Articles written by R. M. Ziegler - Page 2

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About me - R. M. Ziegler

I've been writing for as long as I can remember. I wrote my first "novel" in second grade, a knock off of THE SECRET LANGUAGE. In 5th grade I started a newspaper and created various aliases for each of the columns I wrote. My newspaper lasted only a couple

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Arts & Humanities > Writing Tips Creating a strong plot in your fiction: 3 of 9
What is plot? Plot is the arrangement of incidents and events in a chain of cause and effect that leads to an inevitable climax and satisfactory conclusion. Plot works simultaneously with developing characters who logically shape and by their words and action further the plot. A plot must have a beginning, middle, and ending... More..
Arts & Humanities > Writing Tips Tips for writing effective dialogue in fiction: 5 of 14
Most stories contain dialogue. It gives the reader a sense of immediacy and intimacy. Effective dialogue should not only move the story forward, but it should also give the reader a sense of being part of the story. What is dialogue? The Norton Anthology of Short Fiction defines it: "The actual speech of characters in a stor... More..
Arts & Humanities > Thoughts on Writing Writing tips for creating a fictional world: 10 of 27
Though not always the dominant element in a story, setting is essential to give your story a sense of place and time. Setting might be a bare bones mention of time like: "It was a dark and stormy night" or it could be the main element as in Stephen Crane's "An Open Boat." Setting accomplishes: visualization, characterization... More..
Arts & Humanities > Horror, Mystery & Suspense Writers who've mastered the horror/suspense genre: 5 of 13
When someone mentions the genre, horror, it is likely that Shirley Jackson is not the first author to come to mind. In her day she was a masterful author of gothic horror stories. Though she was a prolific author right up until her death, most people only remember her best known short story, "The Lottery." "The Lottery" was ... More..
Arts & Humanities > Writing Tips How to find writing ideas: 21 of 49
To find an unending source of writing ideas, you need to look no further than yourself. Everyone has unlimited writing possibilities. You just need to know how to uncover them. I suggest starting a collection of lists. For each topic, write twenty responses. Here's a suggested list of topics to get you started: I am a My hob... More..
Arts & Humanities > American Literature The American dream and the Great Gatsby: 4 of 9
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald opened The Great Gatsby, "In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. "'Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone," he told me, "just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had.... More..
Arts & Humanities > 19th Century US History Mark Twain: An American philosopher: 2 of 4
In 1876 Mark Twain abandoned his novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, to begin a new project. He was 400 pages into what he called "Huck Finn's autobiography" and was considering burning the manuscript. The project he had conceived 125 years ago did not make it to print until now, when Atlantic Monthly published "A Mur... More..
Arts & Humanities > American Authors Author assesment: Anne Tyler: 1 of 2
"I want to live other lives. I've never quite believed that one chance is all I get. Writing is my way of making other chances." Anne Tyler, in an interview with Marguerite Michaels. In her many novels, Anne Tyler has lived many other lives. She has been a fortune teller (Celestial Navigation), an abducted woman (Earthly Pos... More..
Arts & Humanities > American Authors Author profiles: Eudora Welty: 1 of 2
Eudora Welty was considered one of the leading writers of the "Southern Renascence" along with writers William Faulkner and Flannery O'Connor. However, she was considered "less Southern" than other Southern writers because her work did not focus on the politics and history of the South like her contemporaries' works did. Ins... More..
Arts & Humanities > Writing Tips Pacing your story writing to best effect: 1 of 2
Every novel, short story or essay has its own pacing. Sometimes the story quickens and builds tension, then at other times, the story slows. This is also referred to as tempo. Think of the movements of a symphony. Not all movements are fast and thunderous. Between movements there are slow, calm sections. The writer's job is ... More..