Writer’s Island Page

For the first time in Writer's Island history–– we have a tie for this month's WPC!

Highest Score Winners: "With My Little Eye" by Ismael Rodriguez and "The Last Letter" by Samantha Palmer.

Editor's Choice Winner: "The Last Letter"

Congratulations to both winners and thank you to all who submitted. And a huge thank you to Sugar Free Editing for giving the group an awesome prompt for WPC #13 and also judging the competition. Having a professional editor's insight and feedback is so valuable to all the writers who participated this month, and Writer's Island is beyond grateful for your attention to detail and energy you gave to help the writers grow and learn.

You can read the two winning stories for WPC #13 at www.writersislandblog.com

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💠Tomorrow💠 join us on Facebook to watch Rogue Animal Books and myself as we get a chance to sit down and chat with one of the finalists from our Short Story Competition, Paul Hook! 🤩 we LOVED his story “Always A Question of the Rats” and I can’t wait to talk with him and have the opportunity to pick his author brain.

This past weekend we moved and it feels like I haven’t been able to enjoy a nice quiet morning reading or writing in forever. Internet, computer, and my office is finally all set up and unpacked ♥️ my morning has consisted of reading submissions for our short story competition we are co-hosting with and I am loving every blissful second of reading these stories. Thank you to all who participated. Looking forward to announcing the two stories that go up for vote soon! 🥰

Our Daily Prompt for today is a 🌴 🌴

Who doesn't love a good horror story set in a haunted house? 👻

Be sure to join the group to participate in the Daily Prompts and see what everyone else is writing! Click the link below to check out the group page:
https://loom.ly/IG1-goU

I know that the official first day of Fall has already been announced, but for me Fall isn't here until October finally rolls around. This month represents the final transition from those bright, sunny, hot summer days to the chilly, overcast, coziness of the new season.

As a writer, I feel infinitely inspired by Autumn. It's hard not to be! The rich colors, moody weather, and smell of a crackling fire blending with my favorite apple-cinnamon candle wafting all around me. Yeah, don't bother me– I'm writing.

Who else feels inspired by all the 🍂Fall vibes and fully plans on barricading themselves in their writer's den for the season?

It's deadline day for our Bi-Annual Short Story Competition with Rogue Animal Books! Hopefully everyone who wanted to participate was able to get their story in on time 👀 So, now that we know what you are NOT writing– we wanna know what you are working on!

**Featuring: Charlie and Pepperoncini, our amazing corgis ❤️

Ah, yes– The exclamation point! The only punctuation we have that can imply emotion, tone, and even volume. Quite clever for a simple line with a dot below it. But how do we know when to use it or not?

The simple answer: there isn't one. For instance, Moby Dick included 1,683 exclamation marks, but F. Scott Fitzgerald claims using an exclamation point in your writing "is like laughing at your own joke", and it's pretty universally agreed upon that using exclamation points in a professional setting is, well, unprofessional. It seems like the rules and opinions on how and when to use this punchy punctuation varies from person to person.

I believe the safest bet is to use them sparingly. They can inject emotion (stress, shock, anger, etc.) into your writing, but to use an exclamation point too often could cause it to lose its effect. I encourage writers who are using it frequently for that very reason, to consider using a stronger vocabulary and more provoking writing instead.

Example:
"I walked into the house and immediately felt afraid!"

Try instead:
"The door creaked open, exposing the inky black interior of the house. I gulped down the lump in my throat, and forced myself to take the first step."

Sometimes, an exclamation point is just necessary. Don't think for a moment that I'm trying to convince you otherwise. But I think to rely on it too heavily to create excitement and emotion in your writing, can be a mistake and overall– can hurt the piece.

What are your thoughts on exclamation points? Love 'em, hate 'em, or indifferent?

✍️ ❤️

Let's get right to it, shall we?

Myth #1 - Animal characters are not relatable.
Fiction is fiction, whether the character be human or not. It's about relating to what you can and being able to appreciate what you cannot. Maybe even learn something! The thing that binds us all (humans and everything else) is emotion. The ability to feel happiness, loss, stress, love. If I can read a book about mermaids, witches, elves, and other completely made up characters and be able to relate in some way-- then why not a cat or a dog or even a porpoise?

Myth #2 - Animal characters are intended for children's books.
There are so many examples that disprove this. "A Dog's Purpose" by W. Bruce Cameron, "Animal Farm" by George Orwell, "A Million Heavens" by John Brandon, and countless others. Even the Bible has a talking a snake in it.

Myth #3 - Animal characters = sidekick
Too often, animals are given the one-dimensional role of a supporting side-kick, when in reality they have all the potential to be the hero of their own story. Which brings us to the next myth:

Myth #4 - Animals have nothing to say.
Like humans, animals are capable of good days and bad. Being sweet or mischievious. Happy and prancing to throwing tantrums and sulking (like when my corgi, Pepperoncini, wants to play toss but Mom just isn't in the mood). My point is, they are as deep and capable of emotion as we are. And with that, they are able to teach us so much. Most especially, about unconditional love and living in the present. They are anything but a limited character.

Have you written a story with a strong animal character? We'd love to hear all about 'em!

New publishing house, Zibby Books, just arrived on the scene (like literally this month) and they've got some pretty innovative ideas on how they plan to take "publishing into the 21st century".

Their model design: "Instead of relying on celebrities to promote books, Zibby is calling on other bestselling and established authors to give back and lift up individual titles from inception to publication. Dubbed 'Book Champions,' those bestselling authors will get an equity stake in their Zibby Book and mentor the author along the way."

I first learned about Zibby Books on writersdigest.com and found the article about the new publishing house to be quite interesting. A quick tour of the Zibby Books website
( zibbybooks.com ) and I couldn't help but think of all the writers I know (including, perhaps myself) who might be interested to submit their works to them! Their goal is to release one exceptional book-length story (fiction or memoir) per month beginning in January 2023. So now is the time to begin submitting!

What Zibby Books is looking for:
Zibby Books is looking for original book-length fiction and memoir by debut and established authors. Particularly wants works from diverse voices and points of view with a strong sense of place.

What they are not looking for:
They don't want science fiction/fantasy, ultra literary fiction, poetry, romance, self-help/parenting, political, or children's books (picture books/middle grade/young adult).

How to Submit:
Potential authors can submit on their online form at www.zibbybooks.com, which will ask writers for: Author name, email, bio and website; agent name, firm and email; book title and genre, elevator pitch in 2-3 sentences, 2-3 comps, contact info for follow-up.

Highly recommend checking out the article on Zibby Books by Robert Lee Brewer on writersdigest.com for a more in depth look at the new publishing house. I am personally really excited to see what authors and stories come out of Zibby Books and plan to keep an eye on it!

So what do you guys think? Sound like something you'd be interested in? Let us know!

A tribe, or group of people that makes you feel heard and understood, is a precious thing to have in life. Without that kind of support, the suck factor of it all can get overwhelming. In your writing life, it is no different. Having a set of friends or even a group (cough cough-- Writer's Island) that you can share your writing journey with can be a major asset for countless reasons. Here are just a few:

1) Writing can be quite lonely.
Writing is, and has always been, a solitary thing. And rightfully so! Could you imagine trying to write characters with depth and a world that comes alive in a crowded room? Certainly not. But after hours of no human interaction other than that between your characters, it's important to unplug and reconnect to "real" life and people.

2) Nobody else will understand... not really.
They will try. Oh, how they will try. And bless their hearts for doing so. But unless they've spent hours in front of that screen, typing away feverishly, trying to remember every writing rule and trick in the book, all the while fighting that menacing voice in the back of your mind telling you to give up because it's all crap, or cried over that bad review, or hit refresh on your email for the hundredth time waiting for that response... the best they could do is sympathize. But not understand. Not really.

3) Because of when it sucks.
Your tribe may not be just around the corner or down the hall like your other friends, colleagues, or family. They may be at the other end of a text, email, tweet, or message on social media. But they are there. For those bad reviews, nights of writer's block, disagreements with agents and editors, or to help calm your nerves as you await for a response email. They're there for you because they've been there themselves.

4) Because of when its awesome.
The same people that were there for you during all the ugly parts of #3, will be there celebrating with you when the clouds part and the sun comes beaming down on you–– and it will! They will be beside you screaming and jumping up and down with you. Retweeting and sharing the good news. Taking pictures of your book because they saw it in the store, and encouraging everyone they know "you should read this, it's amazing." They understand what you've gone through to get where you are, because they've been there too. They will be there through the hardest parts of this whole thing, and be so proud of you and genuinely happy during your successes. These kinds of people are so so important.

Find your tribe, writers.

❤️

8 days left until the deadline for our Bi-Annual Short Story Competition with Rogue Animal Books 🐺🏝

For more details on how to submit or participate in future competitions-- please visit www.writersislandblog.com or look up our facebook writing group Writer's Island!

Caught in the wild writing tips 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

🖤 Make them good looking. People are more willing to like those they are attracted to.
🖤 Give them a pleasant personality. Not all people who do horrible things are huge jerks.
🖤 If that doesn't work, give them a sense of showmanship or pizazz. Villains having fun are fun to watch.
🖤 Give them a tragic past. Sympathy is a powerful tool.
🖤Give them a motive based on that tragic past.
🖤 Make them have at least a few people they truly care about.

Got a good villain that fits the bill? We'd love to hear about them! Comment below with a few details about the "bad guy" from your story.

✨Female names and their meanings✨

In our first year as a group, these are the writers who won the Writing Prompt Competitions. So proud to have the opportunity to know these talented and creative writers. Putting ourselves out there isn't always easy, so I want to give credit to all those who have thrown their hats in the ring this past year by entering the WPC's.

We will never know fully how our work can impact others. Your story may have inspired someone or taught them something new about writing. It may have sparked an idea that they otherwise wouldn't have had. Your words of encouragement or feedback could have helped someone overcome a hurtle or helped them be a better writer. I can't give you the exact number of people you may have influenced by being a part of this group and participating, but I can say for certain you have changed me and helped me grow so much in these 12 months. Thank you!

Ismael Rodriguez you have won the most WPC's in the last year! I am putting together a prize and can't wait to send it to you! You have more than earned it. We have all read your countless stories on both the WPC's and the Daily Prompts-- of which you have shown how versatile and creative one writer can be. Your advice and words of encouragement are invaluable and I can't thank you enough for all you do for the group. Congratulations again, Smiley! Writer's Island loves you! ❤

Our first year in the books, Writer's Island! Let's shoot for another amazing year full of writing and growth! To join in on all the writing, check out our Facebook group Writer's Island

In the run up to our ebook store launch, we have some exciting news! We’re thrilled to be teaming up with Writer’s Island Page to host a short story competition. Winners will be considered for our joint anthology. Our goal has always been to give readers more of a say on the kinds of content we host. Shortlisted entries will be be uploaded onto our site, and YOU will get to choose the winner!

To enter and/or vote, you need to be a member of Writer’s Island. If you haven’t joined already, you should! They’re a creative writing group doing great work to support indie authors. Each day they run a prompt to inspire a story. They also run competitions and much more. We absolutely love what they’re doing!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/355302788804502/?ref=share

The winner gets:
- $100 amazon gift card
- featured on the Rogue Animal Books website
- winning story and author are considered for publication in an anthology.

The Rules:
1) Must be a member of the Writer's Island facebook group to participate. All submissions will be cross-checked to be sure the author is a member.

2) Your story should encompass the theme of 'Fall/Autumn'.

3) Word Count for your story should be between 6,000-7,500 words.

4) All submissions must be emailed by September 30th, 2021 to [email protected]

- Please include a document with your story in the email. Proper format for submissions is = Times New Roman font, size 12, double spaced.

- Subject Line of Email: Rogue-Island/Your Name

- In the body of the email please include: Title of story, Your preferred author name, word count. No pictures please.

Check out the Writer’s Island site here!
https://www.writersislandblog.com/

Good luck!

For some, the first draft comes easily and to those I say-- Bravo! To others, the first draft is the steepest mountain to climb. Sometimes a simple change of perspective on a problem can provide a solution. Jane Smiley tells us this about the dreaded first draft:

"Every first draft is perfect, because all a first draft has to do is exist."

She isn't wrong! And perhaps, looking at it that way will liberate you from the million things you're trying to keep track of as you begin your writing journey.

- Are my characters colorful and alive?
- Is my language too bland?
- Is my story interesting?
- Spelling, grammar, punctuation--- ah!

And the list continues of things that are rattling around in our brain while we're trying to get our story out on paper. I have found the quickest and most sure-fire way to unsubscribe to the countless pop-ups in my mind that distract me from accomplishing what my goals are while writing, is this quote from Terry Pratchett:

"The first draft is just you telling yourself the story."

It's as simple as that, really. Stop worrying about what the readers are seeing, as they will never see this version of your story. The first draft is for your eyes. Get it out and worry about the finesse later.

What are some tips you have for completing your first draft?

Your reminder to not give up 💪🏼

Where 'Pantsers' fly by the seat of their pants without any outlining or planning, 'Plotters' spend great efforts working out details and architecting the structure of their story well before writing it. For those super organized and neurotic writers, such as myself, it's easy to see the appeal here.

Some well-known 'Plotters' include J.K. Rowling, E.L. Stein, and John Grisham.

Grisham agrees that plotting out your story beforehand can be a major tool in writing and staying on task. “The more time I spend on the outline the easier the book is to write. And if I cheat on the outline I get in trouble with the book.”

Rowling's approach is more of a hybrid 'Plotter/Pantser' take. Where she creates a basic outline of her story and then fills in the blanks as she goes.

How many of you are more of a Plotter with your writing?

In case you have never heard the term 'Pantser' in writing, let me assure you-- it's not what you think.

A 'Pantser' is simply a writer who flies by the seat of their pants. No planning or outlining of any kind.

Versus the 'Plotter' who spends a great deal of time planning their novel before they begin writing.

As writers, we are usually one or the other with the occasional hybrid (like myself).

Some famous 'pantsers' include Margaret Atwood, Pierce Brown, and Stephen King.

Atwood states that she usually starts with 'an image, scene, or voice...', "I couldn't do it the other way around. It would feel too much like paint-by-numbers."

Brown, meanwhile, looks at pantsing as a double edged sword. "I sit down at my computer every day praying for a lightning strike.”

King has a famously harsher view of those on the other side of the fence (plotters). “Outlines are the last resource of bad fiction writers who wish to God they were writing masters’ theses.”

And then there's the more fun perspective of David Morrell, creator of John Rambo. "I like to think of the book as being an adventure. I have this mantra which says, Serve the story, listen to the story. And often the story knows better than I do what it wants to be.”

How many of you are a 'pantser'?

"We are all guilty of the adverb in our writing," she thought sadly. But what's the big deal about adverbs anyways?

Well, for starters, let's go over what an adverb is. Adverbs are those -ly words that modify verbs. Such as: angrily, sadly, happily, etc.

Seeing numerous adverbs in dialogue tags ('he said wistfully', 'she screamed angrily') is a tell-tale sign of an amateur. As writers, we should all aim to eliminate as many adverbs in our work as possible.

But.... why?

Dialogue tags only purpose in a piece is to tell us who is speaking. Most readers read right over them. Too often, writers rely on adverbs in dialogue to convey emotion and tone. But that should happen in the dialogue itself and not in the dialogue tag.

For example: "I've had enough." Liam said angrily.

That tells us Liam is angry, but that emotion isn't shown in the dialogue or actions. Put simply-- this is lackluster writing and you can do better.

Instead, try:

"You disgust me. This conversation is over." Liam said.

In this example, the dialogue is strong enough to show us how Liam is feeling.

Or

Liam slammed his hands on the table. "I've had enough."

This example uses action to show the emotion.

To sum it up:

Adverbs in Dialogue Tags = boring and (dare I say it?) lazy writing. Telling and not showing emotion.

Adverbs should be eliminated as much as possible to make your pieces stronger. Did this post teach you something new? Let us know!

Firstly, what is a 'flash' piece? Most commonly, it's considered anything 1,000 words or less. 1,001? No deal. And believe it or not, there is a market for flash stories with many publications and journals actively seeking them. But even if you're not looking to submit your work to any of those, it's still a handy tool for any writer.

Why? Look at this way-- Learning to write short is like learning to stretch a dollar.

Writing in tightly compressed forms forces us to ask ourselves:

How can I make this one sentence do the work of two?
How can I make this one word do the work of five?
What is absolutely essential to leave on the page?
What can I get away with cutting?

So, how many of you are up to the challenge? 💪🏼

"The scent of bread baking in the oven. The crunch of a fresh carrot. The tartness of a wild strawberry. The silkiness of a perfect custard. The breath-taking beauty of an elaborate, detailed wedding cake."

So begins Devon Ellington's article "Food Sensuality In Fiction" on www.writermag.com and already... I'm hungry.

Reading on in the article, he makes some beautiful connections between food and our ability to conjure feelings in our reader. Whether it's to seduce, comfort, or inspire the warmth of community and family.

This quote by Jenn McKinlay, who has written three different mystery series one of which revolves around a cupcake shop, left me not only jonesing for a cupcake, but realizing the full impact food can have in any genre:

“The most frequent comment I hear from readers is, ‘Your books should come with a box of cupcakes because you start craving them while reading the Cupcake Bakery Mysteries.’ This is when I high-five myself for a job well done,” says McKinlay. “Cupcakes are wanton and decadent and elicit the innocence of childhood birthday parties mixed in with the naughtiness of adulthood – you know, when you decide cupcakes for breakfast is perfectly acceptable because you have a mortgage and carpool duty. Buttery cake topped with luscious frosting in any flavors you can imagine – cupcakes lend themselves to adjective-laden paragraphs that read like love scenes. Food p**n is real, and it clicks with readers, but it’s also a vehicle for the writer, allowing them to give a glimpse into the inner lives of the characters through their relationships with food. In one of my rom-coms, The Good Ones, the hero seduces the heroine with sheet cake. Sheet cake! Seriously, does it get any more romantic than that?”

This article was so well done and educational. Makes me want to go back and incorporate food into all of my pieces, with the hopes of leaving my readers hungry for more. Pretty clever, eh?

How many of you regularly use food as an emotional conduit in your writing?

Check out the full article by Devon Ellington here:
https://loom.ly/QqaMANE

**n

For most writers, it sometimes feels like short stories can be a waste of time. Merely a way to procrastinate on not working on that novel you've been chipping away at. But the reality is, writing is writing! And the length of a story doesn't take away from its ability to impact it's readers and reach the success levels we daydream about!

As a group, Writer's Island tends to focus on short stories. Here are a few examples of short stories that made it big! ✨

Want to see more posts like this? Like and tell us what you think!

🏆 And the winner of WPC #9 is Ismael Rodriguez! 🏆

With his fourth WPC winning submission, "Warning" was a story set in ancient times but still felt very relevant to today's societal concerns. Sadness, awe, fear, and hope were the emotions that propelled the readers through the piece, completely captivated by the setting and characters Mr. Rodriguez introduced us to. The reveal at the end was enough to leave a lasting impression and desire to reflect on the impact we have on the world around us. 10/10. Thank you for yet another incredible story and congratulations on the well deserved win!

To read "Warning" and other Writer's Island winning stories, please check out our official website: www.writersislandblog.com

Thank you to all the writers who submitted and voted! You guys are the heart of Writer's Island ❤️