Accentuate Writers Forum

I’m always talking about the fun side of being a fiction writer, or just being any kind of writer, but there is a down side.  The times when you realize you’re all alone.  We writers talked to our characters all the time, we talk to ourselves as we create our worlds, and we talk to the people in our own homes when we come out of hiding.  But there are times when we need someone else who knows what we’re going through.  And that place is the Accentuate Writer’s Forum.

This is a wonderful resource for writers of all genre.  There are places where fiction writers can sit and discuss their upcoming books, places for non-fiction writers to discuss the topics of the day, and a place where they can all hang out together.  There are links to various paying writing jobs, links to writing contests, and links to places about grants and awards.  If it’s got anything to do with writing, it can be found on this forum.

The gorgeous lady behind AWF is one of the very first writers I had the pleasure of meeting online, Michelle Devon.  She is an amazingly talented woman and has a killer sense of humor.  Michy (Michelle) refers to herself as a freelance writer, author, poet, and professional dreamer and I think that last one is something we can all relate to.

If you’ve been looking for a place to hang out with other writers who’ve been where you are, and are where you once were, this is the place to go.  Even if you’re tired of talking about writing and just want to hang out, there’s plenty of room at the Accentuate Writers Forum.

Write Out Of Life

Ever have one of those days where you wish you could write a whole new chapter to your real world life?  I’m having one of those days.  I hate Mondays!!!  The nice thing about being a writer is that we can create entire worlds that have nothing to do with the realities of our own existences.  In my fictional world, I’m a goddess who can fix any problem that occurs on my computer.  In the real world, I’m ready to throw it out the window.

As you sit and try to come up with various story ideas, think about your real life.  Not the good parts where everything comes together as it should, but the parts that just totally suck.  Use them as fodder for your story lines.  So you didn’t get the promotion at work you wanted and it went to the guy who never seems to know what’s going on.  Use that as a base for a story.  Why does he always come out smelling like a rose?  Why did he get the promotion?  What are the forces behind his odd behavior?  Don’t stop to think about plot, just write and go for it.

This can be applied to just about any aspect of our lives.  We all know that sometimes, life just sucks.  But rather than hold it in or take it out on those around us, use it to your advantage.  Write out a story where you win and the rest of the world loses.  For a change you could be the one who gets the promotion, the guy/girl, and an award winning story in the end.

The Fictional Side Of Natural Disasters

As I sit here and write this, I’m watching The Weather Channel and the reality of Hurricane Irene as it’s about to strike the Eastern Seaboard.  And though there is absolutely nothing funny about this, it did strike me that it’s a wonderful way to bring a realistic touch to a fictional story.

There have been hundreds of natural disaster movies coming out in the past 10 years.  With the year 2012 coming up fast, more and more fantastical ideas are coming to the forefront of fiction.  But as I sit here and watch how this hurricane is working its way up the coast, I can’t help but think how many different fictional stories could come out of this one real storm.

I live in tornado alley.  I’ve done the same thing watching the big storms that roll through here.  Though the reality of the storms is anything but fictional, the story ideas behind them can range from young adult fiction, to horror, to romance.  If it can be imagined with a tornado or hurricane in the mix, it can be written.

Though it’s true that fiction is all about making stuff up, there is a realistic quality to some of the best stories ever written.  And when adding the element of the elements, it’s best to be able to make them feel are real as possible.  It’s okay to make up a fictional storm, but at least make it so that the reader can feel the wind in their face.  The more realistic the storm, the more likely the reader is to tell their friends about your awesome story.