenge with prompts on a theme, and you can submit your short story in a competition with $250 prize.
Synchronicity? This past Friday’s challenge focused on aspects of silence, using the Greek rhetorical device, aposiopesis, literally meaning “be silent.” In writing, aposiopesis occurs when a sentence left unfinished, whether indicated by ellipses (…) or the em-dash (—), which we discussed in a recent newsletter. Here’s a fun exercise to do using aposiopesis, from a Reedsy prompt: Start or finish your story with a speaker unable to finish their sentence, perhaps overcome by emotion.