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The Sense-ible Writer [MultiFormat]
eBook by Nadene R. Carter
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$5.99 |
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$5.09 |
eBook Category: Self Improvement/General Nonfiction
eBook Description: This workbook presents principles of writing, based on concepts rather than rules. It starts with what you instinctively know. From that basis it builds concept upon concept until you understand the entire fiction-writing process. Each person learns in his or her own unique way. To make this an effective learning experience for all individuals, exercises have been crafted specifically toward each of the various learning styles and sensing modes. You will also use these learning styles/sensing modes to build more believable characters. As you progress through this study material, you will learn the basics of fiction writing by mastering the concepts presented in each chapter. If you go a step further and do the assigned work, you may come away with the first draft of a novel.
eBook Publisher: epress-online, Published: 2007
Fictionwise Release Date: June 2007
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Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: eReader (PDB) [166 KB]
, ePub (EPUB) [172 KB]
, Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [136 KB]
, Portable Document Format (PDF) [554 KB]
, Palm Doc (PDB) [152 KB]
, Microsoft Reader (LIT) [153 KB]
, Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [189 KB]
, hiebook (KML) [371 KB]
, Sony Reader (LRF) [200 KB]
, iSilo (PDB) [128 KB]
, Mobipocket (PRC) [156 KB]
, Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [193 KB]
, OEBFF Format (IMP) [213 KB]
Words: 46006
Reading time: 131-184 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Portable Document Format (PDF) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud DISABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED
 
Chapter 1--Learning Styles, Sensory ModesMy purpose in writing this book is to provide a roadmap for those who hunger to write fiction. Rather than following the so called rules of writing, I present principles of writing based on concepts rather than rules. To make this an effective learning experience for a broad range of individuals, I've created material specifically for the various learning styles and sensory modes. By applying these concepts to the teaching/learning process, I hope to make the elements of fiction writing more understandable. The three modes by which humans perceive their world are through the visual, the auditory, and the tactile. The Visual Learner The person whose major mode is visual learns through his eyes: reading from the printed page, studying charts and graphs, looking at pictures, or watching a video. The Auditory Learner This person learns primarily through hearing. He focuses his greatest attention on the spoken word, he hears and pays attention to the sounds around him. Some may want music playing in the background. A person who best acquires knowledge through listening may find it helpful to read the material from each of these lessons into a recording device, and then play it back as many times as necessary to learn the concepts taught in each lesson. The Tactile Learner This person perceives his world through the sense of touch. He runs a hand across a surface to experience the roughness or smoothness, explores an object by holding it in his hand, reads by following a line of text or the path of a graph or a chart with his finger. Clues to a Person's Preferred Sensory Mode Once you become aware of the various sensory modes, it becomes easy to pick up clues as to an individual's preferred mode by the words he chooses to say. Let's set up a hypothetical situation where someone has committed a social blunder--unintentional, of course--but he is concerned about how he might be perceived by others in the group. A person who experiences his world visually may say, "Did that make me look bad?" The person who experiences the world through his sense of touch will likely say, "I don't feel good about what I said?" The auditory person might say, "Did that sound as bad as I think it did?" I present this information here to get you thinking about how you might use the various modes in creating your characters. On the one hand, if you create characters with differing sensory modes, you also create opportunities for misunderstandings and conflict. Conversely, you may need two characters who are in tune and complementary in personality. In that case, they will need similar sensory modes. Your quest to become a fiction writer should begin by listening carefully to the words people use and the way in which they say them. If you can identify which mode a person uses, the easier you can communicate with him. Additionally, if you find it difficult to communicate with someone, pay special attention to the words he uses. Likely, each of you is operating from a different sensory mode and probably talking right past each other. Mixed Learning Styles Some people lean heavily toward one learning style, while others employ a mixture of two. One mode is usually dominant, with others in secondary or helping positions. For example, the visual learner may also use the tactile as a helper. It could manifest itself like this: A person is reading material that he needs to remember (use of the visual mode). He might take notes, or maybe underline or highlight important information in the text (use of the tactile mode as backup) to reinforce his learning. The auditory learner might also use the tactile in the same way as the visual learner. During a lecture (use of auditory mode), instead of relying completely on learning the information through his ears, he may take notes (use of tactile mode) to reinforce what he has heard. The tactile learner will need his hands to be doing something during a lecture. To reinforce the information, he may take notes or outline the information, but he may never need to look at his notes again, because the very act of doing something with his hands during the learning process makes it easier for this person to assimilate the information. The tactile learner will also likely find it helpful to have something in his hands while reading from the printed page--something as simple as a holding a pencil or playing with a paperclip can help. Once aware of the various learning styles and sensory modes, you will notice the different ways people use the variations combinations. Identify Your Learning Style Questionnaire Pull up a search engine and find the Barsch Learning Style Inventory, created by Jeffrey Barsch, Ed. D. It will be worth your while to print out this Learning Style questionnaire and work through the material. You'll find it helpful, not only so you better understand how you learn, but also to give you insight as to how you can use the sensory modes to add deeper dimensions to the characters you create. A Note to the Student As you progress through this workbook, you will learn the basics of fiction writing by studying the concepts presented in each chapter. If you go a step further and do the assigned work, you may come away with a first draft of a novel. To succeed in a long-term project such as this, you'll need single-mindedness and dedication. Immerse yourself in learning. Work on your writing every day. Train your subconscious to take over when the conscious mind becomes tired, and think about your story before you go to sleep at night. Amazing things can happen while you sleep. NOTE: If you ignore your novel for even a week, you may need several days to immerse yourself in the story before you can move forward with the project. Creativity is like a muscle. If you don't use it, your writing skills will atrophy and eventually become useless. Don't let that happen to you. * * * * The Visual LearnerGeneral Characteristics With his highest score under "Visual," this person likes to read things thoroughly, is usually a quiet individual, prefers an organized environment, and organizes projects by visualizing the various components, elements, or necessary steps. He usually notices when something is new or different in his environment. When choosing a book or magazine, the cover image or illustration will have great influence on this individual. During a learning session, he will retain more when visual aids are used in the presentation. He looks at the floor or ceiling when trying to remember something. Distinguishing Clues to This Sensory Type This person often closes his eyes when he is trying to remember something. This is an attempt to shut out the visual distractions in the environment, so he can try to picture in his mind what he is attempting to remember. When explaining a work project to others, this person will create visual aids, flow charts or diagrams to put his points across to others. How to Use This Information The person who scores high for the visual learning style will benefit from reading study material more than one time. Where possible, utilize charts, maps, notes, and flashcards to help retain the studied material. Practice visualizing the material in your head. The Auditory LearnerGeneral Characteristics This person has the highest score under "Auditory." He learns best by listening. When his environment is quiet, the need for sound of some kind may be overwhelming. Those individuals who prefer this learning style might hum or talk to themselves; they like music or rhythm of some kind in the background and study well in this environment. Often, they are good oral readers, but are slow silent readers because they tends to mouth the words. When listening to one thing, this person may easily be distracted by other sounds around him, because he will want to respond to all sounds. He prefers to talk through problems with another person; he often thinks out loud. He may have difficulty understanding and interpreting visual information--maps, flow charts, diagrams--unless clear verbal interpretation is also provided. Distinguishing Clues to This Sensory Type When this type of person wants to remember something, you will usually notice him repeating the information either to himself or to someone else. Younger children who are strong auditory learners may often repeat the information loud enough for nearby classmates to hear them. If this sensory type is given directions, he will usually repeat the information back to the person who said it. This is a solid way of learning for this type of learner. How to Use This Information The person who scores high for the audio learning style will benefit from listening to recorded material that he can listen to more than once. If you are this type of learner, get in the habit of recording lectures or you could read relevant material into a recording device to play back as many times as necessary to assimilate the information. The Tactile LearnerGeneral Characteristics A person whose preferred mode is through the sense of touch has the highest score under "Tactile." He learns by doing; he must be involved with his hands, examining, holding items, moving things about to do his best learning. He isn't able to sit and watch or just talk about something. In fact he has difficulty sitting still for very long and will find the confinement of a classroom situation an inhibitor to learning. Distinguishing Clues to This Sensory Type A person who operates in Tactile mode touches people to get or keep their attention or to make a point. When talking, he will often stand closer to other people than is comfortable for them. He responds to physical rewards like a pat on the back or a squeeze to the hand. Because he is eager to do anything which involves movement, he will grip a pencil hard or push harder to write with it than one ordinarily would need to. How to Use This Information A Tactile person will benefit from tracing words against his palm as they are spoken. If he needs to remember new information, he may need to write it in longhand several times. Always, keep a supply of scratch paper close at hand. For this person, taking notes during a lecture will be an important part of his learning process.
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