Page 32 - Voices-2021-05
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JUST WRITE
CREATIVE, EH??
Ken Coomes, DTM
So far this year we’ve been exploring the four afterthought, a mechanism to drive your plot and
writing resources I mentioned briefly in January. enliven your characters, or as the main element
Last, but not the least of these, is a writer’s group in your writing? However you treat dialogue,
I discovered last year—the Creative Academy for are you doing your best? And we haven’t even
Writers, out of Canada. begun to talk about dialogue attribution. All of
The Creative Academy offers a “pay as much this is covered, from different perspective, by
as you wish” approach. I recommend trying them the Academy.
out before you donate, to see how much value Maybe you’re familiar with mind mapping,
they help you. Then donate accordingly. you’ve at least heard about it, or you’re an
What do you do when you’re done? Your book expert. The Academy allows you to share your
is finished? Go through and do some blue pencil knowledge. Other members, all in the business
editing and rewriting, BEFORE you send it to of writing, will share their knowledge of mind
your editor. You won’t catch every mistake; you’re mapping; as well as talking about socialmonials,
human, after all, But so is your editor. Every narrating and recording your own book, author
correction you make is one less for your editor voice vs. character voice, and more.
to miss. The Academy has already presented What if you’re not interested in hearing what
several pieces this year on revising and prepping other writers have to say about the craft? Perhaps
your manuscript for editing. you feel like you’re already an expert in every
How do you treat dialogue? As an subject covered by the Academy. (You should
32 ONE COMMUNITY
