Author: Ace Baker

Horror week #003: Exaggerate in your writing to grab your readers!

Aug 3, 2013

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by

Ace Baker

in fancy footwork, fiction, novels, short stories, writing technique

Exaggeration (hyperbole and understatement) is a tool often used in horror fiction. Stating that things are the absolute worst (hyperbole) sends a clear message to the reader: this character doesn’t want to be here right now–and neither would YOU! Look at how Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie use it immediately…
Horror writing #002: Miss you…!

Aug 2, 2013

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by

Ace Baker

in fancy footwork, fiction, novels, short stories, writing technique

If you want to create some mystery, right out of the gate, then have something missing that really ought to be there. Look at how horror writer Patricia Windsor manages that in The Blooding: They were found in the woods, curiously and awkwardly lying in the first leaves of autumn. The girl had fallen…
Horror week #001: For a creepy effect in horror fiction, ZOOM IN!

Aug 1, 2013

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Ace Baker

in fiction, novels, power punch, short stories, Uncategorized, writing technique

It’s cinematic, really. To add power to your descriptions and even create a bit of suspense through them, ZOOM IN! Here’s how horror writer Stephen Dobyns does it in his novel, The Church of Dead Girls: Three dead girls in three straight chairs, collapsed against the ropes, heads tilted, their skin papery, their…
Writer’s Digest Contest Update: I moved up to sixth place now…don’t know why!

Aug 1, 2013

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by

Ace Baker

in writer ace baker

Ok, I got an e-mail from Writer’s Digest today saying that my literary short story is now 6th, not 7th place (although the prizes remain exactly the same…sigh…). No explanation of WHY, but I’m moving up in the world…
Ace Made the Quarter-finals in the Casey Shay Poetry Chapbook Contest!

Jul 31, 2013

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by

Ace Baker

in poetry, writer ace baker

Ok, nail-biting time all over again! My chapbook of poetry, Kaleidoscope: Bright Lives, Broken, made the quarter-finals in this year’s Mary Ballard Poetry Chapbook Contest. That’s exciting, but that’s just round one. We’ve been narrowed down to about 160, and the semi-finals will cut that number drastically, down to about 30. Fingers crossed…
July 31st post comes early: A Starter for You from Rachael Frey

Jul 31, 2013

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by

Ace Baker

in fiction, novels, short stories, starters

Ok, I’m getting ready to embark on a 17-HOUR flight to Singapore, so tomorrow’s post is coming, well…tonight. As in just before I leave. As in now. It’ll be short and sweet (maybe not so sweet, but short) because of that, too. Here’s the beginning line to Rachael Frey’s “The Lost Twice Legend,”…
A Starter for You from the January, 1921 National Geographic

Jul 30, 2013

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by

Ace Baker

in fiction, novels, short stories, starters

One of my favorite writing exercises is to take a piece of writing I like, clip a piece of it, and try to continue writing in that author’s style. I also love making something nonfiction into fiction. The selection I’ll ask you to try this with today comes from “The Dream Ship,” a January,…
Opening paragraphs #005: SUPER CHALLENGE!

Jul 29, 2013

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by

Ace Baker

in fiction, knockout idea, novels, short stories, writing technique

Let’s do a quick review of our look at beginnings in the past four days: Day one: sharp contrast: tough, tough soft Day two: a bit of mystery Day three: 3-line description that ends with a powerful short line Day four: help NOT wanted; hesitation at interaction And now, on day five, we’re…
Opening paragraphs #004: Help NOT wanted!

Jul 28, 2013

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by

Ace Baker

in fancy footwork, fiction, novels, short stories, writing technique

Have you ever been in a situation where you want to help someone, but they don’t want to be helped? Take a look at this opening by Jess Row in “The Call of Blood“: Mornings he finds Mrs. Kang upright in bed, peeling invisible ginger with an invisible knife. She watches her hands with…
Opening paragraphs #003: Shake it up!

Jul 27, 2013

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by

Ace Baker

in fancy footwork, fiction, novels, power punch, short stories, writing technique

For day three of our investigation of openings, I thought I’d show you one that is powerful, sarcastic, hilarious, and tragic–all at the same time! Check out the beginning to “Property,” by Elizabeth McCracken: The ad should have said, For rent, six-room hovel. Quarter-filled Mrs. Butterworth’s bottle in living room, sandy sheets throughout, lingering…