Hi, Alex Simmons here. To start, I help aspiring and emerging writers overcome their fears and frustrations and create compelling plots, characters, and stories that will appeal to a broader audience. Now for a bit of backstory … I’m an award-winning freelance writer, writing coach/teacher, and arts-n-ed consultant. I’ve written for Disney Books, Penguin Random House, and Marvel/DC/Archie Comics. There are also the plays, films, interactive games, and animation scripts I’ve penned. And I’ve been a global keynote speaker on empowering people through the arts. I’ve got a lot to share, starting with my Simmons Says newsletter.
Simmons Says Newsletter 135: What If I Can't____?
Welcome to my newsletter! Maybe I'm not a real writer. I don't know which idea to go with. My dialogue sounds fake. I have trouble figuring out the middle of my story. Writing a mystery, you have all those clues and things to figure out. I don't know where to start. I don't know how to finish. I can't find the time to write. These are just some of the negative thoughts that writers have to deal with on and on and on, Reader. And it doesn’t matter whether you're an aspiring, emerging, or seasoned pro. You'll still encounter some of these thoughts at certain times. So, how do you deal with that? What do you do when facing one of your greater writing challenges? That's one of the topics Chris Ryan and I discuss in our podcast episode called "Burnout...," number 280 of Tell The Damn Story. The other topic is, What is a writer's superpower? What do some writers do better than anything else? And how does that help them in pursuing their writing goals? Check out this discussion of conflict and empowerment by listening to episode #280 of Tell The Damn Story now. If you want to learn how to write a mystery short story in 7 days, join my WRITE THE CRIME 7-DAY MYSTERY WRITERS CHALLENGE. It starts on October 11th. It's only 1 hour a day. During this challenge, I'll show you five super techniques that, if you implement them, you will have a rough draft of your story by the time we finish. Only two days left to register. Heck! Do both and double your power to tell your damn mystery story. Best, Alex "Hercule" Simmons #TellTheDamnStory #WritingCommunity #Storytelling #CreativeWriting #AuthorLife #Inspiration #EthicsInWriting #PodcastDiscussion Have any writing questions and challenges? |
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Simmons Says
Go Write For It
Hi, Alex Simmons here. To start, I help aspiring and emerging writers overcome their fears and frustrations and create compelling plots, characters, and stories that will appeal to a broader audience. Now for a bit of backstory … I’m an award-winning freelance writer, writing coach/teacher, and arts-n-ed consultant. I’ve written for Disney Books, Penguin Random House, and Marvel/DC/Archie Comics. There are also the plays, films, interactive games, and animation scripts I’ve penned. And I’ve been a global keynote speaker on empowering people through the arts. I’ve got a lot to share, starting with my Simmons Says newsletter.
Welcome to my newsletter! Here's a question for you, Reader... "What or who determines our writer's voice?" In the early 50s, books and films reflected society in the aftermath of WW 2. From the late 50s into the 60s, with Russia’s Sputnik and the US Space program in the air, aliens and radiation became popular topics. It was the Atomic Age. After all, we had dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. And thus, radiation became a much more familiar word in common Society.That time...
Welcome to my newsletter! The Other Secret Identity Hey, Reader: The whole purpose of a mask is to hide your true face; actually or metaphysically. In acting, it's to convey a convincing portrait of a personality, not your own. Sometimes, the actor adds elements of their life experience to add authenticity to the role. Maybe the actor has lived out some part of the fictional character’s trauma and thus knows it all too well. And that knowledge is what makes the whole film more believable....
Welcome to my newsletter! The Blind Alley Kids. Hey, Reader I know it's a weak title. I can't even say that this was an homage to the Dead End Kids or the Bowery Boy movies I watched as a young person. It was more of a straight rip-off. But it wasn't me trying to write some stories and using this title to sell and get paid. Instead, I came up with this when I was still a teenager, running around the streets of New York City with my friends Michael and Angel. We were into making home movies in...