Sunday, May 11, 2008

Monthly Writing Challenge: May 2008

Write four scenes for a new novel or a novel-in-progress. Make sure that each scene creates a different emotion or group of emotions (e.g., scene 1) apprehension; scene 2) elation; scene 3) devastation; 4) joy, mixed with sorrow). Also, make sure that each scene features at least one strong image (try using all five of the senses).

Good luck! Feel free to post a note on how well you met this month's challenge.

9 comments:

Olive Kite said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
renée said...

Really? I did? Do I get a prize for that?

But I haven't been writing a cheap short story to send off for publication like I've been planning on doing the last month or so. The novel keeps asserting itself.

My Manuscript Stinks Society said...

Congratulations to MMS full member, Renee, who exceeded this month's scene goal (and the month isn't even over yet!).

My Manuscript Stinks Society said...

Who wants a cheap story? Our goal is to write QUALITY WORK, and you are writing a quality novel.

That's the point!

Rebecca Reid said...

I'm working on this: read my review of my own work and please share any advice you may have!

My Manuscript Stinks Society said...

Rebecca,

Congratulations on meeting the MMS challenge!

I think that it's good to make sure that any story (novel or short story) moves the reader through several different emotions (I would call this emotional pacing). When readers read the scenes, they should feel a complex array of emotions.

So, if you're writing a scene where your character is returning home--after a long absence--you might focus on what he feels about his return and what he sees or thinks. But you might not use any emotional tags (e.g., he felt nervous) in the scene itself. Instead, you would focus on the images and actions (e.g., he twisted the watch on his wrist back and forth).

Does anyone else have any ideas?

My Manuscript Stinks Society said...

Oh, and sorry, Renee, no prizes beyond the joy of having accomplished. Isn't that sweet?

renée said...

Godiva's sweeter.

My Manuscript Stinks Society said...

Accomplishment is deeper.