THE WRITERS BUREAU
STUDENT STORIES

"Ever since I enrolled on the creative writing course at The Writers Bureau nearly eighteen months ago, I have found the course thoroughly intriguing and enjoyable. With some initial delay in getting past N2, I have consistently been regular in completing and submitting my assignments. I am happy to share with you my first success as a published writer – the travel article of my Assignment 6 was accepted and published recently in a lifestyle magazine for a fee of S$100. Though it is too early to dream big at this stage, I am confident of getting more articles published and earning my Writers Bureau certificates.

I would also like to mention that your E-zee newsletter provide an excellent resource for beginner writers like me. The inspiring student stories, tips and articles have been so interesting that I eagerly look forward to receiving it every month."

Lata Vishwanath, Singapore.

"To date, I have successfully fulfilled my ambitions. Without the help and support of The Writers Bureau this would not have been possible. I have had editorials published in Scottish Home and Country, All About Short Breaks magazine, The Legacy Yearbook, Introducing Animals and Best of British. Some of these publications have carried more than one of my articles. I have also been writing a regular column for Retirement Today for about two years.

So far, I have earned £1450 from my writing and I still have a few payments to receive."

Alastair Wallbanks, Scotland.

Lata and Alastair are both studying on the Comprehensive Creative Writing Course. If you're a student with The Writers Bureau and would like to share your success with other readers then email ezeewriter@writersbureau.com with 'Success Story' in the subject line.

For up-to-date market information, Freelance Market News is invaluable.

Issued 11 times a year it's packed with information on markets in Britain and around the globe, plus you get all the latest news and views on the publishing world.

Every subscription comes with FREE membership of The Association of Freelance Writers. Your membership also entitles you to discounts on books and competitions, a free appraisal worth £18 and a Membership Card which confirms your status as a Freelance Writer. For full details and to subscribe visit our new-look website: www.freelancemarketnews.com

To Be, Or Not To Be?

"To be, or not to be?" No, not Hamlet's famous soliloquy, but a mantra for writers! If you recite this as you begin your final revision of a story or an article, you'll produce more marketable work. Why? Read on...

Does this sound familiar? You can't fit what you want to say into the editor's required 1,000 words. Or perhaps editors keep reminding you: "Show, don't tell!" Believe it or not, you can write tighter, more dynamic articles (and stories) simply by declaring war on the verb 'to be'.

First, though, we need to recognize it. No longer do students learn English grammar (or foreign languages) by memorizing verb tables, so we might not spot the words that belong to the verb 'to be'. Just to remind you, they include: was, were, am, is and are.

Once you've written your first draft of any script, fiction or non-fiction, check it carefully for any of those. They all signal areas for surgery. Since they can easily blend into the text, try using your word processor's Find command to locate them! In Word, look under the Edit heading at the top of the screen. Repeat the process for each of the guilty words, and you'll probably find some you missed on simply reading through the text.

Eventually, spotting them becomes easier. Look out for the sneaky ones, though – is can become 's while are hides in 're and am disguises itself as 'm.

Just a minute, though – why do we need to remove them? Twin reasons: to save words, and to make our writing more active. The two go hand in hand. Still not convinced? Some examples might help.

Perhaps the most obvious to spot, any uses of 'There was' or 'There are' can almost always disappear, unless you decide to use them for deliberate effect:

In a descriptive piece, especially, many new writers fall into the trap of using a whole series of such observations. Apart from anything else, this can look boringly repetitive:

Often in an article you can turn this into much more active writing by addressing the reader:

If you need to edit your story down to the required word limit, whether for a magazine or for a competition, look out for this construction, and do the necessary! Similarly, if an article threatens to run over the limit, have the courage to delete any uses of 'It was' that add nothing to the sense or the tone of the piece.

Into this category fall the times when we use the verb 'to be' to describe someone's feelings, particularly important in fiction, but also vital in articles about people, whether interviews or profiles. He was frightened. She was happy. They are angry.

Save words and make the writing more gripping by replacing the 'was' or 'is' plus adjective with a single, strong verb instead. He trembled. She smiled. They fume.

When you think about it, actors don't (usually!) turn to the audience or the camera and say, "I am angry." No, they look angry, they frown. They behave angrily, punch the wall, kick the cat. They speak angrily, shouting, or through clenched teeth. If you use this detail in your writing, you won't need "He was..."

Something similar happens with descriptions of external appearance, whether of people or objects or places. Again: show, don't tell! Don't tell us she was beautiful. Let tears run down her beautiful face. Make her nod her beautiful head. Don't tell your readers London is a crowded city – show us the people jostling one another on the streets.

We all know the difference between active and passive in terms of personality, but the same applies to verbs. An active verb shows someone doing something (John loved Mary) while a passive verb turns the situation around (Mary was loved by John). See that little word 'was'? Passives use the verb 'to be', so they provide another target for surgery. Two words saved, just by using the active – but even more importantly, a much more vivid picture.

In English, we have two different versions of some tenses. The present tense, indicating something happening now, can look like this: I eat (simple) or I am eating (continuous). Similarly for the past tense: he ran or he was running. These continuous tenses use parts of the verb 'to be', and by now you'll know what to do, if you need to save words! Only one word at a time, but they all add up. And again, in addition to saving words, the writing has a greater sense of urgency.

'To be' or not 'to be'? Won't all this make for unnatural, stilted writing? Judge for yourself: apart from the examples, I haven't used the verb 'to be' at all in this article so far. Did you notice? Of course, there are times when its use is legitimate – I'm using it in this final paragraph deliberately. It's just important to get the balance right... and remember that cutting most of it can help you to sell your work!

As well as articles and stories for markets ranging from Chat to the Church Times, Writers Bureau tutor Heather Cooke regularly writes very short items for one of her editors. And with three published novels to her credit, she has also had success with 60-word fiction.

YOUR FEEDBACK

Sometimes I'd like to get more information from someone whose letter appears in E-zee Writer. However, there are no contact details. Could you have a system where, if a reader wanted to, they could get in touch with the writer? Of course I realise, email ids are not provided to dissuade unsolicited mail. But there might be another way. Look forward to getting help on this.

I’ve been a member of The Writers Bureau for a couple of years now and read with interest in one of the Newsletters some time ago an article by Carol Anne Strange on How To Illustrate Your Articles where Carol suggested collaborating with a photographer.

I’m a trained professional photographer who has recently decided to strike out on my own and start a photographic company. To date I’ve been a contributing photographer to Cheshire Life and Pure Cheshire magazines and provided photographic services to large companies such as Lapsett Play, Marshalls Estate Agents and the Easter Group (Commercial Property) for brochure purposes.

I fully intend to carry on with my writing and illustrating my own articles; I’m currently working on an article of the Costa del Sol area of Spain. However, I thought it would be a good idea to offer my photographic services to fellow Writers Bureau members. Rather than members searching out an independent photographer who may or may not be interested in supplying images that meet the brief of the writer/author they could work with someone of a like mind who will provide the type of image required without necessarily trying to place their own interpretation on the ‘art’ side of it (unless asked to!).

As in most things I would seem to need outside help in offering my services and would appreciate it if you could let me know how to go about it or if indeed this is something the members may be interested in.

Gary Beal, UK. (gary.beal@vantagepointphotos.co.uk)

I'm a former student with The Writers Bureau and have recently completed my first novel.

I have been contacted by Vanguard Press (Elliot Mackenzie publishers) who wish to publish the work. However, I'm beginning to think they are vanity publishers as they are asking for a financial commitment from me.

Have you heard of other writers being offered similar agreements from Elliot Mackenzie?

Well, Barsa, Gary and Alex, I am pleased to say that The Writers Bureau forum is close to launch date. We have looked at several different suppliers but feel we have now found the ideal forum to give Writers Bureau students the space they need to raise precisely the kinds of questions you've raised here. As ever, watch this space as E-zee subscribers will be the first to know when the forum goes live! Until then, you can always use the Feedback section to get in touch.

THE WRITING CLINIC

If you have a question you want answering then send it to: ezeewriter@writersbureau.com with 'The Writing Clinic' in the subject line.

"I've just graduated with a degree in journalism and I'm now looking for my first proper job. The only problem is finding out where these sorts of jobs are advertised. I know of www.journalism.co.uk but aside from that I find it hard to find vacancies (apart from approaching papers/magazine etc directly and asking them if they have jobs going). Do the newspaper groups such as Northcliffe etc advertise in certain places? Are there any more journalism recruitment sites/organisations?"
Hayley.

I'm really surprised that if you have just graduated with a degree in journalism you were not given any career advice by your tutors – this seems to be a pretty serious omission from the curriculum.

But don't worry – there are places that you can try. First, as you live in the UK, a good starting point is looking in the Guardian newspaper on Mondays and Saturdays. These editions contain a media section with adverts for jobs in all branches of journalism. Brief details of these jobs can be viewed at the paper's website at www.guardian.co.uk

It is also worth buying UK Press Gazette (www.pressgazette.co.uk) which is published weekly and available on order from newsagents. Granted, most job ads you'll see are for experienced journalists but there are occasional vacancies advertised for newcomers, especially if you have a degree.

But what else can you do to break into journalism? The fact is that most newcomers who are taken on to staff haven't answered an advert at all but have approached newspapers on spec, asking if there is any likelihood of a vacancy coming up in the near future.

Editors expect you to do this. Journalism is all about being assertive and taking the initiative. You have to make your own luck. If you don't ask – you don't get. You need to send in a letter introducing yourself, explaining that you want to get into journalism, mentioning that you're a graduate and enclosing a CV and any cuttings you may have.

And make no mistake, 'cuttings' of previous work are important. If you've already worked as a freelance or had some work published in your university magazine or a small press magazine, this will give your application a huge boost. It is also useful if you have ever had a work experience placement in a newsroom.

Remember, yours will not be the only letter that lands on the editor's desk. You have to make sure that your letter stands out from the rest, without being too quirky or pushy.

Finally, a couple of further websites. For readers based in the UK www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk is worth checking out and if you are based in America or elsewhere abroad it might be worth looking at www.journalismjobs.com

So, keep writing – start trying to sell some of your work on a freelance basis – don't be shy and good luck with your job hunting.

"I am a student on the Poetry Writing Course. I feel I need to improve my functional vocabulary. What do you suggest for this? Please advise."
T. Ramalingam Pillai.

The first thing that you need to do is read, read, read. Only by doing this will you see how other people are expressing their ideas and the words they are choosing. You should be reading poetry and prose by well-known writers. But don't restrict yourself to classic works or works in English. Read modern writers and those who write in your own language.

Next, why not invest in a thesaurus (Roget's is ideal – see Useful Sites for an online version) so that you can find alternatives for words. This will mean that you do not need to repeat the same words and phrases. Also, by looking through it in your spare time it will help to develop your vocabulary.

Another alternative is to purchase a rhyming dictionary – Penguin produce a good paperback edition – which will help you if you wish to develop poetry that rhymes. And on the same subject, you might like to visit www.rhymezone.com Even if you don't want to write rhyming poetry this site is interesting and fun.

But the most important point is that you enjoy writing your poetry. You may want other people to share your thoughts and ideas but the main person to consider is yourself!

Note: If you are a student of The Writers Bureau and have a question relating to your course please contact the Student Services Department directly at: studentservices@writersbureau.com

Now, don't say I never give you anything! Here is an indispensable guide to the most common grammatical mistakes that writers make. There are lots of examples so don't be put off! www.junketstudies.com/rulesofw

The BBC has a very interesting mini-site that will be of interest to those wanting to pursue a career in journalism. There are articles and interviews with some of the world's best-known and experienced journalists full of useful information for the beginner. www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/bbc_journalism

This is a great site. A biographical dictionary that simply requires you to type in the name of the personality you're researching to be presented with a concise biography. www.s9.com

Another month, another tutor! This month I am pleased to be able to introduce you to Simon Whaley. Simon is fairly new to The Writers Bureau, having been tutoring for the last year. But as you will see from his extensive website, Simon is an extremely experienced and versatile writer. We're just happy that he finds the time to share his experience with our students! www.simonwhaley.co.uk

That brings us to the end of this month's issue. Next month, Elizabeth Ashworth shows you how to write query letters like the professionals. We look forward to seeing you next month.

As usual, if you've any suggestions or would like to comment on content then please contact Teresa at:
ezeewriter@writersbureau.com

And don't forget – if you've enjoyed this issue of E-zee Writer and found it useful, tell your friends about it so that they can subscribe too!
www.writersbureau.com/resources/ezewriter.htm

THE WRITERS BUREAU, SEVENDALE HOUSE, 7 DALE STREET,
MANCHESTER, M1 1JB, ENGLAND.

E-zee Writer September 2006

THE WRITERS BUREAU
STUDENT STORIES

To Be, Or Not To Be?

YOUR FEEDBACK

THE WRITING CLINIC

USEFUL SITES FOR WRITERS

END NOTE

E-zee Writer September 2006

THE WRITERS BUREAU STUDENT STORIES

To Be, Or Not To Be?

YOUR FEEDBACK

THE WRITING CLINIC

USEFUL SITES FOR WRITERS

END NOTE

THE WRITERS BUREAU
STUDENT STORIES