dna of a writer
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http://kurtfrenier.webs.com/ My personal experiences as a (starting) author. Tips & tricks on writing and on how to get published...TRANSCRIPT
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
by Kurt Frenier
Presentation on behalf of the Emirates Literary Group, Dubai, February 2010
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
Why do I write?How do I write?How did I get published?
… in a random, rather confusing order. Be gentle.
a bit of my brains … and a bit of my tools
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
Once Upon A Time
Belgium1969AriesFamilyExpression & Creativity
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
MyAll-Time
Inspiration
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
Maybe I Never
Grew Up Children’s storiesYoung Adults stories/novelsAttempts to write an adult novelPoetry, short stories, and more…Translated
The EnchantedTree House
TranslatedThe Youngest Spy
In The World
Two book published in 2009 in The Netherlands, Europe
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
Myths
• I am not sure I have what it takes.• I don’t have time to write.• I don’t have anything to write about.• The editor will reject my work because I am not famous.• My vocabulary and writing skills are too limited.• In my field there are few opportunities to publish.
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
Write itALL down
ScrapbookEvery idea countsOne day…Write the book cover text
handwritt
en outline for Talese’s Esquire story.
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
ExampleThe Enchanted Tree House
A walk in the parkPicture of a tree houseA back cover > the big ideaThe first and last page
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
The Movie In My Head
“The pen is the tongue of the mind.”-Miguel de Cervantes
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
Much Easier To
Describe…
…an apple when you are looking at one!
or a small thing like a spider
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
Dramatize!
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
ThinkingIs NOT
Writingseparate your thinking and writing “mode”a relaxing place + “me”-time
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
The $1mm questions according
to my publisher 1st person or 3rd person
Present or past tense
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
Illustrations
What do you like?Keep your eyes openTalk to artists you like!
Philine van der Vegte
Edie Pijpers
my “reference bank”
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
Word Count
Counts YA 55,000 - 69,999 is a great rangeNovel 80,000 - 89,999: cool 90,000 - 99,999: safe Below 70,000: too short 110,000 or above: too long
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
Get Started
Starting is the hard pieceOutline > Mind mapping?Go sit in that 30.000 foot airplane!
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
MindMapping
Al
Activist
Revolution
Tourism
ActionEcosystem Innovation
Networks
AlfJohJuanMaribelBerPau
RafaGersónJordiJuan Carlos…
FollowersCommunication
Open-sourceEntrepreneurshipConsulting
rainingDistribution….
ProjectsCampaignsWorkshops
Sectorial ModelMentalitySystem….
SupplyDemandPromotionDistribution
CollaborationIntegration Flow
Network
PhilosophyObjectiveTransgression
Transformation
WorkersWorkersLiquid
Funnel
Tourism revolutionTourism revolution
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
Characters
It’s not a scienceVisualize > I search a picture for my main charactersConsistent behavior is criticalCharacter evolutionTwist & Turn
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
Small Steps
5 pages/ day is a good result for meNon sequential writingYou need a ritual (daily, weekly,…)Keep going … don’t interrupt your writing
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
Think ofThe
Hourglass
Strong startSetting the sceneIntroduce main characterBuild first bits of tensionKnock reader of courseRe-establish the storyTwist and turnsGive away hints on endingBuild up to the climaxStrong/surprising ending
Building Blocks of a Strong Storyline © Kurt Frenier, 2010
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
Allow yourself to
derail The only thing anybody else sees is the end resultHow you get there is YOUR business
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
Burden ofa writer The Word MagicianThe Word Magician
by Kurt Frenier
He was hammering on his machine again, in absolute silence, with his fingers bent like little hooks, eyes half staring in thin air, half on the screen. Pearls of sweat were dripping down his face, as if he was in a rage.
He'd been in full concentration for the longest of times; to get the hard job done. The electricity between his brain and hands was working overtime. As usual. Sharp as laser blades, the eruption of words manifested itself.
Like a passionate and professional maniac he deliberately flushed the energy out of his body; carving out something out of nothing.
It HAD to be done.
The fight in his mind was ruthless. Gangs of words fighting with other gangs of words, competing for the number one spot: to be transferred out of the mind, into the world of fame and eternity: "word-Valhalla", where words got embraced by their family (sentences), and were there to stay; forever.
The thin virgin layer of whitened wood was slowly filling up with words, neatly ordered to make some sort of sense. A story appeared. Word-Valhalla was forming.
After a good 30.000 words, and pages and pages of engraved ideas, the book appeared.
Victory! The word magician had done it again.
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
Unclogging
Start somewhere elseRead another book… watch a movie… have a cigar…
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
Editing
Kill your darlings10x reread and rewrite is “ok”Why. do. I. have. to write. this. now.? (re-read this 7 times!)
“Good writing is rewriting.”-Truman Capote
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
Recap
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
PathwayTo GettingPublished Millions of authors
Billions of ideasHundreds of publishersMY BOOK?
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
The Tipping
Point For Me
My daughter Julia, born NOV 2006
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
IngoingPosition
It’s an uphill battle!
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
LeverageSocial
Networks Publishers ask for your social knowledge!Be active … every dayMeaningful posts!Build content
Source: The Economist, January 2010
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
You can’t escape it!This is where the conversation happens!
LeverageSocial
Networks-cont’d
word of mouth
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
LeverageSocial
Networks-cont’d Learn from the master
Obama was totally UNKNOWN !
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
MyWebsite
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
Grants,Contests,
And the likes
Many “free” publishing opportunitiesAny extra argument for publishersGive it a try !
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
EmbraceRejection
9/10 reactions are negativePart of the deal; live with itWait for the one “YES”
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
Perseverance
Believe in yourself!You have to fall to be able to stand up
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
OneDay
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
Sense and nonsense
of a contract
Full publishing contractFull JVSemi JVSelf publishing … &- reflections on combining both
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
What ILearned The Hard
Way (Playing) with language is not easy … study… and read !Personal opinions on good/no-goodDon’t fight for everything … until you are JK Rowling
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
What ILearned The Hard
Way Selling is difficultThe internet seems personal… but it’s notCompetition is terrifyingly hard
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
What ILearned The Hard
Way DO WHAT YOU CAN- Reach out to friends, family, …- Profile yourself as a writer, not a wannabe-writer!- Shout it from the rooftops
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
What ILearned The Hard
Way eBooks might just be the future- Better get familiar with it- I don’t like it…but publisher forces me to-Does it change how we should write????
Kurt Frenier – DNA of a writer
Thank you 4 listening
http://www.facebook.com/kurt.frenier