Overview and Description
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By this point, you have made some significant progress on your fictional story. But there still might be a few nagging issues that we need to address. Now is your opportunity to do so. But you will also be addressing how the often elusive nature of theme is materializing in your story.
For this task you need to consider a passage, or passages, within your story that seems to be altering the overall effectiveness of what you are attempting to convey. But also consider all of the story elements learned through this point, as one or more of them may be contributing to a lack of story effectiveness. For example, is the language pattern you have employed in your story more active than passive, as it should be? Does your setting add substance to the story’s spatial order? Are your characters compelling, and do they want something? Do we care about them? Many questions to ask, and each one of them very important.
Lastly, we reserve the discussion of theme toward the end of the course because it can be difficult to isolate how it is materializing in your story. In fact, sometimes theme is operating whether we realize it is there or not! But themes within your work allow a reader to consider a writing’s strength and appeal.
Submission Specifications
Discussion post includes:
Carefully review your story and isolate areas for improvement. Such areas may include characterization, plot focus, dialogue, and/or overall strength of story.
Identify two to three themes and how they appear to be functioning in your story.
Reflect upon any successes or challenges regarding the presence of theme in your story.
Overview and Description
In this task, we address a crucial component in the business of writing, and that involves the letter of intent.
In many regards, the letter of intent represents a make or break situation in that, if not written appropriately and with clarity, the submission of your story will be passed over by an editor, agent, or publisher. It is a crucial first step to get your story through the front door!
Submission Specifications
Carefully review the course section on drafting your letter of intent, including a story hook, a brief synopsis, biography, and closing.
Review the sample letters of intent included in the Learning Activities.
Carefully review your letter for proper MLA standards of formatting, spelling, and grammar.
You may fictionalize the name of the senior editor.
Format according to MLA standards.
Post at least two substantial responses to other students in discussion thread.
