Writing Workshop: Basic Blog Design

Writing Workshop: Basic Blog Design

As part of my terra firma writing group, we are working on creating blogs.

I found I needed to create a Basic Blog Design presentation.

This presentation focuses on free Blog Host Templates. This is not a user manual.

Basic Blog Design PDF

Also, I am not a designer. To take your Blog to a higher level, consider contracting a Website / Blog designer.


Resources:

The Book Designer - Blogging 101 - Blog Design
https://www.thebookdesigner.com/2011/11/author-blogging-101-blog-design/

WikiHow - Design - Blogs
https://m.wikihow.com/Design-Blogs

Crazy Egg - Persuasive Blog Design
https://www.crazyegg.com/blog/persuasive-blog-design/

Smashwords - How to Start a Blog Today (free eBook by Scott Chow)
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/743416

Jane Friedman - Why Design Matters
https://www.janefriedman.com/why-design-matters/

Writing Workshop: Word Length

How long is a Novel? A Short Story? and more.
(courtesy of Smashwords Writers Forum)


Word Length

According to Wikipedia, The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America specifies word lengths for each category of its Nebula award categories:

Classification             Word count
Novel                         40,000 words or over
Novella                      17,500 to 39,999 words
Novelette                   7,500 to 17,499 words
Short story                 under 7,500 words

Wikipedia goes on to say: There are no firm rules: for example, the boundary between a novella and a novel is arbitrary and a literary work may be difficult to categorise. But while the length of a novel is to a large extent up to its writer, lengths may also vary by subgenre; many chapter books for children start at a length of about 16,000 words, and a typical mystery novel might be in the 60,000 to 80,000 word range while a thriller could be well over 100,000 words. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word_count

Addendum

Flash fiction is a fictional work of extreme brevity that still offers character and plot development. Identified varieties, many of them defined by word count, include the six-word story, the 280-character story (also known as "twitterature"), the "dribble" (also known as the "minisaga"; 50 words), the "drabble" (also known as "microfiction"; 100 words), "sudden fiction" (750 words), flash fiction (1,000 words), and "micro-story".

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_fiction#cite_note-6


Read more: http://smashwords-forum.proboards.com/thread/1988/word-counts#ixzz5eV3LGFTC


Other Sources:

The Write Place
https://thewritepractice.com/word-count/

Sample Genres - Courtesy of Smashwords

Sábado 18 julio 2015 - Bi-lingual Writing Workshop

Writing Workshop: Forms of Short Stories

Forms of Fiction -- Short Stories (In Progress)

Flash Fiction (Microfiction) -- 1,000 words or less.

Anecdote -- like a parable, a brief realistic narrative that makes a point.

Parable -- a brief realistic narrative that makes a point.

Fable -- succinct tales with an explicit moral like Aesop Fables.

Fairy Tales -- 

Tale -- short form of storytelling to portray a moral or lesson, may highlight a cultural or religious perspective. Narration, summary and coincidence may play major roles in story. Similar to oral tradition.

(from: http://theeditorsblog.net/2015/03/13/writing-novels-vs-telling-tales/)

Vignette -- short, impressionistic scenes that focus on one moment or give particular insight into a character, idea, or setting. 

A vignette describes a short composition that can nevertheless display a high degree of compositional skill. Vignettes appear both as stand-alone pieces, similar to flash fiction, and as components of longer stories or plays. Brevity is the key to an effective vignette, though many writers find it valuable to establish a wider context for their works.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/how_2060077_write-vignette.html

Essay --

eShort -- 12-150 pages usually part of a series, perspective may be of a known story but from other characters pov

Short Story -- 1,000 - 20,000, 1,000 - 7,5000

see Alice Munro stories

• Usually in narrative prose, part of oral storytelling. Small cast of characters, to evoke a single effect or mood. Use of plot, resonance....
• exposition - setting, situation, main characters
• complication - event that introduces conflict
• rising action -
• crisis -- point where conflict is at the highest
• resolution -- conflict is resolved
• focus -- often on one incident
• single plot
• single setting
• short period of time

Short Fiction -- 3,000 - 15,000 words

Novellas/Novelettes -- longer short stories

Writing Workshop: A Sampler of Types of Writers

Writing Workshop -- Kick Writers' Block to the Curb with Seven Easy Exercises

Seven Writing Exercises

1. Spontaneous Writing Exercise -- select a word and write without caring about punctuation, grammar, plot or organization for five minutes.

2. Writing Prompts

     -- Write a letter to your Writers Block to say good bye.

-- You are cleaning out the attic, garage or closet and find....

-- Make a list of story titles you’d like write.

-- Write about the most beautiful place you have ever been.

3. Try a different genre. Write a:

     -- poem

     -- essay

     -- article

     -- biography of local person

     -- short story

4. Go through your photographs/mementos. Pick one. Write a story about it.

5. Take a walk. Look at the houses, businesses and landscape. Think about who lives or works there. Write a short story about your impressions.

6. Write about something you have knowledge of or an expertise.

7. Write something every day.

After you’ve done a few exercises. Pick something you have written in the last few months.

Edit it. Polish it. Submit it to:

-- an online publication (check their submission guidelines).

-- to a short story contest.

-- post on your blog.

-- an agent, or

-- collect other stories/articles/poems etc., and self-publish your own collection.

Action begets Action

Sources:

Type Away Writer's Block: iPad Edition by Jodie Nelson

7 Creative Writing Prompts to Spark Your Writing -- Writers Digest

A 12-Day Plan of Simple Writing Exercises -- Writers Digest

Creative Writing Exercises by Lisa Binion