I Do The Write Thing

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Welcome to a place where everyone knows what it's really like to be a writer.

Welcome, to the world of I Do The Write Thing!

Here you will find tips on over coming writers block, tips for additing tension to your fiction, 10 tips for publishing success and other helpful articles for writers!  Also, helpful websites to get you started, blogs on writing, Newsfeeds to keep you up to date on market trends, Jobs for Writers, and much more!

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Ten Dos and Don'ts For Publishing Success 

1. Do-edit your manuscript until it's as close to publishable as you can make it.

2. Don't-be snotty in your correspondence with an editor. Be professional. This is a business

3. Do-draft a great query letter. Get help to make it attention getting.

4. Don't-get cute with your submission. Multicolored paper will make your manuscript stand out but not in a good way.

5. Do-send a clean copy of your manuscript. No coffee stains or musty smelling paper.

6. Don't-call an editor every other day to enquire on the progress of your manuscript

7. Do-finish the next book while you wait for a response. You know they're going to love your work so be ready with the next one!

8. Don't-go broke mailing out complete manuscripts. Use your attention getting query letter instead. This is a cost effective way to weed out editors and agents who aren't interested.

9. Do-send a thank you note to any editor who reads your entire manuscript-even if they reject it. They loved your voice enough on this project, they might be interested in another project so leave them with a good impression.

10. Don't-ever give up! 90% of publishing success is being there when the time is right.

Daily Writing Tips! 

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Why do writers write?

Because it isn't there. ~ Thomas Berger

The Writers Store 

Find everything from workshop DVD's, audio workshops, to articles and supplies!

The Writers Store

A Writing Book Worth The Money 

So I just finished reading Janet Evanovich's How I Write and I must say, don't bother with this book. Thought I love the Stephanie Plum series, How I Write is a series of the most basic of basic Q&A's that can be found on 100 websites (including Janet's if I'm not mistaken) for free.

The one writing book that I think every writers should have is Stephen King's On Writing. This book is part memoir and part writing book. It's the one writing book that I've actually re-read.

On Writing

This is the one writing books I've read so far that was worth the money.

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

HELP! I'm stuck in a dry well! 

Getting Past Writers Block

Whenever I write, inevitably I get to a place where my creative well seems to not only dry up, but cave in on me.

Many other writers experience this exact same phenomena. That's why we come up with artful ways to describe what happens - the sagging middle, muse-go-bye-bye, and worst of all- blocked.

The problem, as I see it, is far simpler and less traumatic than those phrases make it out to be.

Writers frequently sit down to write because we had a great idea for a story. In actuality, what we had was a great idea for a scene. We rush to our keyboards or paper frantic to begin the process. After you've expended all your energy on the brilliant scene you realize, you have to tie that scene to a beginning and an end.

At this point is where the real work of being a writer begins. Anyone can create a scene, only writers know how to craft those few ideas into a masterpiece.

When you reach the "I'm stuck" place, ask yourself:

Do I know where to begin and end?
Do I have one great climactic scene to anchor all the others?
Do I have several smaller climax scenes leading to the big scene?

My guess is the answer to at least one of the questions will be, no. In addition, I bet the question most frequently creating obstacles is the last.

We know we have to open by introducing the characters in their natural habitat. We know we have to wrap everything up at the end. The huge crisis scene is what set us off on this adventure in the first place. What's left are the foothills leading to the mountain.

The foothills are the trickiest because they have to do with motivation-which is usually straight forward-and conflict-this seems to be the hardest. After all, you've spent a lot of time giving birth to these characters, and making them decent people. Then you have to torment them. What kind of a monster are you?

It's okay. It's your job to torment your characters, and their job to suffer.

If plot is a four-letter word to you, then mull over the dilemma, let it simmer until you know all the scenes that build your story. If you're a plotter, send your charting skills into high-gear, and map out what you need to do to get from a to b to c.

Whether your process is organic or mechanical, don't force the answers. If you do, the results will be stale and predictable.

Getting stuck happens, but it's not the end of the world. Instead, redefine a block as an opportunity to dig deeper and discover you're in a mineshaft full of gold.

The Gift Shop for Writers! 

Writers of all genres will find something to love.

http://www.idothewritething.com has gift for writers of all genres. New designs are added on a regular basis.

Time To Write Wall Clock

Time to Write

Price: 19.99Buy Now

Blue I don't believe in muses Cap

Muses are fickle little fairies. Writers of all genres can appreciate these unique t-shirts, and gifts.

Price: 19.99Buy Now

Mystery Writer Use Caution White T-Shirt

Caution Mystery Writer!

Price: 18.99Buy Now

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Writers on YouTube 


Writing Tips from Author Lia Scott Price: Part 1

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"I am a galley slave to pen and ink.~Honore de Balzac (1799 - 1850)"

Tips For Adding Tension To Your Fiction 

Imagine you plunk down $1.50 for the Sunday paper and the headline reads, "Some Stuff Happened But We Didn't Feel Like Researching it, Check Back Tomorrow." You'd be upset and probably want your money back. After all if those lazy reporters can't do their jobs then why should you waist your money?


Yet, there are countless books out there with chapters where nothing really happens. Why should a reader waist their time?


If dramatic tension stays flat chapter after chapter why are those chapters in the book? Exposition? Boring! Look for these tension killers and eliminate them.


1) Repetitiveness - Writers want to make sure the reader understands what's happening in the story. Then make sure what you wrote was clear the first time, instead of slowing the pace by repeating yourself.


2) Rambling Man - Moving characters from one place to another, can slow the pace of a story. If one scene is in the living room and the next dramatic scene is in a grocery store, the reader doesn't need to follow the character into the garage, out the driveway, past the church at the end of the block, waving to Mrs. Johnson - You see my point here, right? If there isn't a horrendous collision that sends your character into a coma, ala soap writing 101, somewhere on the way to the store your reader will lose interest. End the scene in the living room, add an extra line and then begin the scene at the store.


3) A Whole Lot of Thinking Going On -- If your character is having a problem with indecision don't let them sit around thinking. Get their problems out of their head and into dialog. Better yet, add a scene that shows the characters indecision through their action or inaction.


4) DANGER, DANGER! - Is your character in enough danger from one chapter to the next? Danger can take many different forms. The easiest and most obvious is the physical danger. Don't forget to use emotional danger. You as the writer have a moral responsibility to torture these characters as much as you can. Pile on the emotional danger along with the physical and see where that leads you.


To view the rest of this article and learn more Tips For Adding Tension, please click here!

When The Muse Strikes At Night! 

If you're like me your muse doesn't care what time it is when it decided to hand you the keys to the kingdom. My spouse bought me the NiteWriter pen so I wouldn't have to keep turning on the over head light. These products work great in darkened meeting rooms too!

NiteWriter - Lighted Pen

This has to be the best invention for writers ever! Shines light on the paper only so you won't wake up anyone else in the room with you.

Amazon Price: (as of 12/25/2009) Buy Now
List Price: $7.75

NiteWriter Refills

Don't forget your refills!

Amazon Price: (as of 12/25/2009) Buy Now
List Price: $2.95

Publishers Weekly Latest News 

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Linda Seger Books! 

Even though her books slant toward script writing, her techniques help with novel writing as well. Her book Making A Good Writer Great is a must read for anyone who wants to write.

Making a Good Script Great

Amazon Price: (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now
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Creating Unforgettable Characters

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Used Price: $2.36

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Making a Good Writer Great: A Creativity Workbook for Screenwriters

Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now
Used Price: $1.24

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Advanced Screenwriting: Raising Your Script to the Academy Award Level

Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now
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Valuable Links for Writers! 

Gotham Witers Workshop
Offers free tips on writing, a free newsletter, and awesome writing resources. There workshops are the top!
Crime Scene Investigation Articles
If you're a mystery or horror writer you must check out this site. Gives you all the details you'll need to make your books next Crime Scene Investigation feel real.
Powells Books RSS Feeds
Powells isn't just one of the best bookstores ever, they also offer RSS feeds with book reviews, author interviews, essays and more!
The Writers Weekly
Get signed up for their newsletter! This is one of the best writing resources you can find.
Writer Gazette
Free newsletter! Great resources for writers!
Volunteer Lawyers For The Arts
They offer pro bono legal service for artist and art organizations.
Writer Beware
Warnings for Writers about those out to take advantage of our trusting natures.
The Book Standard News
This is a great site that offers information on the world of publishing. Free newsletters help keep writers on top of what's happening in publishing.
20 Worst Agencies List
A list of the 20 literary agencies about which Writer Beware has received the greatest number of advisories/complaints over the past several years.
Preditors & Editors
Does the agent you're looking at have any warnings out there? Find out!

Jobs Available for Qualified Writers! 

Writer
media-match - Upland, CA
I'm looking for a writer to provide PRO BONO (non-paid) help to improve dialogue in a short 7-minute no-budget sci-fi film. Also looking for opinions and... ...
Writer
Yellowpages.com - Glendale, CA
for an experienced Writer and Community Manager in... We currently have an opportunity for an experienced Writer in our Glendale offices. RESPONSIBILITIES Write... ...
News Writer
News 12 Networks - Nassau County, NY
To assist in the development and production of news by writing and formatting scripts and coordinating program elements for all News 12 services. Specific... ...
Writer/Researcher
- New York, NY
Media company run by best-selling author and television journalist seeks highly intelligent, organized individual with outstanding writing and research skills... ...
Writer
Amica Insurance - Lincoln, RI
by the Providence Business News... Writer   Amica Insurance Company located in Lincoln, RI is seeking a Writer. The position involves writing and editing... ...
See more results

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Other Great Gifts For Writers 

Round Out Your Vocab With A Word a Day! 

Every writer loves to discover new words. That's not just me is it?

hauteur: Dictionary.com Word of the Day
hauteur: haughtiness; arrogance.

Books on Writing from Amazon.com 

These are my top picks that need to be on every writer's bookshelf.

Writing Fiction For Dummies (For Dummies (Language & Literature))

Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now
Used Price: $11.68

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Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft (8th Edition)

Amazon Price: $68.40 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now
Used Price:

Not yet published

Writing Fiction: The Practical Guide from New York's Acclaimed Creative Writing School

Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now
Used Price: $3.40

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Master Class in Fiction Writing: Techniques from Austen, Hemingway, and Other Greats

Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now
Used Price: $9.00

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Immediate Fiction: A Complete Writing Course

Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now
Used Price: $7.39

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Writers In Peril Movies 

Writers are naturally curious people and sometimes it gets them into trouble (or out in the case of the last movie on the list).

Half Light

Demi Moore is a mysery writer (she even has an Edger on her shelf!) who looses her son in a tragic accident, then almost looses her mind ala Gas Light.

Amazon Price: $9.98 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now
Used Price: $0.59

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Misery

The ulitmate in author torture. Every author's worse nightmare when it comes to their "biggest fan"

Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now
Used Price: $3.22

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Secret Window

Johnny Depp is so sexy it's hard to remember what the movie is about {{sigh}}.

Amazon Price: $14.94 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now
Used Price: $0.01

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Romancing the Stone / Jewel of the Nile

Romance author Joan Wilder is set loose on an unsuspecting world. Or was it the other way around? Hmm.

Amazon Price: $26.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now
Used Price: $13.87

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Finding Forrester

This is just a damn good movie.

Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now
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News About Writers! 

Times beat writer Broderick Turner answers readers' questions about the Lakers
This week's hot topics: Ron Artest's quickness and strength, Jordan Farmar's pending fre...
Writer seeks to restore Bible's Jewish roots
It's the day after Thanksgiving in the bustling kitchen of Willis Barnstone's book-filled ho...
Writer's goal is Super Bowl helmet for Victory Junction
The former racing writer for the Hampton (Va.) Daily Press and NASCAR correspondent for Autoweek, is...
Jaime Richards: Immerse yourself in excellence
If you read the Writer's Almanac every day, you'll be smarter. Is the world evil or good? Wa...

If You Want To Study Story Telling 

Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope (1977 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)

The hero's journey down to the letter.

Amazon Price: $16.49 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now
Used Price: $9.93

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Casablanca

If you want to study Goal, Motivation and Conflict this is the movie to watch!

Amazon Price: (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now
Used Price: $5.80

Witness (Special Collector's Edition)(Widescreen)

If you study Linda Seger she references this movie a lot.

Amazon Price: $12.49 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now
Used Price: $3.71

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The Usual Suspects (Special Editon)

Masterful story telling!

Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now
Used Price: $2.89

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Stay Current on Writing Trends! 

Subscribe to one or two of these magazines.

Writer's Digest (1-year)

This is the bible ofr all writers.

Amazon Price: $19.96 (as of 12/25/2009) Buy Now

The Writer

This is an excellent magazine! If you haven't picked this one up yet you should.

Amazon Price: $29.00 (as of 12/25/2009) Buy Now

Writers Journal

Loads of contests in this magazine (that pay $$$). There's also a lot of options for writers to publish their writing articles with them.

Amazon Price: $17.97 (as of 12/25/2009) Buy Now

Publishers Weekly

The other bible!

Amazon Price: $168.00 (as of 12/25/2009) Buy Now

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