Welcome to Writing For Publication! & Hint Fiction

Okay, here we are finally. As I've mentioned before, we're going to shift gears this semester and talk about the publishing industry. The purpose of this course is to get young writers like yourself a little  more comfortable and aware of what a writer is. While we're doing this, we are also going to be playing around with various writing projects--many of which will teach you the ins and outs of publishing.

Let's start today with the following:

1. Five Top Tips for New Authors by Mindy Gibbins-Klein. We're going to spend a lot of time reading what various authors, publishers, and editors say about writing. That's part of our curriculum, so read that article, answer: what are the 5 tips this author gives you, and write these tips in your journal. (By the way, the journal will be due on March 11, in two weeks).

2. What can you do with a writing degree?

You are living at an exciting time in writing history. Almost anyone can publish a book now-a-days, but being a writer may not be as glorious and profitable as you might think. While many people write for a living, very few make it to the big leagues of blockbuster bestselling novelists, just like not every rapper or basketball player becomes a pro. But don't stress out yet. The skill of writing is an important one and many businesses are looking for people who can write.

According to the writers at QuinStreet, Inc., from their website WorldWideLearn, "Many different businesses and organizations are using newsletters and Internet websites more, and the advertising and public relations fields are also providing a steady demand for new writing professionals...Almost 25% of jobs for writers and editors are salaried positions with newspapers, magazines, and book publishers. Substantial numbers, mostly technical writers, work for computer software firms. Some writers develop publications and technical materials for government agencies or write for motion picture companies." So there's a lot more out there than poet or novelist.

LAB WORK/RESEARCH: Select and sign up for one of the following occupations. Your job today in class is to use the internet to find out some information to report back to the class on these jobs. Find out:

A. What is the job? (Describe what the job entails or involves)
B. What is the median (average) salary for the job
C. What education and/or requirements are needed to get the job.
D. Anything else you found interesting about the job.

By the end of period 3, please be prepared to share this information with the rest of the class. Some of the categories include: novelist, technical writer, journalist, reporter, copy editor, publisher, advertising/marketing, screenwriter/television writer, columnist, playwright, poet, lyricist (song writer), ghostwriter, press secretary, lawyer, communication manager, reviewer/critic, blogger, researcher, public relations, literary agent, freelance writer, etc.

If you finish early, take a look at any of these websites while you're waiting for classmates to finish. We'll report out in the beginning of period 4.

Top Ten Writing Rules Advice from Famous Writers
What does a publisher do?
How much will I make publishing a novel?

Then: WRITING TIME 
With the popular and frequent use of Twitter (read about tweeting here)...writers have turned to a specialized type of short, short, short story called: HINT FICTION
 
What is it? 

Hint fiction is defined as a story of 25 words or fewer that suggests a larger, more complex story.

Where does it come from & What are some examples?

Click here and read the article, particularly the examples.

See? Short, short stories in 25 words or less. The perfect byte size fiction for tweeting.

• A famous example from Ernest Hemingway: hint fiction: "For Sale: Baby shoes--never worn." 
• From science fiction writer Damon Knight: "The last man on Earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock on the door."
• And even poetry: from Margaret Atwood: "You fit into me like a hook into an eye. A fish-hook. An open eye."

How do I start?

Step by Step Instructions:

• 1. Read through the examples of hint fiction. It's always good to have a model. As you read, consider how you might write your own story. What might your story be about? How would it differ from the examples you are reading? Do you detect patterns forming in the work you're reading?
• 2. Brainstorm (perhaps in your journal) a story. Include a beginning, middle, end. For example: write a three sentence story where each sentence is either the beginning, middle, or end of a story. Do a series of these, then pick your favorite ones. Since they're short, try a few. Keep writing!
• 3. Just like a poem, create a creative title to clarify or make a point about theme or tone or character.
• 4. Trim your story to the most essential parts. Remove all unnecessary words. This is tricky. Your story should be complete, but also hint at the larger story that does not need to be told. Be as specific with your diction as possible.
  5. Post your story on an index card. Put your name and title on the heading. Turn in at least one example of your hint fiction by the end of class today.

Robert Swartwood is the writer behind hint fiction. Take a look at his blog. We will be creating our own author's blogs soon, so his is a great example and model for your own project coming up.

HOMEWORK: Write 3-5 hint fiction stories. Bring these story drafts with you next class. Review, examine, and read Robert Swartwood's blog.

Please complete The Thief of Always (and journal exercises for the book) by Friday, March 1. There will be a quiz on the book's plot, characters, themes, and motifs.