| About
the Author |
3 |
| Table of Contents |
4 |
| Dedication and Acknowledgement |
6 |
| Introduction |
7 |
| The First Step: |
9 |
| Hone your craft |
9 |
| Building Characters: |
11 |
| 3D vs. Cardboard Cut Outs |
11 |
| Sample Characters |
15 |
| Unique Personalities |
19 |
| Body Language |
21 |
| Keep them consistent |
23 |
| Conflict |
24 |
| Motivation |
27 |
| Emotion |
28 |
| Point of View: |
30 |
| Choose the right one |
30 |
| Action, Reaction: |
34 |
| Keep them in order |
34 |
| Outstanding Ideas: |
36 |
| Make it stand out |
36 |
| Today I Witnessed a Story
(Article by Cheryl Wright) |
38 |
| Choose a Title: |
43 |
| Make it remarkable |
43 |
| Dazzling Openings: |
44 |
| Attention Grabbing Lines |
44 |
| Dialogue: |
45 |
| Combine action with dialogue |
45 |
| Keep it natural |
47 |
| Make it fit the character |
48 |
| Scene Structure: |
49 |
| Start and finish at the right place |
49 |
| Brainstorming: |
51 |
| Work your way to better outcomes |
51 |
| Twist at the End: |
55 |
| Make it unusual |
55 |
| Write Tight: |
58 |
| Sloppy prose equals losing entries |
58 |
| Formatting: |
62 |
| Make it look good |
62 |
| Proof Reading and Final Checks: |
63 |
| Finding those elusive errors |
63 |
| Understanding Rules: |
66 |
| What to look out for |
66 |
| Paying Fees: |
67 |
| How much is too much? |
67 |
| Recognising Contest Scams: |
68 |
| Writing Contests: When Winners Are
Losers (Article by Moira
Allen) |
68 |
| Winning Contests: |
73 |
| So you wanna win a contest?
(Article by Cheryl Wright) |
73 |
| Entering Contests: |
75 |
| Off the Cuff (Article
by Billie A Williams) |
75 |
| Winning Writing Contests
(Article by Lee Masterson) |
77 |
| My First Contest Win
(Article by Sherri Smith) |
80 |
| Writing for Theme-Based Contests
(Article by Betty Dobson) |
82 |
| Doing Well in Contests You Didn't
Necessarily Enter (Article
by Janet Mills) |
83 |
| Why Bother? (Article
by Elvina Payet) |
85 |
| Contests - The Ultimate Goal
(Article by Kristy McCaffrey) |
86 |
| Choosing The Right Category To Enter: |
87 |
| Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe
(Article by Brenna Lyons) |
87 |
| Checklist: |
89 |
| A final look at your entry |
89 |
| Recommended Resources: |
90 |
| Books |
90 |
| Workshops |
92 |
| Online Critique Groups |
93 |
| Other Resources for Writers |
94 |
| Contest Listings: |
95 |
| Ezines and Websites for Writers |
95 |
| Organisations with Contests |
97 |
| Writers holding Contests |
98 |
| Terminology: |
99 |
