Nina Munteanu Self-Editing Workshop and "The Fiction Writer" Applauded

Nina Munteanu and the Fiction Writer

My Self-Editing Workshop and my guidebook The Fiction Writer received a very nice review from fellow writer Ace Jordyn at The Fictorians in a post entitled, “Serendipity is a WeirdMistress”.

When I attended Nina Munteanu’s one-hour presentation on revision at the When Words Collide Conference [in Calgary, August 2013] the pieces to the puzzle fell together and now revising is totally fun!

I was elated to discover that I had many of the skills and resources I needed to revise. What I lacked was structure for the task. Revising, I learned, is a ten-step process. The second step, Dig Deep, is the most exciting for it gives permission to restructure and change things to make the story better. For example, I had been toying with changing the gender of a main character but was unsure. Then, Nina said it was okay. Bingo! When I did it, I discovered that I hadn’t made the original character as strong and unique as I thought – there were trite mannerisms and stereotypical reactions I had subconsciously written. Why should a female wail and a male not? Or did I want either of them wailing? Was that the reaction I wanted? Of course not! Out with the stereotypes, in with more concrete characters and writing. It’s given me a whole new perspective as I examine all my characters.

The other helpful thing about the book is that Nina has a good succinct information on things important to telling a good story such as an overview of the hero’s journey, using the metaphor, getting sensual, the Zen of passionate writing and more. Simply and succinctly written, The FictionWriter: Get Published, Write Now is an excellent resource which has helped me get my writing to the next level. Simply written (I don’t have the patience for long dissertations), it makes its points quickly on essential things such as the hero’s journey, using the metaphor, getting sensual, the Zen of passionate writing and more.

Thanks, Ace, for a wonderful testimonial! Hope to see you again at When Words Collide next year.

I teach a self-editing and revision course online. You can also purchase my short guide to self-editing and revisions for only $2.99 on Amazon.com. The guide consists of several papers I've written for various venues on the subject of self-editing and revisions. You can read one of the articles here. Learn more about the series of 12+ guides for writers called "What Writers Need to Know Series". 

Best Wishes,

Nina

Nina Munteanu's The Journal Writer Reviewed in Romania

The following excerpts are from a review of Nina Munteanu's The Journal Writer: Finding Your Voice was posted on June 10, 2013 by eumiealmeu in Burcurii on Despre sufletul meu (About my soul) in Romania:

“Primul capitol este perfect pentru adolescenți, mai ales pentru cei care pot fi recuperați din activități destructive, prin intermediul scrisului sau pentru cei care au talent spre scris.” 

(“The first chapter is perfect for teenagers, especially for those who may be recovering from the destructive activities in writing or for those who have a talent for writing.”)

Scriitorul de Jurnal este “O carte care adună mai multe detalii de la

fiecare și vă ajută să găsiți noi posibilități de exprimare! Merită luată, pentru că nu e scumpă. Dacă ar fi scumpă, v-aș împrumuta-o eu! Manualul de scriere creativă al aceleiași autoare este interesant 100%!”

The Journal Writer is "A book that gathers details from various resources and helps you to find new ways of expression! It is worthwhile, and not expensive. If it would be, my dear, I'd give it to me! (The creative writing manual by Nina Munteanu (The Fiction Writer) is 100% interesting!”

Plan to Garden and Garden to Plan

"Can I get under the fence?"

When my family and I settled into our new house in Delta, I happily noticed the raspberry bushes in the rectangular garden by the house and dreamed of the berries I could eat with my breakfast cereal. Those bushes that promised bounty soon delivered more frustration than I’d anticipated. The lawn was a little too narrow for my mower to make a single pass between the garden and the fence. And my coveted berries were also coveted by my always ravenous Labrador Retriever, who always beat me to the ripe ones. I hated getting mad at my sweet Labrador for doing what came naturally to her: forage and eat. The whole garden thing was turning into a challenging case of anger management.

I decided to fix the breakfast issue and treat my anger management in one full sweep by transplanting the bushes to the other side of the fence, where the dog couldn’t reach. I recycled some sod from a new garden I created to fill in the  large rectangular plot of dirt left by the raspberry bushes.  It was a cool and seamless move of mutual benefit.

I was no longer mad at my Labrador, I could mow the lawn easily and I enjoyed my breakfasts of raspberries on my cereal. Even the raspberry bushes were happier in their new location.  I am not sure the dog was so happy as she looked at me with forlorn eyes through the fence as I picked the berries.

When I became a Director with Pixl Press Canada not too long ago, I happily noticed this small press’s potential and dreamed of achieving literary excellence in publishing. We had published Nina Munteanu’s writing guidebook The Fiction Writer: Get Published, Write Now! in May 2009.  We felt it was time to update our look to match the new brand so August 2013 finds us planning a new cover for this very popular writing guide. We will be using award-winning artist Anne Moody and Aurora finalist cover designer Costi Gurgu for our brand on this excellent writing series (see the covers for The Journal Writer and Natural Selection, both by Nina Munteanu).

We’ll keep you posted once the new cover is ready.

The Journal Writer Joins The Alien Guidebook Series

Following the success of Nina Munteanu's "The Fiction Writer: Get Published, Write Now!" (Starfire World Syndicate) Nina's guidebook on how to journal and write expressively, "The Journal Writer: Finding Your Voice", was released March 25, 2013 by Pixl Press, an imprint of Starfire.

"The Journal Writer" is a comprehensive guidebook that will help writers choose the best medium, style and platform for their expressive writing. It covers what you need, how to get started and how to keep going, even when you don't feel like it. The book also guides you on issues of safety, using the computer, electronic devices, social media, and the Internet.

The cover design and artwork was done by Costi Gurgu and Anne Moody.

Costi Gurgu is an internationally acclaimed digital artist and designer and Aurora Award finalist who lives in Toronto, Canada. He has illustrated book covers, magazine and newspaper covers and feature editorials for a variety of publications since 1999. Anne Moody is an award-winning artist and scientist living in British Columbia, Canada. She considers herself "a realist, strongly tempted by abstract elements wrapped in story." The art on the cover depicts a scene in Toquart Bay, B.C.

Both "The Fiction Writer" and "The Journal Writer" were picked up by Editura Paralela 45, translated and published in Romania.

You can find "The Fiction Writer" and "The Journal Wrtiter" on Amazon.com, Amazon.ca and other affiliate amazons throughout the world, in addition to other major online booksellers such as Barnes & Noble and Chapters. Keep informed on Nina's books through Nina's Amazon Page.