Novel – Page 77

What is the Liebster award?

At first glance, it reminded me of an electronic chain letter, but without the associated pressures – it’s an e-social idea, it’s fun and does a marketing job for all who participate.

It’s an award given in the blogging community, to celebrate new blogs, or blogs with a follower count of less than 200. I found out today that the ‘follower’ figure is meant to be 1,000 – but that includes Twitter.

It’s also to encourage new people to blog and join in the blogging community as a whole. Our social blogging world, which is colloquially known as the ‘blogosphere’.

The word Liebster is a German word that doesn’t translate literally, but more or less means: kindest, nicest, lovely, dearest, sweetest, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcome. I’ve listed the connotations that were passed on to me, and I’m delighted to have been nominated.

The rules, should you choose to accept the award from the person that nominated you:

1. Link back to the blog that nominated you. In my case Princess of Dragons, and with that link go my thanks.

2. Answer questions that your nominator has set their nominees.

3. Share 11 random facts about yourself.

4. Nominate 5-11 blogs that have less than 200 followers to receive this award.

5. Create 11 questions for your nominees to answer.

6. Contact your nominees and let them know you have nominated them!

My questions from Princess of Dragons, with my answers of course.

1. What is your preferred cheese?

Cheddar.

2. If you could own an animal, what would it be?

An eagle, because I could set it free without worrying about it’s survival.

3. Mention one thing that’s on your bucket list?

I’d like to see a cure for cancer.

4. What colour do you think your soul is?

Transparent, so I can disguise my innermost feelings from the devils of the world.

5. If you could do any job for a day, what would it be, and why?

A farmer, so that I could enjoy a really long, tiring day and feel that I’d given something back.

6. Name one good thing that has happened to you lately?

I woke up – again.

7. What’s your Myer’s Briggs profile?

Dominant, Introvert, Sensing.

8. Quick, pick your weapon of choice?

Browning 9mm pistol.

9. When was the last time you cried?

The day after burying my dad.

10. What would you call the novel about your life?

A Life of Choice

Okay guys, if you’re still with the programme, here are 11 random facts about me:

1. I took up smoking in 1971 at the age of 19 – and stopped in 1977 at age 25.

2. When I was 17, it took me 6 mins 15 secs to run a mile. When I was 40, it took me 5 mins 15 secs to run a mile.

3. I taught my son to drive when he was 17.

4. Between the ages of 20 – 60, I had owned 20 cars.

5. I’ve driven (fast) around the old (long circuit) of the Nurburgring in three different cars … at different times.

6. I’ve had lunch with HRH Princess Anne, The Princess Royal.

7. I took up writing poetry in December 2007, and between then and 2010 I wrote 730 poems.

8. I type at an average 40 wpm.

9. I appeared in a national newspaper as a teenager, interviewed on radio in my mid-20’s, and interviewed on TV when 40.

10. I’ve had the same email address since 1994.

11. I produce my own A4 year planner every year.

My nominations (in alphabetical order) are:

Lynne: http://lynnelives.wordpress.com/

Phil: http://seventhself.wordpress.com/

Stephen: http://stephenthom.wordpress.com/

Veronica: http://veronicahaidar.wordpress.com/

Kathy: http://wktucker.com/

I’ll apologise here just in case any of them have more than the required followers.

Are you still awake? Here’s your questions guys:

1. If you could change your first name, what would you have instead?

2. If you could speak a second language fluently, which one would you choose?

3. If you could live in another country, where would you live?

4. If you could reincarnate as an animal, which would you return as?

5. If you had to lose one of your senses, which one would you lose?

6. Do you say, ‘the glass is half-full’, or ‘the glass is half-empty’?

7. If given the choice to turn back time, which year would you choose to be born?

8. Would you publish a 100% truthful autobiography?

9. Who is your hero or heroine, and why?

10. Stranded alone on a tropical island, which object from the modern world would you choose to have with you?

11. Give three words that best describe how you’d like to be remembered?

Well, now I’ve got that out of my system, I hope you all enjoyed it. Take it forward with the blessings of all who have gone before.

***

In Part 1, I suggested looking at the idea of writing a simple three verse poem as the basis and precursor to a story.

In Part 2, I added three more verses and it gave the story a little more foundation.

In this post, I’ll look at the main ingredients needed to write a short story. The other aspect of this, is of course to use the simple poem as a guide for the story’s plot.

I’ve got the basic story in poetic form, but I know even before writing the prose, the story may well alter from the one I started out with. That’s not an issue to be concerned about, because the main purposes of the poem were: to provide an outlet for an idea, and to form a basic structure.

What else do we need to consider?

1. A decent title, but that is best left until after the story is written.

2. A hook in the intro. A good intro will start with dialogue or action. I usually aim to start with action, a point of crisis I create within the first 30 words.

3. If it’s a short story, we should keep the timescale short. It should be set over hours or days; not weeks or longer.

4. In line with the short timescale we should have a single plot line, no deviation or sub-plots to distract the reader.

5. We are aiming to place a normal person in extraordinary circumstances and then make them react. We can also consider giving the main character an issue to deal with, which changes them in some way by the end of the story. There should be some progression.

6. We should aim to keep the character count low; four or less if possible. Keep it intimate.

7. Just as we should aim to have a ‘hook’ at the start to capture our reader, we should provide some back story to say how the character or characters got in the position they find themselves. Again, not too much information.

8. As well as a good start with the hook, and back story, we must know how and when to stop. When the tale is told; stop. No extra bits and pieces. On occasion one more line might work, but mainly; reach the end and stop. Make sure the main character has resolved the conflict or crisis.

9. Try to use the senses when writing. Through good imagery, let the reader see, feel, smell, hear, what is going on. No flowery descriptions though; keep it brief.

10. Try to keep dialogue natural. How? Short and sharp exchanges are the most natural.

With all that in mind, and the poem, I’ve already written a few short passages. In my next post, I’ll produce a list of new titles that I’ve come up with to replace the working title.

I’ve imposed a target on myself of no more than 1500 words. That will stop me from waffling on, and it will keep the story tight. If you haven’t been given a word count target – impose one.

Once again, thank you for following. See you next time.

Category: Novel