READERSVOICE.COM aims to give a few samples from interesting out of print books. Recently, I found Rollin’ yer swag in a Salvation Army store. Rollin’ yer swag was a memoir written by William C.F. Cowan in 1985, published by Boolarong, Brisbane. A swag is rolled-up bedding, carried on someone’s back or on horseback: used for […]
The jewel thieves… He writes about how later in life he joined a droving plant, travelling on horseback, walking cattle over long distances. He was camped out with some other drovers when they met two other guys camped out nearby. The two became very sick after drinking salty corned beef water for soup. The following […]
A resilient outback woman… Mr Cowan wrote about a woman he met at a remote cattle property. After kindly feeding him and the other ringers, she sat with them. He noticed she had a portion of one finger missing and he asked her about it. She said she was in the galley, or kitchen, and […]
Snakebite in the outback… When Mrs K. was bitten by a brown snake, she couldn’t just go to the phone because they didn’t have the phone connected at their homestead. The nearest phone was at the neighbouring property. But she also didn’t have a horse, so she walked nine kilometres across country (more direct than […]
READERSVOICE.COM gives a few samples from interesting out of print books. This issue features another excellent how to write book, Characters Make Your Story by Maren Elwood, written in 1942. These samples are from a 1959 hardback published by The Writer Inc., Boston. Ms Elwood wrote about cause and effect. She says: We are writing […]
Highlighting characteristics of characters by using contrast… Ms Elwood in Characters Make Your Story, written in 1942, says: “One arresting way of spotlighting the character of an actor is to confront him with a highly contrasted problem, or situation.” She gives the example of a wealthy young bachelor who lives in a penthouse in New […]
Emotions toward characters… Ms Elwood in Characters Make Your Story says: “Before writing any story, the writer should know clearly and specifically the dominant emotion he wants the reader to feel toward every character in that story.” Ms Elwood in Characters Make Your Story, says to: “Never leave the choice of the emotional effect you […]
READERSVOICE.COM aims to give a few samples from interesting out of print books. Many of these are forgotten but all of them are as good as anything published recently. This issue features some tips from How to Write Stories that Sell, by Edward S. Fox. This book was written in 1961, and the hardback quoted […]
Edward S. Fox said that stories are all about emotion… Mr Fox wrote: The chief purpose of fiction is to arouse emotions in the reader. From the first to the last page, that is your whole reason for writing. Whereas the article writer appeals to the intellect, the fiction writer appeals to the emotions. He […]
Other tips from How to Write Stories that Sell, by Edward S. Fox… Mr Fox said to describe a scene through a character’s eyes. This dramatises the setting. He writes: Don’t forget that the reader wants to identify himself with the protagonist; he wants to live the story with the protagonist. He gives an e.g.: […]