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| ICYMI: In case you missed it... Fiction That Grabs Readers Has These 2 Elements
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| | | ICYMI... I'm resending last week's article on "Fiction That Grabs Readers Has These 2 Elements" because I sent it so late in the day and because I don't have new content ready to go yet...
In this issue of CREATIVITY SPARKS - Article: "Fiction That Grabs Readers Has These 2 Elements"
- New book giveaway: "Mega Non-Fiction Promo"'
- Upcoming Hands-On Online Training "NLP for Writers"
- Join us for Camp Nanowrimo in the Fellowship of the Pen group
- This Week on the Writer's Fun Zone Blog
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| This week it felt like everything sped up and pulled me in 20 different directions. That's why this newsletter is late and shorter than I'd like and could create if I had more energy.
I look forward to some down time, getting more sleep, and nourishing myself with story -- both my own and others. (I've started my first read through of book 4 of my sci-fi novel after 3 years away from the draft. Loving my story!)
On to this week's topic -- on 2 elements all good fiction has.
Vividness and valence.
I was inspired to write about vividness and valence because they are two important ways we assess our future.
We use these tools when we're writing and editing fiction too.
“Vividness is the degree to which the image that comes to mind has a lot of details and how much those details subjectively pop as opposed to being vague,” Joseph Kable says.
“Valence is an emotional evaluation. How positive or negative is the event? Is this something you want to have happen or not?”
The good news is you're already using these brain functions all the time.
The other good news is you can exercise these brain functions so they become stronger as "...neurons that fire together wire together."
-- https://www.dailyshoring.com/neurons-that-fire-together-wire-together/
As fiction writers, our core job is to evoke emotion in our readers. That starts with you, the writer.
Bring your stories to life so that the reader can be hooked and want more. (Yes, what we're doing is addictive, in a good way, as feeling a wide range of emotions is good for humans and helps us have more empathy toward others. More on that here.)
Here's how to bring vividness and valence to your stories:
1. See: See vividly each moment of your story. Hear: Add in sounds too. Specific nouns and verbs work.
I could write:
Janey slid down the tunnel.
But it's more vivid to write:
Janey slid through the cold metal tube, her ears ringing from a low hum emanating somewhere in the space station that enveloped her.
2. Feel: Feel about each moment. Spend the time to feel what you see and hear. You need this information.
Ask: What is my point of view character feeling here, in this moment?
Janey is angry, determined, and sad because reasons I don't want to reveal here, but the reader knows.
3. Show: Convey both the images and sounds of you story that evoke emotion for your characters. Sprinkle in smell, taste, and touch too. And direct inner thought.
I could rewrite the above sentence to include her feelings and other senses:
Why had he run? That lowdown rotten... Janey slid through the cold metal tube, her ears ringing from a low hum emanating somewhere in the space station that enveloped her. The dusty stale smell of the tunnel made her want to sneeze. She held back. Didn't want to give away her position.
Something like that...
As you may notice, these techniques can help you deepen point of view so that your reader can be transported into the life of your story.
Apply these tools to enliven and strengthen your stories.
What is it like for you to take these steps?
Hit reply and let me know how it goes.
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Have a happy and creative week!
All my best,
Beth |
| NEW BOOK GIVEAWAY "7 Essential Keys to Planning Your Novel"
MEGA NONFICTION BOOK GIVEAWAYFree Books by Incredible Authors
Searching for you next nonfiction read?
Look no further! These bestselling authors have teamed up to offer a delightful selection of new books. Available for a limited time.
I'm giving away "7 Essential Keys to Planning Your Novel."
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| | | Want to get your word count up in July?
Then join your fellow writers for Camp Nano for Nanowrimo.
More details here:
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| | | UPCOMING EVENTS
I'm finally back to speaking to groups. Hurrah!
NLP FOR WRITERS Online: Saturday, July 17, 2021 For the Central Ohio Fiction Writers, an RWA chapter
DATE & TIME | July 17th, 2021 - Business meeting at 12:30 pm EST (9:30 am PT), Speaker at 1:30 pm EST (10:30 am PT)
LOCATION | Meeting will be Hybrid via Zoom and at The Forge Tavern 1375 Bethel Road, Columbus, OH 43220. See here for further instructions.
TOPIC | NLP and Writing Great Novels
REGISTER | No need to register ahead of time. The chapter has kindly allowed this meeting to be free and open to all.
NOTE: I'll be sending the Zoom link to you via this list the day before and the day of.
If you'd like to come, mark you calendars! It will be recorded. |
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CREATIVE WRITING In person: August 12-14, 2021
Ithra Center, Al Dhahran, Saudi Arabia |
| | Top Posts on the Writer's Fun Zone Blog
Want to Write for Writer's Fun Zone? Check out our guidelines here: |
| | | | You have been reading the Creativity Sparks Newsletter!
Now in its 15th year, this newsletter is a service of my coaching and consulting business, helping genre fiction writers write, market, and publish their books through courses, coaching & consulting, NLP sessions, a 12-month group program, and books to the delight of their readers.
You may share this content intact and with no changes with this attribution:
c. 2006-2021 Beth Barany, Creativity Coach for Writers, www.BethBarany.com
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| ABOUT BETH BARANY
Beth Barany is creativity coach for writers, a teacher, workshop facilitator, and speaker, who helps fiction writers experience clarity, so that they can write and polish their novels, and proudly publish them to the delight of their readers.
Owner of the Barany School of Fiction, an online training hub, Beth takes great interest in how humans learn, create, and grow, and includes all her students’ life experiences, including the ancestors, into the moment.
Want a course to help you prepare to write your novel? Discover the comprehensive Plan Your Novel course here, I teach alongside with award-winning, bestselling thriller author, Ezra Barany.
She's also an award-winning novelist and writes magical tales of romance, adventure, and mystery to empower women and girls to be the heroes in their own lives.
Uncover her Henrietta series here (YA Fantasy) and her Touchstone series here (Fantasy/Paranormal Romance). And her new Sci-fi Mystery here.
beth@bethbarany.com
Barany School of Fiction
Writer's Fun Zone blog
Photo Credit: by c. 2018 Ezra Barany
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| | | Here be the legalese: In connection with the operation of this newsletter and business, Creativity Sparks includes affiliate links, including links to Amazon.com (“Affiliate Links”). Barany Consulting earns a commission from the Affiliate Links which commission is based on the number of sales that are made as a result of users of the Newsletter clicking over to the Affiliate Link and purchasing from the Affiliate Link a product and/or service. Thus endth the legalese. |
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