Writing Essentials: The Four Levels of Structure

We all know how important structure is regardless of what you're writing. It doesn't matter what type of structure you follow, whether you prefer three or five acts, or eight sequences, the structure is there to hold the story together. The structure will help you organise your story, the material, so that your introduction won't take up half of the story while the climax is spared a paragraph. What would happen if a building had nothing on some of the floors, or there were corridors that led nowhere and rooms without an entrance? Everything in a building is carefully arranged, so that when you're in there, you won't even notice it. Just like each floor of a building has an organised set of corridors and rooms, and each room has a door, there are also structures within the main construction of the story, structures that will help you organise the scenes or chapters, and more detailed parts of the story.

Writing Prompt: Current Issues

Have you read the paper today? Or yesterday? Watched the news on TV? Were there any stories that really caught your attention? Not as a writer but just as a person observing the news. Did something make you angry? Did something prompt a discussion? Were they talking about any people or events that made you react? Perhaps there's something that you ought to write about? Some deeper issue that you might be passionate about and could explore in your writing?

Introducing: Scripped

Scripped is free web-based screenwriting software (also holds stageplay, radio, TV and comic book formats) that you can use for storing your work online in order to access it from any computer or collaborate with other writers. There's an extensive writers' community, you can share your scripts and receive feedback or join in on discussions. Also, you can use the website to submit your work to screenwriting contests held by Scripped.com where they invite producers, writers, and other professionals to come and find new talent and great scripts.
There's a 30 free trial followed by a monthly fee.

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Writing Exercise: Two Reactions

Create a scene involving two characters, using minimal dialogue. The scene takes place in a small shop, it's late and there are not too many people around. The two characters are a Shop Assistant and a Client. Create different version of the scene, always creating two reactions for the Shop Assistant: the first impression and a change.

Writing Tip: Keep Asking Questions

In order to write an engaging and clear story, the writer should keep asking as many questions as possible at any stage of development. You should write at least one draft to get your thoughts and the story flowing before beginning to dig deeper. The most important questions are about characters and the relationships between them because it's the characters that the reader is following.
Here are some examples:

Writing Tip: Defamiliarisation

The term 'ostranenie' in Russian means 'making strange' or 'defamiliarisation'. Defamiliarisation occurs when the writer makes something trivial or habitual seems strange and unfamiliar to the reader as if it's perceived for the first time.

Her Last Meal with Jim

Write Anything [Fiction] Friday Challenge for 9th July 2010

In her right hand a woman holds a loaded gun, in her left, a coin that just came up ‘tails’.
- It's all yours.
She holds the gun under the table, waiting for Jim to take it.

Writing Prompt: Recognition

Picture this: your character is at home, it's quiet and peaceful, perhaps it's Sunday. Suddenly the police burst in and your character is accused of something they haven't done. Then, your character and one of the policemen recognise each other.

Essentials: Character

What is a character? How to create a believable character? A character in a story doesn't have to be likeable but he or she should be recognisable. The audience will engage and take interest in a character they recognise and understand regardless whether the character is 'likeable' or not. Stereotypes come out of using the same elements and qualities that everyone will immediately recognise. The nagging wife, the school bully, the old granny who can't hear well. Stereotypes are recognisable but they are also superficial and a result of lazy writing. Using stereotypes is not encouraged but stereotypes should be analysed because they can be used as a stepping stone for building a more original and believable character.

Writing Prompt: Alone in the Crowd

Picture this: there are tens or maybe hundreds of people in the streets celebrating. It could be New Year's Eve or some local or national celebration. Show details of people enjoying themselves. Then, there are two people in the crowd who are unhappy.

Opportunities: Txtlit Competition (UK)

Txtlit competition accepts micro short stories every month.
Simply text the keyword STORY followed by a space and your micro story of no more than 154 characters to 82085. There is no limit to the number of entries. The fee is £1 per entry.

The theme for July's competition is 'Disappointment'.

Find out more here.

Good luck!

On a similar subject:

Tip: How to Keep Going

Stories are about who, what, where, when, why, and how. Keep yourself going by asking those questions at each stage

Writing Prompt: Off the Road

Imagine this: someone has driven off the road in their car and hit a tree in a field. It's miles from anywhere, it's dark and there are no lights on in the car to make it visible to passing drivers.