How to Tell or Write a Story
Suppose, just for a moment, that a time machine appears at your front door. You climb aboard, and race far, far back into prehistoric times. It's night when you arrive, and you come upon some tribe elders. (Since people didn't live long then, these old fellas are probably about 29.) They're sharing stories around a campfire. Suddenly they notice you, and one guy shouts, "Stranger, where you come from?" (Sounds like a line from an old Tarzan movie, huh?) Slowly you unweave your story. You speak simply, in short words or phrases, because you want to be understood. You use simple comparatives. "In my land, we have a machine that looks much like a window. You can look into it, and see stories about people who live far away. "These people have many problems," you continue. "We call this machine television. And we call the stories we see soap operas." You also appeal to the senses. "If we must go far away very fast, we climb on a giant cart that looks like a bird. And while we fly there, somebody serves us delicious peanuts." Your vivid word pictures make listeners want to hear more. So you unweave the additional who, what, where, when, why, and how of your amazing story. A single theme runs throughout. You employ simple phrases and analogies. All you need now is a dramatic conclusion – perhaps a short summary – to help people remember your words. Congratulations. This story is finished. But your career as a writer or speaker has just begun. Humorist Rix Quinn writes the syndicated humor feature "Poor Rix's Almanac." His new book on writing techniques – "Words That Stick" – is available from your local bookstore, or http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1580085768/qid/
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Winners Announced for 16th Annual Tom Howard/John H. Reid Short Story Contest
Victoria Gouldthorp is the winner of the 16th annual Tom Howard/John H. Reid Short Story Contest sponsored by Tom Howard Books. This contest awards $5,250 in prizes for the best original short stories, essays or other short prose, including a top prize of $2,000. Gouldthorp's story "All Things Considered" was judged the best of over 1,800 entries from around the world. The top 15 winners are published at http://www.winningwriters.com/tomstory
Vote4MyStory.com - the Short Story Contest that Promotes all its Writers
Vote4mystory is a new design for short story contests, where writers are guaranteed publicity for themselves and their websites while also competing for cash prizes. Each writer has the added power of 32 other writers marketing their work in a collective effort to promote an ebook of short stories. Selected stories are also made into hardbound publications.
The Stories We Tell Ourselves
The Hasidic master, Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach taught that on Passover night we are bringing our entire life stories to the Seder table to be freed. What exactly does this mean? To begin with, we are by nature, storytellers.
Oceanview Publishing to Host Short Story Competition
Oceanview Publishing is now accepting entries for its first-ever short story competition.
Sheltie's Stories Helps Kids and Parents Communicate
It's not easy being a kid. There are lots of things to know and learn, and some of them are scary. It's not easy being a parent, either. Sometimes it's hard to find the right words to explain a situation, share our values, or comfort our kids. An award-winning book by UW alumnus James Beverly (MA '68) helps both parents and children to talk about important subjects with the assistance of an unusual guide - a Shetland sheepdog named Seamus.
Priceless Legacy to Exhibit at Great American Scrapbook Convention
The Priceless Legacy Company will be exhibiting at the Great American Scrapbook Convention in Arlington, Texas from June 4 to 6, 2009
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