tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81852839245365342892024-02-21T01:45:58.902-08:00My Manuscript Stinks SocietyA community of children's and young adult writers who find <i>acceptance through rejection.</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185283924536534289.post-61530236268632307582011-09-10T19:14:00.001-07:002011-09-10T19:15:32.777-07:00Magazine Short Story Writing
<a href="http://screencast.com/t/u8RznoE5">Revising your exposition</a> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185283924536534289.post-14062318300586146992011-03-29T15:52:00.000-07:002011-03-29T16:05:52.862-07:00Entwined by Heather Dixon (Released today, March 29, 2011)I met <a href="http://story-monster.blogspot.com/2011/03/coloring-contest.html">Heather Dixon</a> in the creative writing classroom. Since then I've had the pleasure of learning more about her--things like, she's a generous person; she's always learning more about story-craft; and she works hard.<br />
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<i>Entwined</i>, as <a href="http://bettyedit.blogspot.com/2011/03/rave-entwined.html">Betty Edit</a> noted on her blog, is the kind of book that's hard to put down. It's so well-paced, emotionally engaging, and rich that you continue turning pages, against tiredness and life's deadlines, to see what you'll experience next.<br />
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There's a lot to love about Heather's writing and storytelling, but here are a few of my favorites:<br />
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1. She hits a range of emotional notes and chords. She can take you from laughing to afraid to crying to hoping--all in a single chapter if she chooses to. <br />
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2. She weaves humor into the story's pages and beautiful flourishes that delight the reader. Her writing is stylized and visual. <br />
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3. The story-threads and tiniest of details are all important to what unfolds. They weave in and out and merge with other threads to create a whole experience for the reader. <br />
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4. She knows what she writes (not writes what she knows, although she probably does that too). In other words, whatever she creates in words, she first imagines, thinks about, researches, understands. This is apparent in the authenticity of her characters, the story's rich settings, and the natural and cohesive way in which the story unfolds--not to mention the dancing!<br />
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Take a look at some of the <a href="http://www.harperteen.com/books/Entwined-Heather-Dixon/?isbn=9780062001030">major reviews</a> for <i>Entwined</i> (under Critical Praise).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185283924536534289.post-51136562317063480142011-01-28T13:52:00.000-08:002011-01-28T13:52:04.298-08:00My Manuscript Stinks Society, 2011As promised, we've updated the look of the blog and added new content.<br />
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Check out the pages detailing the steps in the publishing process that run along the top of the blog. (We will be working on fleshing out this content for a while yet, but we do have the bones and a little bit of the meat up and ready to read). Also, make sure to participate in our survey on how you get rejected in 2011. (You may need to refresh your browser in order to vote multiple times.)<br />
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Soon, we'll be launching the <b>Stink It Up</b> challenge, so stay tuned.<br />
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We here at MMS are looking forward to a productive 2011 with many rejections and a bit of acceptance. We hope you are, too!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185283924536534289.post-61548858047931391512010-11-24T04:14:00.000-08:002010-11-24T04:17:41.416-08:00We're working on a new look and a writing challenge . . .. . . but because we're swamped, it probably won't be ready for a while. In the meantime, keep writing (of course!), and check back every once in a while. Some features that are available for use right now: the writing timer (it's a great way to get in at least 10 minutes a day of writing exercise); the magazine list (which includes submission guidelines to many children's and young adult markets); any of our previous posts; and links to literature on children's and young adult lit.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185283924536534289.post-19634384972818226032010-01-17T21:37:00.000-08:002010-01-18T00:00:58.433-08:00Writing Prompt: Playing with Food (aka Grocery Store Diction)A couple of us were wandering through the grocery store, looking for words on pre-packaged products that we could use to craft an inspiring message. We were looking for positive words, like <span style="font-style:italic;">Smart </span>and <span style="font-style:italic;">Great </span>and <span style="font-style:italic;">Stupendous</span>. We did find <span style="font-style:italic;">Smart </span>(Smart Food) and <span style="font-style:italic;">Great </span>(“great recipes included inside” on a peanut butter cookie mix); we also found a whole lot of words that were unusable but funny.<br /><br />So here’s the prompt. Go to the grocery store and wander down the cereal aisle, the cracker-cookie aisle, the candy aisle, and anywhere else that has pre-packaged goods. Scan the products for great words—<span style="font-style:italic;">scrumptious, hot, crunchy, cheesy, sloppy, sizzling, saucy</span>—and then write either a humorous romance scene (or something else) using those words.<br /><br />For an even more exciting experience, take a writer-friend along, and do the looking/writing/discussing aloud together. You may turn a few heads, but that’s the price you have to pay for art. :-)<br /><br />We would love for you to post your scenes.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185283924536534289.post-51188833902161043222009-12-09T21:02:00.001-08:002009-12-10T00:23:38.868-08:00Welcome New MMS Associate MembersWe would like to extend a hearty welcome to your newest associate members, who earned rejection letters from <i>Cricket, Spider, </i>and <i>Highlights for Children </i>for short stories that didn't fit the publishers' present needs. Welcome! You're in good company.<div><br /></div><div>In honor of our inductees, My Manuscript Stinks Society would like to invite members and readers to share their favorite rejection letter lines.</div><div><br /></div><div>Or, if you're not in the mood for revisiting your painful past, take a moment and recommit to submitting your work to publishers. After all, 2010 is fast approaching and to remain in good MMS standing, you need to earn 1 credible rejection a year. Do your part: Submit & get rejected.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, MMS also delights in celebrating successes (our motto, after all, is <i>acceptance through rejection</i>). We'd like to congratulate member Heather Dixon on her book deal with <a href="http://www.harpercollins.com/imprints/index.aspx?imprintid=517996">Greenwillow</a>; her exquisitely crafted first novel will be published winter 2011. We'll keep you posted.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Happy writing!</div><div><br /></div><div>P.S. We've just joined twitter.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185283924536534289.post-78449318323710797782009-11-02T13:11:00.000-08:002009-12-09T20:49:42.766-08:00100 DAYS! The end is in sight.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59_UCXXa8KdEtN3uQfFiSHDjZZnBbJcgLkpJkyuW2ZU3aGBmHtxeZAEbn6tAWwEgWs0BJEQNA69LO9fjp-QBf37HTcQoBeER6EsS4aQcNwDNbKNCDUs9hadlkNLThTgK1mD2ogJPBIGER/s1600-h/MMS+100+days+mobile+COLOR.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 285px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59_UCXXa8KdEtN3uQfFiSHDjZZnBbJcgLkpJkyuW2ZU3aGBmHtxeZAEbn6tAWwEgWs0BJEQNA69LO9fjp-QBf37HTcQoBeER6EsS4aQcNwDNbKNCDUs9hadlkNLThTgK1mD2ogJPBIGER/s400/MMS+100+days+mobile+COLOR.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413460299465098226" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Days #95 - #100</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Five goals:</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Write for fifteen minutes: evaluate where your current writing project is and set specific goals for completing it.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. Write for fifteen minutes: accomplish a goal that you set as part of #1.</div><div><br /></div><div>3. Write for fifteen minutes: focus on description, imagery, sensory details.</div><div><br /></div><div>4. Write for fifteen minutes: accomplish a goal that you set as part of #1.</div><div><br /></div><div>5. Write for fifteen minutes: celebrate yourself--list what you're good at (e.g., character development, imagery, sentence structure, setting details). Then celebrate--go out to dinner, take a walk, buy something--the completion of 100 days.</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, and post however you did HERE. We'd love to hear the progress you made.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185283924536534289.post-75424367508676942442009-10-25T23:59:00.000-07:002009-10-26T00:18:33.626-07:00100 Days to More Brilliant Writing: Week #19<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Monday, October 26 - Sunday, November 1 * Days 91-95</span></div><div><br /></div>On at least one day this week, set your current project aside and write something entirely new and unplanned. In other words, this week, practice creativity.<div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185283924536534289.post-58213854265190073872009-10-19T16:44:00.000-07:002009-10-26T00:15:27.150-07:00100 Days to More Brilliant Writing: Week #18<i>Monday, October 19 - Sunday, October 25 * Days 86-90</i><br /><br />This is the third to last week! You can do it!<br /><br />If any of you are like me, there was most likely a prompt during these past 18 weeks that you thought looked interesting, but didn't do for one reason or another. This week's prompt is to do that prompt you didn't do.<br /><br />For those of you who have done all the prompts, call me and I will buy you an ice cream cone.<br /><br />Thanks to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">whirligigdaisy</span> for this idea!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185283924536534289.post-64659106459088090862009-10-12T03:00:00.000-07:002009-10-12T03:00:06.993-07:00100 Days to More Brilliant Writing: Week #17<div>Monday, October 12 - Sunday, October 18 * Days 81-85</div><div><br /></div><div>We're down to the last four weeks! Time to shake things up a bit. This week's prompt:</div><div><br /></div><div>If you primarily write using a computer, write by hand at least one day this week.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you write primarily by hand, write on the computer one day this week.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you use both methods equally, or are morally opposed to writing/typing (whichever is not your norm), try writing in a new location. This can be a new location in your home, a new location in your yard, a new location in your town, etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>Post any interesting discoveries you make about your writing, an excerpt from your writing, or whatever you want.</div><div><br /></div><div>Complete this prompt and you earn the title Ambicompositional.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185283924536534289.post-86612679875293156462009-10-05T16:41:00.000-07:002009-10-05T17:03:10.574-07:00100 Days to More Brilliant Writing: Week #16<i>Monday, October 5 - Sunday, October 11 * Days 76-80</i><div><br /></div><div>Think of a scene you are working on that you would like to be more visual. Go to <a href="http://images.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi">Google images</a> and look up a dozen or so pictures for reference. Rewrite the scene after studying the pictures.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185283924536534289.post-51585143897721477822009-09-28T14:22:00.000-07:002009-09-28T14:27:50.683-07:00100 Days to More Brilliant Writing: Week #15<em>Monday, September 28 - Sunday, October 4 * Days 71-75</em><br /><br />This week's prompt is <strong>autumn</strong>.<br /><br />Do with it what you will.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185283924536534289.post-26805116001839203692009-09-22T06:59:00.001-07:002009-09-22T07:02:31.298-07:00100 Days to More Brilliant Writing: Week #14<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><div style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; width: auto; font: normal normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:7;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;font-size:48px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:16px;"><div style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; width: auto; font: normal normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-family:Verdana;font-size:13px;"><i>Monday, September 21 - Sunday, September 27 * Days 66-70</i><br /><br />Take a look at the magazine submission guidelines (markets) posted on the right of our website. Read through the submission guidelines for the ones of interest.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:100%;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px; font-size:13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-family:Verdana;font-size:13px;">Brainstorm ideas for a short story, nonfiction piece (article, craft, activity, biography), poem, or <a href="http://www.abcteach.com/directory/basics/rebus/">rebus</a> story. If you end up liking your idea, develop it, workshop and revise it, and submit it to a publisher.<br /><br />Complete this prompt and you earn the title of <span style="font-weight: bold; ">Marketeer</span>.</span></div></div></span></span></span></div></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185283924536534289.post-21978115710194700582009-09-14T09:48:00.000-07:002009-10-05T16:51:51.512-07:00100 Days to More Brilliant Writing: Week #13<i>Monday, September 14 - Sunday, September 20 * Days 61-65</i><br /><br />I believe we have hit the 100-day writing slump. Therefore, this week's prompt is not so much a writing prompt as an assignment:<br /><br />Post a comment to this blog telling what motivates or energizes you to write when you are in a slump. What gets you going again? What inspires you? What makes you actually sit down and pick up the pen?<br /><br />Complete this prompt and you earn the title of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bluesbuster</span>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185283924536534289.post-2816437369639315352009-09-07T20:28:00.000-07:002009-10-05T16:51:31.896-07:00100 Days to More Brilliant Writing: Week #12<i>Monday, September 7 - Sunday, September 13 * Days 56-60</i><br /><br />Whew! It's amazing how time flies, isn't it? Speaking of time, it's time for this week's prompt. This week's prompt is meant to explore the relationship between setting and character. I know you are all just quivering in anticipation, so here it is:<br /><br /><br />Choose a setting with which you are familiar, preferably someplace you lived or grew up, and create a character from that setting. Explore the setting to draw your character out of it: what sorts of people exist in that setting? What might some of their challenges be? How would someone from that setting speak, talk, or think?<br /><br /><br />Then, post your character sketch or a brief scene.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185283924536534289.post-2141322427646621642009-09-01T07:52:00.000-07:002009-09-01T08:16:40.170-07:00100 Days to More Brilliant Writing: Week #11<i>Monday, August 31 - Sunday, September 6 * Days 51-55</i><div><br /></div><div>Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to select a portion of a work-in-progress and have someone else critique it. This someone else should ideally be a writer-type person, but can also be an unwitting friend, neighbor, family member, etc. To gain the most benefit from this exercise, ask the reader specific questions, such as:</div><div><br /></div><div>What is the main character's motivation?</div><div>What is the central theme of the work?</div><div>Where do you see this scene/novel/character going?</div><div>What slowed you down?</div><div>What worked for you?</div><div>How would you improve it?</div><div><br /></div><div>Don't forget to keep writing every day, just 15 minutes! You have 15 minutes, right? If not, try writing in 5-minute increments.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185283924536534289.post-11925180508892341022009-08-25T00:14:00.000-07:002009-08-25T00:15:33.772-07:00Week #10: 1/2 Way MarkThis week, set a simple writing goal that you can achieve during the week. Also, set one writing goal that will carry you into the future.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185283924536534289.post-20224074757325930632009-08-17T21:47:00.000-07:002009-08-17T21:51:22.085-07:00100 Days to More Brilliant Writing: Week #9<div><i>Monday, August 17 - Sunday, August 23 * Days 41 - 45 (We're almost to the half way mark!)</i></div><br /><div>This week's challenge is to write while listening to music. Choose a favorite album or playlist or even a single song, and write, letting the emotions in the scene be influenced by the music.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you're up to it, post a snippet for us to read.</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy writing!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185283924536534289.post-11291149769984042452009-08-09T23:27:00.001-07:002009-08-10T18:20:32.938-07:00100 Days to More Brilliant Writing: Week #8<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:Verdana;font-size:13px;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.1em; font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; font-style: italic; font-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:13px;">Monday, August 10 - Sunday, August 16, 2009 * Days #36-#40</span></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; "><br /></div>This week, cut a scene (or a section of a scene, if you're so brilliant that you don't have an entire scene) that doesn't advance the plot or really belong in your story.</div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; "><br /></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; ">Thanks to Heather for the brilliant 100 Days illustration.</div></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185283924536534289.post-75225309190761930682009-08-03T13:13:00.000-07:002009-08-03T13:24:29.140-07:00100 Days to More Brilliant Writing: Week #7<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px; ">Monday, August 3-Sunday, August 9, 2009 * Days #31-#35</span></div><div><br /></div>This week focus on making progress on your project: write for at least 15 minutes a day, on 5 separate days during the week.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185283924536534289.post-61963748281632511602009-07-25T23:13:00.000-07:002009-07-25T23:17:10.160-07:00100 Days to More Brilliant Writing: Week #6<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Monday, July 27-Sunday, August 1, 2009 * Days #26-#30</span></div><div><i><br /></i></div>Choose one of your characters, preferably one you need to develop. Take 15 minutes in a quiet setting to sit down with your character and interview her/him. You may do this however you best can: writing everything down cold, thinking through the interview and jotting down notes, speaking aloud in the voice of your character (you may get strange looks from other people if you do this in a public place), etc. Be sure to ask her/him important questions (such as goals, desires, and fears) which will deepen your novel and further plot development; but don't forget to ask silly questions too!<div><br /></div><div>Then, post either part of the interview, or what your most startling discovery was. Don't forget to post your points!</div> <div><br /></div><div>Successfully complete this prompt and you earn the rank of <b>Journalist. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; ">(Add this to your previous titles of: 1. Copycat, 2. Wordsmith, 3. Adaptor of Film, 4. Mad Fish, 5. Shrinking Adverb.)</span></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185283924536534289.post-84352296183194008472009-07-20T15:09:00.000-07:002009-07-20T17:12:01.448-07:00100 Days to More Brilliant Writing: Week #5<em>Monday, July 20-Sunday, July26, 2009 * Days #21-#25</em><br /><br />Revise one paragraph of your novel or story so that each sentence does the following:<br /><br />1. relies on strong, specific nouns and verbs<br /><br />2. varies in structure<br /><br />(Read the first page of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Burning-Love-Louise-Erdrich/dp/0060928360/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1248134981&sr=8-1#reader">Louise Erdrich's novel</a> for a good example of this.)<br /><br />Successfully complete this week's challenge and you earn the rank of Shrinking Adverb. (Add this to your previous titles of: 1. Copycat, 2. Wordsmith, 3. Adaptor of Film, 4. Mad Fish.)<br /><br />Remember to <strong>post your points</strong> at the end of each week.<br /><br />And keep writing! Even one day is better than none!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185283924536534289.post-58735955471915044962009-07-12T15:50:00.000-07:002009-07-14T06:29:35.406-07:00100 Days to More Brilliant Writing: Week #4<span xmlns="" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><em>Monday, July 13 – Sunday, July 19, 2009 * Days #16 - #20<br /><br /></em></span></span></span>Pick a scene from a book that has a particularly high amount of emotion or passion. It can be your current project, but I suggest not using your end climax. Then rewrite the most intense part, but switch the mood. example: Romantic=Horrific, Sad=Happy, Anger=Joy, vice versa, etc. You may change words around, or tweak what is said, as long as it is done so in the same style of said book. And then, somewhere, include a fish as a prop.<br /><br />Successfully complete this week's challenge and you earn the rank of <span style="font-weight: bold;" xmlns="">Mad Fish.</span> (Add this to your previous titles of: 1. Copycat, 2. Wordsmith, 3. Adaptor of Film.)<br /><br />Remember to <span style="font-weight: bold;">post your points</span> at the end of each week.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185283924536534289.post-21439925866383592052009-07-04T23:22:00.001-07:002009-07-09T21:36:11.226-07:00100 Days to More Brilliant Writing: PRIZES!<span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Starting</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> with week #3 (see subsequent posting for this week's prompt), we're going to have drawings every once in a while.<br /></span></span><span xmlns=""><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Here's how it works. Each week, all of us write and all of us earn points (even MMS Society officers can participate):<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1 pt.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> for each day that you write for a minimum of 15 minutes (you can earn a maximum of 5 pts. since our goal is to write 5 days a week))<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1 pt.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> for completing the week's writing prompt<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1 pt.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> for exceeding our expectations in some way (writing for an extra15 minutes one day; writing for 6 days instead of 5; writing for 20 hours; etc.)<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Then,</span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> post your total points</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (out of the 7 pts. possible) </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">by the following Monday at noon</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, and MMS Society will turn each point into a ticket. That's right, we will hand-write your online name on a ticket, which we'll deposit in a container. Every once in a while, we'll draw a lucky writer's name and award a prize. And we'll certainly award prizes at the end of week #20, so you'll want to earn as many tickets as possible before then. (Tickets will accumulate from week to week. The only time one will be removed is if that person wins a prize.)<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">To kick things off, we are going to draw a ticket on Tuesday, 14 July. The prize will be an <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204);"><b>Amazon.com gift certificate</b></span>, so that the hard-working writer can purchase a film or novel (in honor of this week's prompt) for a bit of R&R. The gift certificate will be emailed to you; you can provide us with your email address if you win.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So, what are you doing reading this blog? Get writing! (We have a rather large roll of tickets to use up.)<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">But first, it might be a g</span></span><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:12;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">ood idea to read the instructions for week #3.</span><br /></span></p><p></p></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185283924536534289.post-59613701039317344202009-07-04T23:11:00.001-07:002009-07-04T23:11:03.433-07:00100 Days to More Brilliant Writing: Week #3<span xmlns=''><p><span style='font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt'><span style='color:#333333'><em>Monday, July 6 – Sunday July 12, 2009 * Days #11 - #15</em></span><br/><br/><strong>This week's prompt:</strong> Take a short sequence from one of your favorite movies, and re-write it as a novel. Pay special attention to the camera shots and where it cuts, as though the movie would be made shot-by-shot from what you had written. So if the sequence begins as a wide-shot of a suburb street, be sure to describe what the camera takes in--the trees and houses in rows, etc.<br/><br/><span style='color:#333333'>Successfully complete this week's challenge and you earn the rank of <strong>Adaptor of Film</strong>.</span><br/><br/><strong>This week's goal:</strong> Complete the prompt (1 point possible) and continue to write for at least 15-minutes a day on 5 separate days of the week (5 points possible). (If you exceed our goal in some way, you can earn 1 additional point.) Remember to post your total at the end of the week, along with any of your writing, thoughts, ideas.<br /></span></p></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3