Dec 24 2008
Have You Ever Wanted to be an Editor?
I’m very close to sending out feelers on a nonfiction manuscript about how to write superhero stories. I have one main problem, though. My target audience is young (10-20 years old) and my writing style is not naturally breezy or accessible. Ahem. I’m a political scientist/journalist by training.
So I have a writing exercise/contest for you. Take any one of our articles and rewrite it so that a typical thirteen-year-old would find it authoritative, fun and easy to read. I have a few stylistic suggestions.
- Fragmented sentences are OK, but I recommend against run-ons.
- Keep the words as simple as possible.
- It must be fun!
We’d appreciate your help greatly. Depending on how good the entries are, we may also give Amazon gift-cards or a free, signed copy to show our appreciation. Thanks!
I’ll volunteer, though I can’t guarantee a decent entry.
I’ll try it, I like all the writing practice I can get.
Dammit, now I have choices. I suck at choices. I always pick one and then regret it later.
I think I’m going to go with Developing Interesting Characters by Trait.
I started on “Naming Characters”.
It’s OK if it’s not decent. It’s just an exercise!
Would you rather we posted it here, or emailed it to you?
E-mail would probably be a bit easier for me to format, but feel free to post it here as well.
Sent by email as per request.
I’m fourteen years old and I can read and comprehend these articles just fine. Any thirteen year old who can’t read a at a semi-adult level shouldn’t be trying to write a superhero novel in the first place…
If they are writing for a slightly younger audience, then I think a lower reading level is acceptable.