Creative Writing 101: According to Kurt Vonnegut

 

Kurt Vonnegut the author of praised novels Cat's Cradle, Slaughterhouse-Five, and Breakfast of Champions, has given his readers, from his short story collection, Bagombo Snuff Box, eight rules on how to write a successful story. The list can be found in the Introduction of the collection.

"Now lend me your ears. Here is Creative Writing 101:

1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
4. Every sentence must do one of two things—reveal character or advance the action.
5. Start as close to the end as possible.
6. Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them—in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages."

 

About the Author

Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (November 11, 1922 – April 11, 2007) was an American writer. In a career spanning over 50 years, he published 14 novels, three short story collections, five plays, and five nonfiction works, with further collections being published after his death. Wikipedia

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Elements of Fiction: Suspension of Disbelief

Elements of Fiction: Suspension of Disbelief

 

Suspension of disbelief is the reader's temporary acceptance of story elements as believable, regardless of how implausible they may seem in real life.

 

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Elements of Fiction: Tone

 

 

Elements of Fiction: Tone

 

The tone of a literary work expresses the writer's attitude toward or feelings about the subject matter and audience.

 

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Elements of Fiction: Point of View

 

Elements of Fiction: Point of View

 

Point of view is the perspective (or type of personal or non-personal "lens") through which a story is communicated. Narrative point of view or narrative perspective describes the position of the narrator, that is, the character of the storyteller, in relation to the story being told.

 

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Writer's Digest Annual Writing Competition 2023

Writer's Digest Annual Writing Competition 2023

ENTER NOW!  Writer’s Digest’s oldest and most popular competition, the Annual Writing Competition, is now accepting entries. Winners of the 92nd Annual competition will be announced in the Nov/Dec 2023 issue of Writer's Digest.

Deadline: May 5, 2023

Writer’s Digest has been shining a spotlight on up-and-coming writers in all genres through its Annual Writing Competition for over 90 years. Enter our 92nd Annual Writing Competition for your chance to win and have your work be seen by editors and agents! Almost 500 winners will be chosen.

• Prizes
• Categories
• How to enter
• Preparing Your Entry
• FAQ
• Pricing and Deadlines
• Easy to follow PDF

Prizes
One Grand Prize winner will receive:

• $5,000 in cash
• An interview with them in Writer’s Digest (Nov/Dec 2023 issue) and on WritersDigest.com
• A paid trip to the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference, including special recognition at the keynote
•  A coveted Pitch Slam slot at the Writer's Digest Conference where the winner will receive one on one attention from editors or agents
• Publication of their winning piece on WritersDigest.com

The First place winner in each category will receive $1,000 in cash and publication of their winning piece on WritersDigest.com.

The Second place winner in each category will receive $500 cash.

The Third place winner in each category will receive $250 in cash.

The Fourth place winner in each category will receive $100 in cash.

The Fifth place winner in each category will receive $50 in cash.

The Sixth through Tenth place winners in each category will receive a $25 gift certificate for writersdigestshop.com.

All top winners will also receive:

• Their names and the title of their winning piece listed in Writer’s Digest and on WritersDigest.com
• A one-year subscription (new or renewal) to Writer’s Digest magazine
• A one-year subscription to Writer’s Digest Tutorials
• 20% discount off of purchases made at Writer’s Digest University
• A special graphic recognizing their winning status

All Honorable Mentions receive:

• Their names and the title of their selected piece listed on WritersDigest.com
• 20% discount off of purchases made at Writer’s Digest University

Categories

• Inspirational/Spiritual
• Memoirs/Personal Essay
• Nonfiction Essay or Article
• Genre Short Story (Mystery, Romance, etc.)
• Mainstream/Literary Short Story
• Rhyming Poetry
• Non-rhyming Poetry
• Humor
• Children’s/Young Adult Fiction

How to Enter

ENTERING IS EASY!

Create your free Submittable account by clicking the SUBMIT button. If you already have a Submittable account, simply log in!

You can compete in multiple WD competitions with a single login! Check back often for an updated list of competitions.

When you are ready to submit your work to the WD Annual Writing Competition readers, you’ll want to have the following information available:

Your contact information (be careful that the information provided is accurate). Contact information is to be provided only on the submission form (not on the submission’s file upload). Time sensitive information such as credits and contact information (for prize distribution) is taken directly from the submission form. Due to the nature of deadlines, corrections to this information are not guaranteed.

Your ANNUAL WRITING COMPETITION submission file (see the PREPARING YOUR ENTRY tips for more information).

Your method of payment (see the ENTRY PRICING, SUBMISSION DEADLINES AND WINNER NOTIFICATION page for tips for all pricing and deadlines).

Ready to enter? Click on the link below to get started!

• Preparing Your Entry
• Pricing and Deadlines
• Judging and Notification
• FAQ
• Writer’s Digest Competitions

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Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Competition 2023

 

Enter Now!  Deadline: 12/15/22. Writer’s Digest’s competition for short fiction. Send them your best...in 1,500 words or fewer. This competition is currently open for submissions.

DEADLINE: DECEMBER 15, 2022

They’re looking for short fiction stories! Think you can write a winning story in 1,500 words or less? Enter the 23rd Annual Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Competition for your chance to win $3,000 in cash, get published in Writer’s Digest magazine, and a paid trip to their ever-popular Writer’s Digest Conference!

• Prizes
• How to enter
• Preparing Your Entry
• FAQ
• Pricing and Deadlines
• Easy to follow PDF

Prizes

One First Place Winner will receive:

• $3,000 in cash
• Their short story title published in Writer’s Digest magazine’s September/October 2023 issue
• A paid trip to the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference, including a coveted Pitch Slam slot

The Second Place Winner will receive:

• $1,500 in cash
• Their short story title published in Writer’s Digest magazine’s September/October 2023 issue

The Third Place Winner will receive:

• $500 in cash
• Their short story title published in Writer’s Digest magazine’s September/October 2023 issue

Fourth through Tenth Place Winners will receive:

• $100 in cash
• Their short story titles published in Writer’s Digest magazine’s September/October 2023 issue

Eleventh through Twenty-Fifth Place Winners will receive:

• A $50 gift certificate for writersdigestshop.com

How to Enter

• All entries must be submitted online. Entries must be accompanied by the required judging fee. They accept PayPal or credit card payment for the required judging fee. Entry fees are non-refundable.
• All entries must be in English. Only original works that have not been published (at the time of submission) in print, digital or online publications will be considered. Self-published work in blogs, on social media, etc. will be considered. Writer’s Digest retains one-time nonexclusive publication rights to the winning entries to be published in a Writer’s Digest publication.
• All entries must be formatted to 8-1/2 x 11 or A4 paper. All manuscripts must be double-spaced. Entry files should not include name, address, and phone number in the upper left-hand corner of the first page since that information is collected on the form.
• BE SURE OF YOUR WORD COUNT! Entries exceeding the word limits will be disqualified. Type the exact word count (counting every single word, except the title and contact information) at the top of the manuscript.
• Due to U.S. Government restrictions we are unable to accept entries from Syria, Iran, North Korea, or Crimea.
• For more information visit their  Preparing Your Entry Page or their  FAQ page.

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Elements of Fiction: Narrator

Elements of Fiction: Narrator

 

The narrator is the story teller. The main character in the book can also be the narrator.

 

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