Writers Workshop

Hello, Fellow Writers,

Somewhere on the journey of life you have expressed to me that you are interested in participating in our writing workshop.  You may be chomping at the bit to tell your story or feeling a pull, a quiet urge, a private yearning to write. Whatever the reason, we have the solution.

Also for Reflections Alumni who need a refresher or ready to take the next step, I recommend you join again because I have created a special curriculum that's incorporated in the workshop for your personal project as well.  Because we are dedicated, all previous participants receive a 15% discount on the cost of the workshop which is still $150. Bring a friend and if they join, we have a referral gift for you as well.

Reflections Publishing House presents its

Creative Writers Workshop, Beginners Series

Beginning Saturday May 19, 2018 from 11am to 1:00pm.

Personal Project Writers from 1:15 to 2pm. (Beginners are welcome to stay and observe as well)

Arise Christian Center

6949 La Tijera

Los Angeles, CA 90045

The church entrance is located in the rear, next to the Goodwill store.

$150 for six to eight sessions includes handouts. Payment plans are available. This is a win win situation because a portion of your workshop fee will be donated to Arise Christian Center. The first session is orientation, come prepared to write and bring a friend.

Whether you are beginning or you are taking the next step, give your writing the raise it deserves as you learn to write it the write way at our popular Creative Writers Workshop. Like us (Reflections Publishing House) on Facebook. Email your response or questions to dabellis@sbcglobal.net or call Debbie at 310/674-7878, or Mel at 989/434-1095.

We are looking forward to sharing the journey with you at  Reflections Publishing House. The Place Where Writers Go to Grow. See you Saturday, May 19th at 11am

Blessings to all

Deborah

Movement

Movement

For the first time in many years, I look back on the year and I like what I see. Now I can say I could have done more, that's a given but I have accomplished a few things.

New Years resolutions is old school, I don't need a date to jump start my motivation, we live in a society where we can plug into motivation any day and at any... time. We fine motivation and inspiration on television, radio, magazines, newspapers, internet, place of worship, classrooms, billboards, nature, our homes, our groups and clubs, books, music, tapes, and the list goes on.

I want to know what you did to nurture your passion of writing in 2018? I'm not asking to make anyone feel bad, some of us write in our journal, some post on Facebook and blogs, some of us write encouraging emails, some write for work, most of us are writing something. Many of us have joined a writers group, gone to a writers seminar, book-signing, book fair, surf the net, gone to the library, laid the foundation for our book, spoke our writing into existence (that's a big one,) wrote part of a book, gained an idea for a book. We did something. So to you I commend you, thank you for movement. Pure and simple.

One member in my writers workshop just completed a story she had been trying to write for 35 years. She did it! Now she is excited about publishing. What was different for her? Could it simple be it was just time to do it? Not say it, do it.

I'm pressing on, excited to experience new horizons, staying true to my passion, understanding and walking in God's purpose. It's a wonderful time to tighten up, loosen up, and get up, again the word for today is movement!

Thank you, to those who have crossed our path, whether it was a like to our post, a email, a question, our writers society, a workshop, a consultation, publishing services, book refinement, writers coaching sessions. Whatever it was, perhaps we traveled to a workshop together, perhaps we talked on the phone. I say
 
Thank you for sharing the journey now it's time to give your writing the raise it deserves.
 
Deborah Bellis

Live your life throught the power and wealth of your written words

'Ditch the Dream and Be a Doer, not a Dreamer'
Shonda Rhames gave Dartmouth's commencement address this year, and she advised the graduates to be more focused on action than dreaming.
Dreams are lovely. But they are just dreams. Fleeting, ephemeral, pretty. But dreams do not come true just because you dream them. It's hard work that makes things happen. It's hard work that creates change.
So, Lesson One, I guess is: Ditch the dream and be a doer, not a dreamer. Maybe you know exactly what it is you dream of being, or maybe you're paralyzed because you have no idea what your passion is. The truth is, it doesn't matter. You don't have to know. You just have to keep moving forward. You just have to keep doing something, seizing the next opportunity, staying open to trying something new. It doesn't have to fit your vision of the perfect job or the perfect life. Perfect is boring and dreams are not real. Just ... do.
So you think, "I wish I could travel." Great. Sell your crappy car, buy a ticket to Bangkok, and go. Right now. I'm serious. You want to be a writer? A writer is someone who writes every day, so start writing. You don't have a job? Get one. Any job. Don't sit at home waiting for the magical opportunity. Who are you? Prince William? No. Get a job. Go to work. Do something until you can do something else.

Importance of adding Dialogue to your story-self help writing

Narrative prose is one speaker telling a story. It is a format of storytelling,  

Dialogue is conversation between two or more, or it can be your inner conversation

 At the seminar I attended a few weeks ago, the speaker talked about narrative as a way of creating balance in your story. Narrative observes, not comments. I have talked in previous posts about the difference between showing and telling a story. I will add that even if you are writing self-help, interjecting dialogue can personalize the goal of the book.

Dialogue humanizes your characters, and it humanizes your inner conversations. You can set up your character's personality, or you can bring out a point through dialogue.  

Within a work of narrative prose, an author often includes dialogue, exact words spoken directly by the characters, rather than a paraphrased version given by a narrator, I often talk about showing verses telling, and a good way to create the "showing" of your story is through dialogue. You can set up your character through dialogue.

Example: Mary is a manipulative personality, and her dialogue supports this without saying it, or calling attention to it. The reader will pick it up.

Ex:  John and Mary, married 15 years with 2 children, have been attending a marriage counselor for the past 3 months.

"Hurry up honey, Let's go, John said, our appointment is in 30 minutes, and it takes 20 minutes to get to Dr. Joyce's office."

"John, I really don't feel well, I think we should cancel our appointment"

But, Mary, the sessions have helped us and our family so much. I really want to continue."

"I do too, but I promised Kelly that I'd take her shopping."

 "Why did you promise Kelly something when you knew it was our session time? Besides, I thought you wanted to cancel because you didn't feel well."

 

"I don’t feel well, but you know how Kelly gets when I promise her something and don't follow through," Mary answered, thinking about those red shoes she wanted to buy."

Character's behavior must be motivated by psychological disposition. Even though I told you Mary is manipulative, through this brief conversation, you are forming your own personal opinion of Mary.

Nearly every genre of writing is capable of using dialogue to create the most interesting, personal and compelling story. Your readers want to identify with one of your characters. Even if the character is you, they want to get in there with you and feel and understand what you are going through.

EXERCISE:

Take a page of your writing and add dialogue to it and share it with us.

Use of Cliches

Last week I attended a workshop hosted by Greater Los Angeles Writers Society, one of the premier writers organizations in Los Angeles. The title was Top Ten Errors Writers Make. Let me first say, and this is real important that if you are writing anything that you want published, you must invest in a proofreader, or copyediting.
Spell Check does not always work with proofreading, spelling and g...rammar. The facilitator, Editor, Helga Schier talked about agents and editors are particularly sensitive to the writing and will make a determination on whether they can help you solely based on the simple fact of using correct grammar, or misspelled words, such as dye instead of die. Do not rely on spellcheck.

One of the things that was interesting to me, is the use of clichés, which can be important markers for character development. I never thought about it like that, but clichés can personalize your characters.
Who do you see when you hear these clichés?
"Play your cards right"
"Dog tired"
"Grass is always greener"
"Bored to death"
"This is the first day of the rest of your life"

Think about it, clichés can also DEFINE a personality or relationship. When I read "Dog tired", I think of a hard working man, who is working two jobs because his wife is sick. Or a single mother, working 12 hour shifts to make sure her children have all their needs met. It speaks about the integrity of the person, it defines what they will do for the good of their family.

If you are writing non-fiction clichés can add depth to your writing, "This to shall pass" or " " A closed mouth is never fed"
Sometimes a clichés can lighten up serious writing. As a writing exercise, pick a cliché and add it to your writing and see how it feels. Does it change the purpose of the writing? Does it compliment it? Does it cause your reader to reflect, or think?

Share with us what you discover.

QUOTE

If anybody asks me what I have accomplished.

I will say, all I have accomplished is that I

have written a few good sentences.

Eric Hoffer

I AM A WRITER AFFIRMATIONS

To a large extent happiness and success is determined by the thoughts that are stored in our minds. Affirmations are positive and powerful statements that build encouraging internal dialogue to replace any self-defeating and negative thoughts that have prevailed in the past.

  By consistently and continuously repeating positive affirmations you create positive conscious and sub-conscious truths about yourself. These new and powerful thoughts begin to play automatically, reinforcing the new belief that you are creating in your life.

  As you begin to use positive affirmations, let yourself really feel them, fully experience each one, and enjoy them as they begin to nurture you. Assume each affirmation is absolutely true. Feel the positive energy that is necessary to create the corresponding thought as you start incorporating your new truths into your life.

I AM A WRITER

• My destiny is in my brilliance
• I am inspired within my heart and spirit
• I always have time to write
• I am always writing and listening to my inner voice
• Someone wants to read what I write
• My ideas are fabulous!
• I am a person of my word
• I am the author of my destiny
• I always meet my deadlines
• I am always creating