FIRST STEP

by Pilar Rodriguez
(Alpedrete-Madrid-Spain)

I am new on this and I would like to know how to start.
Also I am Spanish speaker, my English is not so good.
What should I do first?

Childrens Books

by Donna
(Texas, USA)

What do you know about children's books?

Writing FAST

by Jim Bates
(San Juan, Puerto Rico)

I have a win and an acknowledgment that I want to share with you Richard...

Your writing has clarified the mystery of story creation, which is - 80% of the process... but there was a side-effect of this, that I hadn't fully noticed until a week ago: I'm MUCH more fluid with written communication in general, have a higher level of expression AND a much more rapid pace.

All of which is because my attention isn't stuck on the MYSTERY of "the Story." I'm no longer "beating up my prose" for not carrying the whole 9 yards, which makes it easier to SIMPLY WRITE.

Now, that's NOT the win. But, it was what set things up for the win...

Right around the time I started working with you I also re-connected with my daughter from my earlier marriage, estranged for some 20 years. She has never been in communication with me, never answered a letter, an e-mail, nothing. For 20 years. And suddenly BOOM!! She got in comm. with ferocity, telling me how she had been angry with me for years...

removed personal stuff The communication just soared like I have never seen before, and the sheer rapidity of it (especially on a live chat with her) was as fast as I can type, which is pretty darn fast, and "no time to sit and think about the right words" it just had to come out right the first time - and it did.

At a very rapid pace; written, decisive, incisive and certain. I'm rather used to talking to people. But... to be able to do this in WRITING... I've come way up to where my thoughts just flow into words that matched what I want to say, whether by message or in real time. WHEW!

The upshot is - I got my daughter back!!

So, THERE'S the WIN.

And THANKS for un-sticking my attention from the mystery of WRITING... THANK YOU!

I Get It

by Geneva M.

Richard I have written many endorsements on your site in its early development stage. Poets at week hours of the morning.

Thank you for introducing me to What a story is. How a story works, Why it works and The Way it works.

These tools are electrical. I am back purchasing my ticket to the fair. I have chosen this wooden horse and it's decorations as well as the ride. Ha!

The ending

by Peter Asberg
(Sweden)

I have written a whole book, 500 pages, of exciting, thrilling story and I just can't end it. I want a dramatic ending where the hero makes it in the end. The bloody book has been sitting in the computer for 6 months now, just waiting for me to do something.

How do I crack this nut?

May I?

Hello Richard,

May I add this page's url to my articles & comments page on my website? I was due to write an article on predatory formatters this week, but it seems you've already written quite a number of cautionary thoughts on the subject.

And it seems you have some products to offer that are meant to help writers as well. That's a win-win.

Without other writers, where would most writers be?

Sincerely,

J.M. Surra

Communication, poetry and storytelling

by Denis

I find this site useful in understanding the story, but I balk at the idea that poetry is about storytelling. A story has a definite purpose, usually something like teaching a moral. A poem is about sound and presenting the audience with an idea.

All art is about communicating but all communication is not story telling.

Rules to Fiction

by G.N.

I read and digested what you had to say about the rules to write fiction and other genres and at well past 3:00 AM I was still wrapped up in your instructions.

I began to click links to various texts, why, when, who wrote various types of poems. I came wider awake to discover that my style as a poetry writer is (to my glee) the metaphysical forms used by 19th century poets. So, that is why my words arrive on the surface. I settle my thoughts and I pen what comes to me.

Thank you for enlightening me Richard A. McCullough.

Your Story Engine

by Joe Barziza
(Corsicana, Texas)

Do you have any information posted yet on your 'Story Engine'? If so, could you post directions to it? Thanks.

Joe Barziza

Problem & Necessity

by LT
(RI, USA)

Here's what I've done so far for homework. I wasn't completely clear between problem and necessity. Are they related? Is the necessity often the flip-side of the problem?

I will see if it's in the book, but if you have a quick answer that's great.

I think my biggest challenges will be: 1) the age group and writing something that's "cool" enough for that age--(BLOCKED) is dicey! 2) getting clear about the 2 conflicts or events before the climax. I think reading your book will probably help me with that. 3) creating the world of MY STORY.

I need to go more in depth with many of the parts of the assignment but thought it might be helpful to give you what I have so far and see if you had any thoughts, suggestions.

I'm excited.