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[writing-again]

Suspense, Horror and Mystery Genre Differences Infographic

[writing-again]

Dancing next to the old flame.

Stamping rhythms to summon monsoons,

that encircle our feet.

Tantrums turn to downpours.

Putting out our heat.

Deep guttural moans emanate from primal orifices,

chrashing through colours,

to create vivid spectrums that are fleeting crackles of light.

We sway, exhaust, trip, twirl next to the old flame.

Under starlights and cityscapes

Questing for majesty.

Fetishising the way embers burn new freckles on our skin.

Lost to be endlessly enriched by the old flame.

[writing-again]

Narrative Anchors: How to hold your readers’ attention, wherever you take them.

One of my old fiction professors, Tom, used to always grab coffee with us students whenever our story had been workshopped.

We’d meet at the downtown coffee shop, where we fought the flocks of students for a table, pulled out a couple wrinkled copies of the story, and discussed feedback over bland coffee.

It was during one of these discussions that Tom pointed out something I’d stumbled into doing well. (He’s very good at that.)

“I think this is great, Mike,” he said, tapping my story on the table. “From the opening line, the question is whether these two will sleep together, and that grounds us. If my attention ever wavers, I can always fall back on, ‘Oh, well have they slept together yet? No, not yet? Okay, cool. I still know where we are, then, and where we’re headed.’ That makes the story easy to follow.”

This wasn’t, admittedly, a major focus of our conversation. We moved on to discuss more important things (like the story’s key flaws), but somehow that comment stuck with me over the years.

And now, looking back, I realize it was the first time I started thinking about something I’d eventually call “narrative anchors.”

What’s a narrative anchor?

It’s something I made up. But trust me, it’s helpful.

In short, I consider narrative anchors to be the craft elements you include in a story to ground your reader. On the one hand, they can help you craft a story that rings with simple, crystal clarity, and on the other hand, they can empower you to challenge readers with fresh, creative storytelling, without ever losing them at sea.

I put narrative anchors into three categories:

Plot Anchors

Character Anchors

Style Anchors

Plot Anchors

Plot anchors are a clearly defined situation, goal, or destination for a story. Tom (above) pointed out a situational plot anchor in my story, but you’ll find plot anchors everywhere. For example, in Avatar: The Last Airbender, Aang needs to master the four elements and defeat Fire Lord Ozai. We know from the beginning that defeating Ozai is the end-goal, so we feel grounded at every stage of the story, knowing where we’re going.

Moby-Dick, by Herman Melville, is another great example. Ahab is hellbent on hunting down the White Whale, and we never lose sight of that goal, even as the narrative stretches across hundreds of pages.

That’s the point of a plot anchor: to give your reader a clear direction, so they always know where they’re going.

Character Anchors

These anchors are the clear motivations and arcs you give your characters. Disney does this well in their musicals, always using an “I want song” (more about those here) to clearly declare what their main characters want: Mulan wants to express her true self, Hercules wants to find where he belongs, and so on. The rest of the story then circles around that character’s pursuit of their “want.”

When readers have a strong understanding of your character’s motivation and journey, they have a much easier time following the story as a whole.

Style Anchors

Style anchors are my handy little catch-all for every other craft choice you make to bring clarity and simplicity to your work. Style anchors can include: short chapters or paragraphs; simple and accessible language; straightforward writing forms; clarity of description; engagement with the five senses; using a smaller cast of characters; sticking to a single POV; and so on.

Cool. So when (and how) do I use these narrative anchors?

Tip 1: Don’t start with anchors. Start with the story. Take your idea, begin developing the characters and plot, and start writing.

Tip 2: As you write and revise, start thinking about anchors. Ask yourself what kinds of anchors you already have in place, what others may be helpful to add, and whether or not you’re doing enough to ground your readers in the story.

Tip 3: Consider your audience. Readers of popular fiction will want to be reasonably grounded, so you should try to always use at least a few anchors. But if your audience likes super artsy, experimental fiction, you may be able to get away with fewer tethers.

Tip 4: That being said, don’t be afraid to challenge your readers, whoever they are. If you want to get creative, go for it. If you want to experiment with form, language, plot, character arcs, or whatever, PLEASE do!

Tip 5: But when you challenge readers one way, try to compensate by grounding them in other ways. For example, maybe your story lacks a clear plot anchor, but you include a character with a clear arc and motivation. Or maybe your story is incredibly challenging on a stylistic level, but you give readers a clear character motive and plot (this was my experience reading Moby-Dick).

Tip 6: If big anchors don’t fit, consider smaller ones. For example, if your story lacks a BIG plot anchor like defeating Fire Lord Ozai, maybe use smaller plot anchors to drive individual sections of the book. Or maybe instead of a BIG declaration of your character’s motive at the beginning, include little anchors for your narrator that act like breadcrumbs for their motives and development.

Tip 7: Mix and match anchors as necessary, because there is no magic formula.

Long story short?

Write the story you want to write — then use narrative anchors to keep your readers reading, wherever your story takes them.

Tom may not have said that all in so many words, but if I bought him a coffee, I bet he’d agree.

Good luck, everybody, and good writing!

— — —

Everyone has stories worth telling. If you’re looking for writing advice or tips on crafting theme, meaning, and character-driven plots, check out the rest of my blog.

[writing-again]

© (c ) copyright 1990-2011 Rebecca Sinclair

See the original HERE

[writing-again]

A Writing Cheat Sheet: for linking actions with emotions. 

As always, click for HD.

[writing-again]

Private Rebellion.

Our greatest rebellion.

A masters seige.

Occupying space.

Unwarranted. Unecassary.

Present and existing

In spaces where hesitation is humiliation.

I will wait.

Thriving.

Occupying space

[writing-again]

big ones

i scarf down soggy microwaved pizza, pizza laced with msg or heroin because its taste is orgasmic while i swipe left mostly but sometimes right on tall fit bodies of the ladies of bumble.

this one has a six pack, goddamnit!

bumble lets you filter by height. it’s ever so convenient who wants to fuck a midget?

i want a giantess with a clit my cock rivals to force feed me her vaginal discharge, to rub her gash on my face and drain the cum out of my nuts like those cow milking machines, to kiss without the neck arch, to fuck as hard as i can and it not be hard enough

[writing-again]

You’re tearing me apart

Who was it that signalled 

invitation for that joyful existence.

Menalcoly’s enemy  is swept away

when you rasped away autumns of sweat.

Permission is possible but resisted

a scream is answered by you.

Chances to speak are sweat

nothings that sing our resonance.

The bells of celebration on my

Unwanted mornings are your ritualistic erections.

I apologise,

Please understand,

But you will remain the way I think you are,

Lacking truth.

Perfection incarnate,

All because...

You’re tearing me apart.

[writing-again]

you can always take naps so if you have the option to stay up till 4 am with someone you love, do it. whether it’s talking about life or making out or making each other laugh uncontrollably, do it. memories are worth making and some people are worth losing sleep over.

[writing-again]

Common Phrases Correctly

[writing-again]

Publishing for Fun and Profit

So there was a list going around tumblr for a while that made it to my dash of literary journals that accept open submissions (and will pay!), but upon inspection about half of them were closed indefinitely, and I found quite a few other places that looked interesting through further research, so I wanted to post my own list. 

I tried to focus on things that paid professional grade (at least 6 cents per word), were friendly to speculative fiction, and specifically encouraged diversity and writing about marginalized groups.

(Please note that as of right now I have never submitted or been published with any of these, so if anyone has experience with them, good or bad, please feel free to message or reblog this with your experiences.)

Speculative Fiction

Strange Horizons — Speculative fiction (broadly defined) with an emphasis on diversity, unusual styles, and stories that address politics in nuanced ways. 8c per word. Up to 10,000 words, under 5,000 preferred. Responds within 40 days. LGBT+ positive.

Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine — Sci-fi, fantasy, horror, etc. 7-12c per word. Up to 25,000 words. No response times listed.

Asimov’s Science Fiction — Primarily sci-fi but accepts fantasy and surreal fiction, but no high fantasy/sword and sorcery. Prefers writing that is character driven. 8-10c per word. 1,000-20,000 words. Responds in about five weeks.

Evil Girlfriend Media — Horror and urban fantasy centered on female empowerment and defying gender stereotypes. $100 flat payment. 4,000-7,000 words. No response times given. LGBT+ friendly.

Beneath Ceaseless Skies — Fantasy with a focus on secondary worlds and characters. 6c per word. Up to 10,000 words. Average response time 2-4 weeks.

Fantastic Stories — Speculative fiction with an emphasis on diversity and literary style. 15c per word. Up to 3,000 words. Responds within two weeks. LGBT+ positive.

Fiction Vortex — Serialized fantasy and speculative fiction. $300 for featured stories, $50 otherwise. 3,500 words or less. No response times given.

Shimmer — Speculative fiction with an emphasis on diversity, strong plots, vivid characters, and beautiful writing. 5c per word. 7,500 words or less (will consider longer words with query letter). Usually responds within two weeks. LGBT+ positive.

Clarkesworld Magazine — Sci-fi, fantasy, and other speculative fiction. 10c per word up to 5,000 words, 8c per word after. 1,000-16,000 words. Responds within days usually, gives a tracking number.

Apex Magazine — Speculative fiction of all kinds. 6c per word, +1c per word for podcast stories. Up to 7,500 words, all submissions over will be auto-rejected. Responds within 30 days.

Heliotrope Magazine — Speculative fiction of all kinds. 10c per word. Up to 5,000 words. Responds within 30 days.

Lightspeed Magazine — Speculative fiction of all kinds, with creativity and originality in terms of style and format encouraged. 8c per word. 1,500-10,000 words, under 5,000 preferred. LGBT+ positive. Submissions temporarily closed for their main magazine but is accepting for their People of Color Destroy Science Fiction special.

General Fiction

The Sun Magazine — General fiction, likes personal writing or writing of a cultural/political significance. $300-$1500 flat payment  and a one year subscription to the magazine for fiction (also accepts essays and poetry). No minimum or maximum lengths but over 7,000 words discouraged. Responds in 3-6 months. Physical submissions only.

One Story — Any and all varieties of fiction, “unique and interesting” stories encouraged. $500 payment plus 25 contributor copies. 3,000-8,000 words. Usually responds in 2-3 months.

Camera Obscura — General fiction. $1000 for featured story, $50 for “Bridge the Gap” award, no payment for other contributors. 250-8,000 words. Response time vary, running just over two months as of now.

Flash Fiction 

Daily Science Fiction — Speculative flash fiction (including sci-fi, fantasy, slipstream, etc.). 8c per word. Up to 1,500 words, but shorter stories given priority. Response times not listed.

Vestral Review — General flash fiction. 3-10c per word depending on length to a max of $25. Up to 500 words. Response within four months.

Flash Fiction Online — General flash fiction. $60 flat payment. 500-1,000 words. Response times not listed.

Novels/Novella

Riptide Publishing — Any LGBTQ manuscripts between 15,000 and 150,000 words. Currently especially interested in lesbian romances, trans stories, asexual/aromantic stories, romances with a happy ending, and genre fiction such as urban fantasy. Also has a YA branch.  LGBT+ positive.

Crimson Romance — Romance stories of all kinds, currently seeking LGBT+ stories with a focus on emotional connections and relationships, especially m/m romance. Novel (55,000-90,000 words) or novella (20,000-50,000 words) length.  LGBT+ positive.

Kindle Direct Publishing 

Kindle Direct Publishing — Allows you to set your own prices, create your own cover art, and make royalties off of each sell. Any and all genres are welcome and if you’re prolific and smart about how you’re publishing you can make pretty good money.

General Guide to Kindle Publishing — Gives a good rundown of the publishing process on Kindle.

101 Guide to Kindle Erotica — Great guide with lots of resources about how to make money publishing erotica on Kindle.   

Publishing Comics/Graphic Novels

Here is a list of potential comic companies and what kind of open submissions they accept.  

Here is a list of literary agents who accept graphic novels. 

[writing-again]

rawest fucking hozier lyrics in no particular order:

i’d suffer hell if you’d tell me what you’d do to me tonight

heat of her breath in my mouth; im alive

i’d be the choiceless hope in grief that drove him underground

idealism sits in prison, chivalry fell on his sword

and when the earth is trembling on some new beginning with the same sweet shock of when adam first came

every version of me dead and buried in the yard outside

the stench of the sea and the absence of green are the death of all things that are seen and unseen

if I was born as a blackthorn tree i’d wanna be felled by you, held by you, fuel the pyre of your enemies

some like to imagine the dark caress of someone else, I guess any thrill will do

before the wave hits, marveling at god; before he feels alone one final time and marries the sea

betray the moon as acolyte on first and fierce affirming sight

i have never known peace like the damp grass that yields to me, I have never known hunger like these insects that feast on me

screaming the name of a foreigner’s god; the purest expression of grief

sweet and right and merciful, i’m all but washed in the tide of her breathing

but you don’t know the hell you put me through; to have someone kiss the skin that crawls from you

so i try to talk refined for fear that you find out how i’m imagining you

my head was war, my skin was soaked, I called your name ‘til the fever broke

be still, my indelible friend, you are unbreaking

remember me, love, when i’m reborn as a shrike to your sharp and glorious thorn

[writing-again]

I can write a shitty poem if I want to.

I’m practising the modern day love story,

the modern day, indulgent, self-obsessed fantasy.

It will not and doesn't have to be good, neither smart.

Just for me, to tell myself to stay sexy.

I’m snuggling on Sunday, alone deliberately

Feeling my own skin and knowing all my parts...

Intimately.

I’m pushing on through, riding my bike,

No Freddy Mercury, but who says I have to be. Feeling dreamlike.

Wear that sexy underwear, just for me.

No, Sandra, you’re not allowed to see.

Eating carbs and chocolate and chai tea.

Hold my love handles, and jiggling freely.

Put on that song from two thousand and three.

You know the one, where it broke your heart.

And dance er, fuck what rhymes with three.

Erm, and dance like a bumblebee?

Yeah, know we are getting started, buy that expensive coffee;

because you know what it tastes better,

And end this rhyme with toffee.

 Why?

I am being nice to me.

Scratch my balls more, and watch cartoons.

Yes, I pay council tax, but Pokemon is amazing,

That is true appraising.

Mark my skin without people’s art,

this canvas is limited, my time is short.

Whip out the needle, right here on my arm a skateboarding Bart!

Why? I have the right to a list,

To win where I can,

be kind to my self and say.

Fuck it!

Thank you for listening x

[writing-again]

If I could kill for your robbers, I would.

Eat a heart.

My synapses, collapses.

Battered eyesockets bloody.

Emphasis enough?

Hyperbolic, pathetic, but true.

Truth being...

I cannot observe our moments.

Personify, perspire have persective of that.

I can, hold, it.

Feel it's luxury swell and break me

Then move on.

To the next one, wanting the old one.

I order make another!

Destroy the vapid, by paying for breath?

Suckle for permission.

But at least hold it.

[writing-again]

You ain’t at your lowest till you sit down in a standing shower

[writing-again]

You and me, mon ami

Look at me rough,

with you and unsafe,

reflection in that window. I am not good enough.

So we buy commercial stuff.

Feel good.

Rebellion of thought, intrusive

You tell me just now.

We connect, 

speak freely, 

telling each other everything we can.

One way ticket, 

the old we stays.

Coins trickle down a new you is made.

Our pathetic love of convenience

Forged in British small town amusment arcades.

It was expensive bordeom, that would be spent again.

It was the happiness moment of my life,

When you revealed yourself to me,

Someone said if I come to die,

 this will be the place.

Mon ami.

[writing-again]

BED

The big light is going off.

This is my bad, this is your bed.

Shall I get you dressed?

No, we won’t go out, there is nowhere to go.

So here are three chocolates.

Do you want one? Take it. 

My friend,

Where did everyone go? Can we meet them?

Tomorrow.

This is my bed, you say.

It’s too warm, you are too warm.

Let’s take you back to bed.

You call me staff.