Road trip...
...recap
Fool’s Gold
Early last month, I presented a session on writing groups at a conference at St. Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania. It was my first time attending this particular event, the Writers Conference of Northern Appalachia.
As part of the Friday night opening festivities, there was an open mic. I signed up thinking it would be like other open mics at a comedy club or storytelling venue where people ad lib, hoping for a chuckle.
The moderator lined up the participants alphabetically, alloting each person four minutes. Perfect! Just enough time to tell my short story.
As the parade of authors strode to the podium one by one with a book or paper in hand, I suddenly felt out of place. The “literary-ness” and poetic ambiance of the gathering struck me like a hammer at a Ring-the-Bell carnival game.
I wasn’t prepared to do a reading. Will I look foolish for being different? For an instant, I thought about reaching into my bag and pulling out one of my books to read from. But I shook off the thought. Maybe I should just take the risk. You’ve told stories on stage before. You’ve got this.
When it was my turn, I took a deep breath and told my story about writing a screenplay and the feedback that ensued. I figured the audience of writers could appreciate my tale, even though it contrasted with the style of everyone who had gone before me.
To my relief and delight, I received a hearty round of applause. The next day, people said things like, “I liked the story you told last night. How cool he gave you that feedback,” and “Oh yeah, you were the one who said, ‘Does your mother know you write this?’”
Clearly, I told a memorable story, and I’m glad I stuck to my guns.
~~~
Do you ever feel out of place as a writer or storyteller? Do you worry no one will get what you’re trying to express? Are you afraid your unique style will make you look foolish? Drop into the newsletter to see how you can make your story as good as gold at Ironed Words.
In This Issue
A Few Words on Plot Twists
A Word from Our Sponsors
New Virtual Writing Conference
Come One, Come All
Building Season
Resounding
Proudly Supporting
Words of the Month
A Few Words on Plot Twists
Plot twists are a great way to keep your readers engaged and guessing. They can add an element of surprise and suspense to your story, and they can also help to reveal new information about your characters and the world they live in.
But writing a plot twist that is both believable and satisfying is not easy. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
Start with a strong foundation. Your plot twist should be rooted in the story's characters, setting, and themes. It should not come out of left field.
Plant seeds early. Drop hints and foreshadowing throughout your story that point to the eventual plot twist. This will help to make the twist more believable and satisfying when it finally comes.
Make sure the twist is relevant to the story. The plot twist should not be just a gimmick. It should have a significant impact on the characters and the story's outcome.
Don't be afraid to surprise your readers. The best plot twists are the ones that readers don't see coming. But be careful not to make it so miraculous that your readers feel cheated.
Use plot twists sparingly. Too many plot twists can make your story feel disjointed and confusing. Use them only when they are truly necessary to move the story forward.
Here are a few examples of well-written plot twists:
In "The Sixth Sense," the twist is that the protagonist, Malcolm Crowe, is actually dead.
In "The Empire Strikes Back," the twist is that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker's father.
These plot twists are all believable, satisfying, and relevant to the stories they are in. They also come as a complete surprise to the reader.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Every month, I’ll have tips on different elements of writing. If you have any requests, please let me know at IronedWordsProductions@gmail.com.
A Word from Our Sponsors
{sponsored segment}
Highlight Sponsors
Certified Excellence. Elevate your life, ignite others’ paths.
Em S. A’cor Books. The spice is in the seduction.
~~~~~~~~~~
Spotlight Sponsors
The Growing Darkness by Sean Gregory
Thrust together by chance, a group of four strangers run from forces they do not understand on a desperate mission to find the truth. But the forces set against them seem to always be one step ahead…
Read more here.
~~~~~~~~~~
The Pittsburgh Writer’s Conference, hosted by Ann K. Howley, features local author guest speakers: Janet Roberts and Rob King. Come on Saturday, April 26 for support, inspiration, guidance (and Pat Howley’s famous chocolate chip cookies). Registration is open!
~~~~~~~~~~
If you’d like to promote your book or writing services in the Hot Off the Iron newsletter to a group of people passionate about good words, get in touch for more details.
New Virtual Writing Conference
«ANNOUNCING» The debut of Your Writing Craft, Sunday, June 8 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. VIRTUAL on Google Meet.
Hear from expert panelists:
Hilary Hauck on “Creating Tension in Your Story”
Clayton Bradshaw-Mittal, PhD on “Developing Your Author Voice”
Submit your questions to be answered in the Q&A or ask your questions live during the conference.
Click here to learn more. Registration is open!
Come One, Come All
Get constructive input and a variety of perspectives on your writing from fellow writers. Join the Iron Writing Circle in May and watch your work-in-progress bloom!
If one-on-one is more your scene, check out Write Through Lunch.
Building Season
Why subscribing to Building Books™ is a good idea:
Insider Knowledge. Gain direct access to the expertise and insights of industry professionals. Learn what they look for in a manuscript, what makes a book marketable, and how to navigate the publishing process.
In April…
MEET THE PUBLISHER Cori Wamsley
MEET THE AUTHOR Sean D. Gregory
Resounding
From the Tales with Friends™ archives…
Check out David Kaye’s story: I Hear It, Too
Proudly Supporting
Ironed Words is honored to sponsor the Spring Local Author Fair on April 5 at the South Fayette Municipal Center. Come get your spring reads and meet local authors!
Words of the Month
“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.”
See you next month in another edition of “Hot Off the Iron!” Write on!
— Maria Simbra | Director & Principal | Ironed Words Productions, LLC