THE NOVICE'S GUIDE
TO THE
ART OF WRITING
Revised and Updated Version
November 2010
The Novice’s Guide
To the Art of Writing
and bonus short story
Stardust
Copyright 1985, 2001, 2010
by Paula Freda
Smashwords Edition
All rights reserved, including the right to
reproduce this book or portions thereof.
Introduction
Hi, let me introduce myself... a fellow writer, Paula Freda, daughter, granddaughter; mother, wife and homemaker, and just recently, Grandmother(Hip Hip Hooray!), with the aforementioned, priority first, but “writer” on equal terms. Without those first family designations, I could not be the latter. In other words, life experience, of which each of us has in abundance.
Over the past 50 years I have written, taken writing courses, published my writing in several small presses, in my local hometown newspaper, and lately online. I have edited manuscripts, coordinated writers’ groups, published a small press "The Pink Chameleon" (originally in print 1985 thru 1999, and presently on the internet since June 2000) .
http://www.thepinkchameleon.com
I have an online storefront to sell my work as e-books, on CD and Diskette...
http://angelfire.com/falcon/dpfenterprises.com
And in the past few years I have been publishing my works under my pseudonym, Paula Freda, through various online E-book and paperback sellers.
I have learned a lot through life experience, and am still learning. That is one of the wonders of self-awareness – there is always something new to learn.
Preface
For a writer, published or unpublished, life experience is the first and most important factor in creating marketable writing. In 2001 I taught a series of Lessons at mysticvisions.com (a former online writers' group) on writing and marketing short stories, lessons that can also be applied to most types of writing... novellas, novel, articles, essays, etc..
I had four pupils and we communicated via e-mail. The Novice's Guide to the Art of Writing contains the Four Lessons along with private optional assignments. I heartily recommend this book, especially for beginning and intermediate writers. It holds a wealth of knowledge that can boost your writing abilities and present your work at its best to a prospective editor.
This book sells as an E-book on line and as a paperback through several online book publishers. I have revised and updated this version to reflect modern story marketing trends.
If you complete the lessons and assignments, I am of a firm opinion that you will have a publishable story ready for marketing. The rest is up to you.
All the best, and peace of mind and spirit,
Paula Freda
The Novice's Guide
To the Art of Writing
Lesson No. 1
I have learned a lot through life experience, and am still learning. That is one of the wonders of self-awareness – there is always something new to learn. For a writer, published or unpublished, life experience is the first and most important factor in creating marketable writing. Upon receiving the Nobel Prize, William Faulkner explained this principle beautifully: