Week 6 Lab: EmpoWord

This week I decided to go with the story lab, and find an art in the EmpoWord. I was advised to read Chapter 2: Telling a Story. This was an interesting read and very knowledgeable and detailing. Here are several bullet points that made a key impact in my reading experience that is worth taking notes over....

Chapter Two: Telling a Story Notes:

• Initial introduction of narration is given, as it serves as a stem to the story and leads to engage audience. 
• Part one shows the description, narration and reflection side of the story. 
• The dynamic of characters play out a role in a great story. 
• The ability to have different level of role in character in order to have the spectrum of dynamic, flat, round or static characters. 
• Any story has a mood or emotion that usually follows a plot line. (think of this when writing)
• It is also important stay in the same point of view or tense (past, present, future). 
• Plot obviously is an important part of any story, which is why different techniques are key. 
• Three elements to consider are scope, sequence and pacing. 
• Scope refers to the "boundaries of your plot", while sequence and pacing is all about the timing of the plot and when and where something takes place. 
• You have to make a good flow and balance in your story. 
• Chapter two also touches on a strong introduction starting with action or drama. Media res refers to this as an antagonistic, imagistic, and exciting scenes. 
• Always thinks of ways to build your character along with your plot.
• Much like sequencing and spacing your plot, you need to know when not to escalate as well. This is important especially when approaching the end of your story. 
• Explore different techniques of story telling and observe the impact on the audience. 

Types of Characters

This picture above shows visual representations of the different types of characters you can build in your story from static, flat, dynamic and round. 

Week 4 Lab: Writers Write

 For my week 4 lab, I decided that it would be a good idea to explore the Writers write page and find articles that might catch my attention. A lot of articles caught my attention, however the articles on "5 Things to Remember while writing a Novel" and "The Edit" stood out to me the most. 

5 Things to Remember while writing a Novel

This post focuses on a few important rules to keep in mind when writing a novel. Writing a novel is a time consuming task and requires a lot of patience and attention. This article focuses on 5 basic yet important rules when writing a novel. First rule is to gather a complete thought or idea to base the novel off of. Your plot could change any second, it is important to stay goal oriented and focus on a certain idea or goal. The second rule is to pay attention to time. Your masterpiece requires time, and this is important. Having a set schedule might help your writing process go smoothly. Number 3 is to have a game plan. Having your plot lines planned out before you write is a great way to stay organized and not jumble your mind with last second ideas that might mess up a perfect plot. Staying in a focused route and having a determined mindset is important as well. Rule number 4 is an unique idea that many authors fly right over. It is to know your audience and your genre. Stick to something of your skillset, this will help you get the most optimal writing to your audience. Finally the post focuses on a very important step, editing. This is a step that every writer will need to master in order to go from a good writer to a great writer. 

The Edit

This short article or story focuses on the steps after you have finished writing a book or project. It helps you ask yourself questions such as have you written the best version of your book, or have you made any mistakes? Editing is a very important role in writing as it helps you catch mistakes you might have previously made. The article explains how "the Edit" is the last step in the process. 

Having an editor is a great start to a writing career, as having an editor allows you to have fresh eyes on a project at all times, thus negating any minor mental errors. Someone else is more likely to catch your mistakes rather than yourself. The article explains how there are different forms of editing, such as developmental editing, proofreading, open communication and more. Either way at the end of the day, editor just want to make you a better writer and only looks into improving your skills. 

Editing is so hard