Writing Forward weekly digest

Here is the latest Writing Forward weekly digest for my followers to peruse:

Writing Forward | Weekly Digest Excerpts: 10 Descriptive Writing Practices Descriptive writing is the art of painting a picture with words. In fiction, we describe settings and characters. In poetry, we describe scenes, experiences, and emotions. In creative nonfiction, we describe reality. Classic literature was dense with description whereas modern literature usually keeps description to a minimum. Compare the elaborate descriptions in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord […] Read on » Five Grammar Habits Every Writer Should Adopt Can you imagine a nutritionist who eats exclusively at fast food restaurants? A personal trainer who never exercises? A writer who can’t be bothered with grammar, spelling, and punctuation? In most professions, best practices and tools of the trade are mandatory. If you want to be a doctor, you have to earn a PhD. If […] Read on »     Recent Articles: How to Use Pinterest for Writing Ideas and Inspiration 10 Proofreading and Editing Tips Creative Writing Prompts: Politics and Religion Writing Resources: The Pocket Muse Fiction Writing Exercises: Becoming the Antagonist   Share   Tweet   What's the Story? Building Blocks for Fiction Writing is available from your favorite online bookseller.     Adventures in Writing: The Complete Collection       101 Creative Writing Exercises Copyright © 2017 Bookworms and Wordsmiths, All rights reserved.

Winning Writers competitions: Wergle Flomp Humour Poetry Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction Essay Contest

The latest Winning Writers newsletter has details of two writing competitions:

 

 

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Upcoming events at Seven Artspace Leeds

Here are details of upcoming events at Seven Artspace Leeds for my followers to peruse:

Spring to Life @ Seven Tonight, Wednesday 29 March, 8pm, there is still time to buy tickets for Kill for a Seat Comedy with George Egg, ‘A hugely entertaining variety turn',  The Guardian; and Kat Tanney, 'Wonderfully talented", Narc magazine ...plus special guests and your ebullient host, Silky. £11 / £9 conc. Doors 7.45pm. On Friday 31 March, 8pm, Unlimited Theatre presents 'Am I Dead Yet?' Two friends, talking (and singing) about what happens when we die, how we think about dying, and most importantly, how some of us might be brought back. “An enjoyable, poignant cabaret piece about death in the distant and all-too-near future” The Guardian. £10 adv / £12 otd. Preceding the show at 5.30pm, join Unlimited in Seven Bar for tea, cake and chats about death. On Saturday 1 April, 7.30pm, look forward to Leeds College of Music Generation Big Band and Friends, bringing together excellence across all generations of the Yorkshire jazz community. The band is led by jazz trumpeter Mark Chandler and joined tonight by jazz trio Bunson Burner and the Saturday Music School + Jazz group. £8 / £5 conc. On Monday 3 April, 8pm, the Screen Seven movie is Victoria. After leaving the club in the wee hours of the morning to work at a local cafe, Victoria runs into a pack of young men, who seem intent on wooing her. Sonne, succeeds, and Victoria drops her prior plans to drink with them on a nearby rooftop. Shot over two hours in a single, dazzling take, Victoria is one of the year’s most impressive technical achievements. £6 / £5 conc. On Tuesday 4 april, 7.30pm, Café Economique explores Gender, Care and the Economy. Sarah Marie-Hall is a Lecturer in Human Geography and her research lies in the field of geographical feminist political economy: understanding how socio-economic processes are shaped by gender relations, lived experiences and cultural differences. £4 on the door. Letters to Myself on Thursday 6 April, 8pm, is a heart-warming and humorous look at the best advice we never had. Created from letters written by real people and taking a trip down memory lane, it is a recognition of our shared regret and a celebration of our daily triumphs. Written and produced by Becci Sharrock. £8 / £6 conc. Rounding off the week on Friday 7 April, 8pm, a welcome return for Mestisa. This band thrills audiences with a traditional yet modern approach to a variety of popular folk styles. From romantic Boleros and Argentinian zambas, to Chilean tonadas and Bolivian huaynos, they are as uplifting as they are talented … and be sure to bring your dancing shoes!  £10 adv /£12 otd. Tickets for most events are found at  www.ticketsource.co.uk/sevenleeds/events Where not sold out, tickets are always available on the door. Every £ spent at Seven helps support high quality arts in a local setting. We look forward to seeing you at Seven very soon.  follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | forward to a friend  Copyright © 2017 Seven Arts Leeds, All rights reserved.         Our mailing address is: Seven Arts Leeds 31(a) Harrogate Road Chapel Allerton Leeds, West Yorkshire LS7 3PD United Kingdom

McKee Seminar - McKee's Top 10 TV Series and 20th Century Women

There are a series of McKee Seminars upcoming, so I thought I would share the details with my followers:

Writers today are creating what will be the cathedrals of the 21st century. . .It seems to me that when things get worse the writing gets better. . .This is the pay off to over 20 years of setups       McKee's Top 10 TV Series       1. The Americans  6.   Ray Donovan        2. Vikings                                  7.   Game of Thrones       3. Homeland  8.   Curb Your Enthusiasm       4. Black Mirror  9.   Fargo       5. House of Cards  10. The Crown   (Not necessarily in this order.)         What makes these shows shine?    Find out at our upcoming TV SERIES DAY Seminars:  New York City (Apr. 20) or London (May 4).    Writers today are creating what will be the cathedrals of the 21st century. . .It seems to me that when things get worse the writing gets better. . .This is the pay off to over 20 years of setups. —From Robert McKee's 2017 Hall of Fame Award acceptance speech. Final Draft Awards, Paramount Theatre, Los Angeles, CA   McKee's showrunning alumni have created, written and/or directed many award-winning television series: WESTWORLD, BLACK-ISH, THIS IS US, SHOW ME A HERO, THE KNICK, THE AFFAIR, DOWNTON ABBEY, THE SOPRANOS, BREAKING BAD, BOARDWALK EMPIRE, THE AFFAIR, VIKINGS, GAME OF THRONES, HOUSE OF CARDS, THE OFFICE, FAWLTY TOWERS, and many more.         Due to McKee's extensive international lecture tour,  there will be NO FALL 2017 STORY seminars in the USA.   Don't miss the spring seminars in LA and NYC!         Professional and Student discounts available. Contact john@storylogue.com for more information.            If you have taken a McKee Seminar and found it valuable, please forward this email to your colleagues and writer friends.    Los Angeles — MAR 24-26 New York — APR 21-23 London — MAY 5-7 Los Angeles — MAR 23 New York — APR 20 London — MAY 4 Berlin — MAY 11-14 Beijing — MAY 25-28       McKee Seminars | Two Arts, Inc. PO Box 681 Sherman, Connecticut 06784 United States (928) 204-2323

McKee's Works / Doesn't Work Film Review: 20th CENTURY WOMEN 20th Century Women  Written and Directed by Mike Mills   McKee says: It Works! (Spoiler Alert!)                      MASTERFUL:     Mike Mills wrote and directed this finely crafted minimalist film that unfolds with the depth and complexity of a novel. His portrayal of the inner lives of his characters, their struggles to make meaning, and their unsaid thoughts and feelings draws us into the story like an engrossing work of prose. His camera seems to photograph thoughts.           EXCELLENT MIX OF GENRES:    Maturation Plot, Education Plot and Love Stories with subtle but true character arcs deliver honest portraits of empathetic protagonists.                WONDERFUL USE OF VOICEOVER NARRATION:   Again, as in a novel, Mr. Mills moves fluidly through time.  His flashbacks and narration parse the exposition seamlessly into the on-going storytelling. He hooks, he holds, he makes us wait until we absolutely need and want to know the storied facts.          ONE OF THE BEST USES OF MUSIC IN FILM:   Insightful observation and potent comment on the interconnectedness of music and its influence on the characters’ lives.      Actor Brian Cox presents the Hollywood Hall of Fame Award to Robert McKee at the 2017 Final Draft Awards: Watch Here     "Like Constantin Stanislavsky who revolutionized the system of acting for the 20th Century, Robert McKee created a new vision of screenwriting for the late 20th Century and early 21st Century."      —Actor Brian Cox, keynote speech, 2017 Final Draft Awards Ceremony        Due to McKee's extensive international lecture tour,  there won't be fall 2017 STORY Seminars in the USA.  DON'T MISS the spring seminars in LA, NYC and London!         McKee’s showrunning alumni have created, written and/or directed many award-winning series: THIS IS US, WESTWORLD, SHOW ME A HERO, THE AFFAIR, DOWNTON ABBEY, THE SOPRANOS, BREAKING BAD, VIKINGS, GAME OF THRONES, HOUSE OF CARDS, THE OFFICE, FAWLTY TOWERS and many more.         Professional and Student discounts available. Contact john@storylogue.com for more information.            If you have taken a McKee Seminar and found it valuable, please forward this email to your colleagues and writer friends.    Los Angeles — MAR 24-26 New York — APR 21-23 London — MAY 5-7 Los Angeles — MAR 23 New York — APR 20 London — MAY 4 Berlin — MAY 11-14 Beijing — MAY 25-28       McKee Seminars | Two Arts, Inc. PO Box 681 Sherman, Connecticut 06784 United States (928) 204-2323