Prefaces and Prologues and Basics - Oh My!

So. I thought it was time for a new outlook on this - one that I would be motivated to update now and then.

So I'm making this into a step-by-chapter create-a-book. Now, I know that there is no exact formula for writing (Ally Carter's words, actually, but I'm taking them. Along with a lot of her tips. There should be a link to her For Writers at the bottom of every post. And, depending on what topic I'm discussing, other authors as well), but I'm going to try and take you through the plot process.

Questions? Let's start with the one that might come to MY mind if I was reading this.

What gives you any right to be doing this? I mean, why should you have any reason to be doing this? Do you have knowledge of the topic?

So I know that was more than one. Oh well. On to the answers.

I have as much right to be doing this as you have to be reading it. If, y'know, anyone is. I'm doing this because I've seen people that have writing skills but don't know how to use them. And yes, I do have knowledge on the topic - experience and research of published authors.

Well, anyway.

Let's start at the beginning. Or near it, anyway.

Prefaces/Prologues

The fact is, we can't start here. Prefaces and prologues are something you do once the story is completely written. You can write one, of course, as the stem, or roots of the plant that's your book, but that's more of an idea. To get the authors' (sort of) description of preface and prologue, look below.

Preface: a sort of peek inside the book that gives nothing away.
Prologue: the backstory. The beginning. Where it all started. This is the more apt option to start something with.

Now, this is a short post, because most prefaces and prologues are short. So I'll say some basics that are expected from a writer who wants to be published:

-You've some idea of grammar and sentence structure. Especially if you write in third person, because you're not writing the way someone would think (which, for the record, is not in perfect little sentences and stuff).

-You know what I mean when I say first, second, and third person.

-You're a decent speller.

-You've got passion for what you're writing about, or curiousity, or some strong emotion that fuels you to write more. And knowledge. You have to have some knowledge about what you're writing about.

-Your vocabulary is big - of course, that depends on the age group you're aiming for. If you want little kids to read your book, then you probably should stick to simple words like "cookie", "she", and "dog". Think Clifford the Big Red Dog or The Paper Bag Princess. Juvenile I'm not too experienced in. Flip through some Junie B. Jones. Young Adult is kind of tricky. You've got to have your vocabulary large enough for the average fourteen or fifteen year old, but they can't be used in obvious ways. Think Uglies or Twilight. Adult you need a nice vocabulary used in everyday situations.

-You aren't inexperienced. You've done a paper for English before, or written something just for fun.

Well, I think this has been long enough, and I congratulate you if you made it to the bottom of this page. Happy writing, and the best to you.

Look at this! It's some -what? - INFORMATION? No way, dude. Ally Carter's For Writers

Twilight Movie

GAH! I AM SO ANGRY!

I HAD PLANS TO GO SEE THE TWILIGHT MOVIE (WHICH I HAVE BEEN WAITING TO SEE FOR FOREVER) WITH MY BOYFRIEND, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT HE DOES?

HE GOES AND FREAKING CANCELS ON ME! GOD!

SO NOW I'M GOING TO SEE IT TODAY, INSTEAD OF THE DAY I HAD TICKETS AND EVERYTHING READY TO PICK UP FOR ON FRIDAY.

Gack. To all you young girls out there, never get a boyfriend. They only make you made and cause you girl-angst.

bleah

all of a sudden, my blog isn't so personal anymore.

oh well.

Wow... sorry, guys...

Wow, guys. Sorry for not posting anything for so long. Here's the update:

My boyfriend and I are officially broken up with.
what a relief

The guy who used to like (and was causing me some stress) now has a girlfriend.
yeah... got some mixed feelings about that... (i mean, it's always nice for someone to like you, right? flattery and all that?)

I did not fail science.
thank god. my parents would murder me in my sleep.

I am now a full-fledged Beatles, Led Zep, Dashboard Confessionals, and Hawthorne Heights fan.
beatles=the beatles. those rock/pop legends from the sixties. led zep=led zeppelin. it's a band, guys, not a guy. an awesome band who did stairway to heaven. dashboard confessionals=the song don't wait. a-m-a-z-i-n-g. hawthorne heights=the band from the underworld movie soundtrack. :)

I can't believe that people are actually taking Sarah Palin seriously.
seriously. have you HEARD her talk? pro-america? what is this?

I think John McCain should stop smiling.
seriously.

I've been a Barack Obama fan, but now you get to hear it. :)
barack and roll!

...crap. I'm running out of things to say.
yup.

Well, that's the in and the out and the what.

Oh. Something that really pisses me off: the teachers here talk about religion (coughChristianitycough) in class.

I mean, seriously, dude. Separation of church and state. It's in the Constitution. And, as it happens, teachers are employed by the federal government.

I bet you didn't know that.

OH. Awesome. The Sharpest Lives (by My Chemical Romance) just started playing on my iPod. It's an awesome song.

There's the a place in the dark where the animals go...

Hehe.

Anyway. The bitches on the soccer team started acting nicer. That's only when Big Bitch isn't around, of course.

Oh, woe is me. (-sarcasm, guys-)

Well, I'd better go before my dad gets pissed that I'm not spending quality time with him.

OH. Before I go, I think I forgot to tell you in my first post how obsessed I am with Scooby Doo. He's awesome. The whole crew is. Cartoon Network ruined them. (I'm one of the ones that remembers the originals. I stopped watching Cartoon Network when I was like, ten, by the way.)

Well. Later. :]

I Have A Boyfriend.

I decided to make things easier for all of you that aren't reading this and just write the way I'm supposed to. Capital letters and all. I'm ignoring sentence fragments, though, because this is first person and I don't think or write in correct anything. Most of the time.

Well, anyway, back to the main topic. I've got a boyfriend. An asshole boyfriend, who can be spazzy and funny and cute, but still be an asshole.

He's a just a regular Joe, I guess.

But I think I want to break up with him.

Scratch that. I know I want to break up with him. Any ways of breaking it to 'im gently?

Dah dah dah DAAAAH

i just realized how emo nemo that last post was, so i decided to relieve all of you out there. i'm doing fine. the school is cool and the people are cooler.

i'm not gonna be here for a while. the hours for this school are CRAZY. so i'll see ya when i see ya.

Gack.

i am not going to post again until the weekend unless things get a lot worse.

i want to go back home. i hate the school here. the teachers are dumbasses, the high schoolers are friggin mean (i guess they're nicer when they're forced to share a school with you), and the dress code is dumb.

i mean, seriously. no facial hair for guys? hairstyles must not be distracting? what is this, hairspray?

and don't call me a whiny bitch. i already know that.

it's just...this is TORTURE. it's like a prison. now i understand why hallie palmer dropped out.

aah. god. i'm done, for now.