Interviews

Read Job 37-39

Job 37:19 "Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness."

When we interview someone, it might be for an article about that person. It could be someone prominent in a certain field or even someone famous.

We might interview someone to gain knowledge for a subject we are writing about. We might interview several different people to get quotes to use in the article.

We could also interview family for a history we are writing for our family alone or for a memoir we are writing. We might interview people to make sure the facts we are using in our novel are accurate.

Glimmer of Hope

Read Job 34-36

Job 35:10 "But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;"

Once our protagonist has her black moment where all is lost, she needs a reason to get up and keep fighting. Sometimes we use a glimmer of hope.

All may be lost, but there may still be a way for her to turn things around and be victorious. The glimmer of hope is different from a desire for revenge.

The desire for payback may get the protagonist back into the fight, but without regard for whether he lives through the ordeal or not. The glimmer of hope will give him strength to know that the impossible situation he finds himself in might be salvageable.

MFA

Read Job 31-33

Job 32:21 "Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man."

The debate over getting a Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) in writing continues. There are as many opinions about it are there are writers.

Some believe an MFA is necessary to call oneself a writer. Others prove writers can be successful without the degree behind their names.

It comes down to what we want—if we want to further our education an MFA might be perfect for us. But until we’re ready to pursue it, writers get along fine with whatever education or life experience we already have.

Web Writing

Read Job 28-30

Job 29:25 "I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners."

Web writing includes everything from blogs to articles. Most every company needs web content of one sort or another.

Plenty of magazines have web editions. Some have only web editions, no print editions.

The way in is the same—querying and proving we can do the work well and on time. Just remember to treat any email queries as formally as printed queries and not make the mistake of treating them as casually as we do friends.

Metaphors

Read Job 25-27

Job 27:20 "Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night."

Metaphors are what we use to bring a concept to life using a symbolic comparison, rather than a direct comparison. The above verse uses both simile—using the direct comparison “as waters”—and metaphor, when the tempest steals the terrified person away at night.

Metaphors can add poetry to our writing. We can use metaphors to make our writing clearer.

We can use metaphors to give substance to ideas. Metaphors help people form pictures in their minds so they can understand what we’re saying, whether we are writing fiction or nonfiction.

Arguments

Read Job 22-24

Job 23:4 "I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments."

Arguments between characters are a direct source of conflict. When they are arguing in a less direct manner, it can be a subtle form of conflict.

Arguments also come up in a debate-type environment. We may be writing one particular point of view or be writing a persuasive speech.

We might also write an argument in the form of an essay—showing by personal experience why one solution is best. Another hidden type of argument is a commercial—we might write why one product will change a person’s life for the better.

Plot Devices

Read Job 19-21

Job 21:27 "Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me."

Plot devices are things writers use to move a story along. They can be anything from a ticking clock to a rescue.

Used clumsily, they are so obvious they throw a reader out of the story. We don’t want anyone to see our tricks.

Used skillfully they can heighten conflict and provide suspense. They can make our story the kind of tale a reader stays up all night to finish.