by Joe Bunting |
This is a guest post by Emily Wenstrom (@emilywenstrom).
When I completed the first draft of my first-ever novel last December, I promptly did a little victory dance.
And then I sat back down and took the word count, which completely killed my buzz. My manuscript rang in at little over 45,000—half the length of your average novel. Eep! I had a minor freakout. What was I going to do?
But fortunately, rationality eventually returned. This was only a first draft, after all. Surely there was some room for development. Turns out, there was tons.
If you find yourself in a similar situation, here are five of the best ways I’ve discovered to beef up your word count without diluting your story.
by Joe Bunting |
I recently received my first rejection letter for a short story I submitted at the beginning of July. It read:
Dear JH Bunting,
We regret that your manuscript does not fit our current editorial needs, but we appreciated the opportunity to consider your work. Thanks very much for submitting.
Sincerely,
The Editors of the Magazine that Doesn’t Want to Publish Me
This is the nature of this work we do. On the one hand, we get the joy of creating. We get to make up new worlds, play with our imaginary friends, make something that wasn’t there before. Writing is a joy, isn’t it?
On the other hand, we will face rejection upon rejection upon rejection.
Are you ready for that? Is it worth it for you?
by Joe Bunting |
Who are we without our choices? Am I a certain political party/religion/career because that’s what my parents were and what my environment dictated or because I chose those things?
When I look in the mirror, I see myself as an amalgam of my choices. Mine. Not somebody’s naysaying, all-controlling, all-knowing demands. Because nobody is responsible for me. And I like it that way.
So, who are you really?
by Joe Bunting |
Practice
Throughout your high school or middle school careers you probably made many memories. Turn those memories into writing.
Remember that first kiss, or when you flunked a math test, or tried to make the best senior prank possible? Write about that!
Write for fifteen minutes, and when you’re finished, post your practice in the comments section.
by Joe Bunting |
When is the last time you wrote or received a letter? Not a bill or a sales letter, a real letter from a person who cares about you.
A survey has found that one child in ten has never even written a letter, and the trend continues to grow with lightning speed. Letters are becoming obsolete, just like typewriters, tapes, records and many other things. However, there will always be the nostalgic types who hold on to them as a matter of principle and love. Who’s a better fit for the picture of these sentimental souls than writers?
