This week, Alida & Kathryn welcome Kavita Das to the Story Works Round Table. Kavita has a new book out, Craft & Conscience, all about writing that is concerned with social issues. And really, what writing isn’t in one way or another getting at the aspects of being human and being human together that could use some work? This conversation is equally beneficial for fiction and nonfiction writers.
This is part 2 of our conversation with Kavita.
This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida & Kathryn welcome Kavita Das to the Story Works Round Table. Kavita has a new book out, called Craft & Conscience, all about writing that is concerned with social issues. And really, what writing isn’t in one way or another getting at the aspects of being human and being human together that could use some work? This conversation is equally beneficial for fiction and nonfiction writers.
This week, in a continuation of writing prompts part 1, we share our freewriting. In addition to reading and reacting to our writing, we talk about the benefits of sharing writing prompts with others, what cultural touchstones we drew on, and the implicit issues genetic manipulation brings.
What is the purpose of writing prompts? And how are they useful? When and how should you use them? And what kind of formats can you see them in? We share our own experiences and share some prompts. Join us for a writing prompt and listen in next week as we read our free writing aloud.
Get to know Anja and Christina and their work as German translators. Ever wonder about the process of taking a book from one language to another? What about how the translator takes your words and conveys them in another language? And what is the level of trust you are extending? And don’t forget that a different language is a different market!
How many drafts should you go through before you finish your book? And what draft should you send your developmental editor? Is rewriting or revision the answer? And how should you analyze that work in progress in order to find it’s flaws?
What makes a setting? And how can you use it to immerse your reader in your story? What details are good, and when does showing your research ruin the story you are trying to tell?
What is a protagonist, and does your story need one? What are the stakes your protagonist needs? Who is the right person to tell your story? And how is a protagonist different from a point of view character? And ultimately, do you have to discover one thing before another in your pre-writing process?
Want to start off 2017 right? We talk about how to use accountability in tandem with your productivity to boost your writing. Is there a difference between accountability and productivity? And how can you set up accountability in your own life? What tools are out there for use? And should you go public with your goals? It all comes down to knowing yourself and how you work.
What is a writing habit? And how can you create one that is both enjoyable and productive? What if you are writing around all your other life responsibilities? And what kind of systems can you put in place to make yourself successful? As we head into this new year, make your writing a priority.
Taking a look at “What it Means to Be a Man” by Ed Bok Lee, we talk about why Alida picked this story, and what it is really all about. How do you create empathy with your readers when they may have no cultural context for your story? Or even find your subject matter repulsive? How do you choose the right narrator for the story? And what does it really mean to be a man?