| "I am returning this otherwise good typing paper | | | | That cornerstone is the word "story" itself. The |
| to you because someone has printed gibberish all | | | | problem is that "story" is mis-defined in every |
| over it and put your name at the top." ~ English | | | | dictionary. Along with about a hundred other |
| Professor (Name Unknown), Ohio University | | | | words that comprise the nomenclature of |
| This would be funny if it didn't hit so close to | | | | storytelling. Which is why, I've spent two decades |
| home. | | | | working out a new (actually based on ancient |
| Most writers receive only rejection "notes", they | | | | traditions) definition of the word. |
| aren't even letters; consisting of bad quality Xerox | | | | And why it is displayed prominently on my |
| copies of a stock, "thanks, but no thanks" variety. | | | | website, and I spend so much time going over it |
| And we don't know why. That's the real problem; | | | | in my new book. "How-To, Write Better Fiction, |
| we don't know why our manuscript is being | | | | Faster" and sell more of what you write. |
| rejected. | | | | One can't learn a subject without learning the |
| And not knowing "why", leaves us with no plan to | | | | nomenclature of that subject. However in our |
| "fix" it. | | | | case, the nomenclature has been virtually missing. |
| Editors won't tell us (in fact they can't) because | | | | What remained of it was so mis-defined as to be |
| they really don't know. The proof is in the fact | | | | worse than useless. |
| that 80% of what they do publish is rejected by | | | | I have resurrected the fundamental nomenclature |
| the public. Professors don't know. The proof is in | | | | of storytelling; so that it can now be studied and |
| the fact that very few successful authors even | | | | understood. There is no Silver Bullet, no winged |
| graduated from collage, let alone possess a | | | | Muse, and no Magic Wand. |
| degree in "literature". | | | | The only "magic" comes from our own |
| So, where does one turn, if they really want to | | | | understanding of the technology of "storytelling", |
| be a successful writer of fiction? | | | | which consists of having the correct product, |
| The subject must be studied like one would study | | | | nomenclature, raw materials, tools, sequences and |
| the subjects of chemistry or physics. We must | | | | techniques, in that order. |
| start with the basics, identify the most | | | | Study these fundamentals and then, |
| fundamental concepts of the craft, and work | | | | Write on... |
| your way up from there. | | | | |