Blog Posts - A New Tale ~ Creative Writing is FUN!

What Makes A Great Blogger?

1/22/2025

The popular bloggers are able to spur their audience, fans and readers to participate with their new post. It is all about engagement. People that keep coming back to a specific favorite blog site, come as much for the action and play between the usual commentors as they come for the blogger who publishes the original blogs...

TODAY'S BLOGGING TIP: Ask Questions!
When your audience answers with their comments you have sprouted a blog conversation.

Every comment left, creates opportunities for others in your audience to speak their mind. They now can agree with you or take the side of a commentor or state their own novel idea on the subject being discussed.

People can argue with other commentors, like comments or try to turn the conversation in a new direction.

When things are slowing down you, as moderator, can add your two cents to try to get more comments coming in...

Comment with another good question and a whole slew of more comments might start rolling in.

JOIN - A NEW TALE - A CREATIVE WRITING GROUP
On LinkedIn!

Great Characters Make Your Story a Winner

1/22/2025

Creating Great Written Fiction or Nonfiction Characters Is an ART!
By Stu Leventhal - A New Tale Editor

Many claim characterization is all about point of view...

Who is describing the player in your story?

If you, the author tell your readers about a new character, who is just now entering the story, you have super human insight you can share. But you should know we readers would rathe have a few other characters tell us what they think about a character than hear you the writer scroll on and on describing someone.

One character may like the new player a lot. Another character may not trust the new addition to the tale.

Can your current characters let your readers know what they nee to know about a new character?

Maybe you wish the new character to tell your readers about him or herself.
Do you really wish to allow your reader to know what a character is thinking in their head.

How do you decide what to reveal about a character, how much info is necessary to share with readers and when is it best to reveal the info?

Authors have a lot of options and a lot of decisions to make when telling a story.

Readers trust you.

Author Anais Nin explained, "We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect."

Jack Kerouac wrote, "One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple."

I like less author narrative when finding out details about a character. I'd rather learn that a person is brave through the plot and their actions, in story form, than by having a writer just type; Old Man Bob was known by all in town to be very brave...

Show me Old Bob is courageous! Let Old Bob's dialog say he is tough! Show how folks get out of Old Bob's way!

What are some of your favorite novel characters and why? Share in a comment!

Join A NEW TALE LinkedIn Group

1/22/2025

Have you written 'A New Tale' or a great poem you want your peers to read and evaluate critique or review?

You need to join the best Creatve Writing Group on LinkedIn: A NEW TALE - a LinkedIn Writing Group!

Writing Instructors, Wordsmiths, Author Coaches, Book Cover Artists, Literary Agents, Editors and of course scribes of all kinds... are all welcome.

Post links to your articles, stories, where we can find your books. Post a poem or two or three.

Share advice. Discuss technique. Let's help each other sell more writing and become better writers.

JOIN 'A NEW TALE' - LinkedIn Creative Writing Group

Welcome Authors, Poets, Lyricists, Biographers, Story Tellers of all Kinds!

What if There Were… NO ARTISTS?

12/18/2022

WHY ART?
By Stu Leventhal

Every so often, the great debaters pose the question… ARE ARTISTS NECESSARY?

Many philosophers claim artists are not producing anything of real value nor are they contributing to society. They do not fix any problems so, could art and artists actually be holding humanity back?

If all the artists were forced to work in a factory… we’d have a lot more stuff that was actually useful.

As long as some people, somewhere, anywhere are starving, why not put our artists to work trying to feed these people in need?

Should artists be working all day on a painting or sculpting a statue or practicing dance moves when there are so many important things that need doing?

Of course, this is the same argument that folks present when they rant against our space program. “There is poverty and homelessness we should be using our money to end before we waist a penny on travelling to the moon and setting up space stations.”

So, do we ALL have our priorities mixed up?

No… We just like comforts.

We naturally want to mold the world immediately around us to meet our emotional needs.

Wearing bright patterned clothes that we deem stylish and hanging a colorful photo in a drab hallway does zip for our physical wellbeing. That porcelain panda statue on the shelf has no real function nor does our Puka Shell wristband. Yet, we gain pleasure from making ourselves into what we feel is more attractive and interesting to others. We also enjoy decorating our home to be more inviting and cozy.

With Art you are telling others that you lived…

“Look at this…This is what I know and want to share with you.”

One works on art to help figure out more about oneself…
“Am I capable of more?”
“Am I special?”

Thru our finished projects we try to define ourselves to others. Yes, sometimes we showoff thru using our art skills, which may be the most humanist thing artists do.

The truth is that the art work is not always the most important thing as many artists would have you believe. Sometimes we have other motives. Artists are human and flawed after all, just like everyone else in our society.

Life, the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of living as a person, is full of happenings that can’t be explained. With art we try to make our best attempts to puzzle out some of the many mysteries.

When something we encounter baffles us, perhaps our art will get people talking about it.
During the artistic toiling we often are delighted to find, we have uncovered new questions and riddles.

All along the way our art pushes us to develop better skills.

We get smarter, become more capable and build self-pride and confidence as we work on our art projects.

We practice problem solving and build character as we painstakingly try to get the details of our artwork perfect.

The best art often contradicts societies accepted thoughts about a subject or situation. Art shows things from a different angle. The artist is always thinking. "How can I dazzle my audience?"

The artist may wish you to tune into his or her mood.

Artists want to surprise you, make you laugh, cry, sigh...

Why go thru all this trouble just to say what has already been said a thousand times.

“If I am not giving you something that you cannot get anywhere else then it ain’t ART.”

The true artist is always learning each day, developing further.

When the artist realizes that they have reached a new plateau in understanding themself some more, they wish to shout it to the world.

What better way to proclaim the old me is gone, here’s the new better me!

Thus, we make new art.

So, is art necessary?

Probably not always but… ART is always FUN!

What is your favorite art form?

Write Your Way to Fame

5/2/2021

Keep Writing Fun!
By Stu Leventhal

I know you like writing. Sure, sometimes you get frustrated. A writer's life is full of self doubts. All of those other authors seem to be getting all the luck.

Why won't publishers and editors give you and your work a chance?

You care about one thing...WRITING! You write well. You study writing, old and new. You read, a lot! So what is the problem? Why can't you get your writing career going?

You have to write your way to stardom!

Celebrity as an author is not easy but you chose a fine profession if fame and recognition is what you seek. So how can you do it? How does a new scribe take hold of their destiny and go forth to forge their career breakthrough moment?

There are lots of writing stages that you can shine on...

Listen I know you got into this thing because you are more artsy than business minded. All artist and especially authors despise the commercial aspects of living.

Enterprise, entrepreneurship...BUSINESSS...are not your enemy!

Authors who pursue money are not... SELL-OUTS!

It is time to start treating your past time, hobby, PASSION...as a business!

First thing, know that businesses have competitors. You are in competition with every other writer out there who wishes to be the next Tolstoy, Kafka, Faulkner...

You have to get serious and learn some things about business. You do not want to get taken advantage of by unethical literary agents, publishers and internet trolls who put their own interests above yours.

You have talent. Your skills and ability are valuable. As an author, all you need is a pen and paper to make money. Few have an option like that!

I am going to let you in on a little author industry secret. You have to mingle with others like you, who love literature and believe writing truly is mankind's greatest legacy.

When you surround yourself with people who want nothing more than to get the greatest new writing out there to the world for all to enjoy, you no longer have to worry about having your writing ripped off.

One of the greatest pleasures in the literary arena is competing with other authors. There are so many geniuses for you to try to impress, surprise and delight.

Stop letting people who cannot write tell you how to write and what to write.

You became a writer or are pursuing a writing career because you want to be able to write on the beach, in the park, laying on your couch in your pajamas. A traditional 9-5 job is not attractive to you.

You put a lot of time into writing. You are proud of your creativity. It is time you start getting paid what you are worth.

It is time you start using your creativity to be more entrepreneurial.

Writing is a business...YOUR BUSINESS!

The Copy Writing Makes All the Difference!

7/5/2018

Does Bad Marketing Hurt Your Business?

What’s your vote for the worst commercial of our decade, TV, Radio or magazine?

All of us have heard the saying, “All publicity is good publicity.” The theory is that if no one knows about you then they cannot make a decision of whether they like you or not. Folks have to at least, hear about you before they can do business with you.

We have all seen more than a few of those annoying TV commercials that are played over and over on certain stations and which seem to have been designed to get under our skin on purpose. Yes, we do remember those commercials vividly but the question is, “Do you think that shock, gross and planned annoying ads builds one’s business or in the long run actually harms business?”

Is all publicity really good publicity?

And please, feel free to share any current commercials running that make you want to pull your hair out every time they appear on the silver screen or come blaring thru your radio. Which are the worst commercials so far during 2018?

A NEW TALE (.com) WELCOMES INTERNET MARKETING GUEST BLOGGERS!

3/19/2017

A New Tale Writers, Literary Agents, Publishers, Authors, Bloggers...
COME #WRITE FOR US!

Writers, Bloggers, Authors... Submit Your Ideas for a Guest Blog Post...

If you feel you have something monumental to add to our writer's website discussions about creative writing, biz writing, copywriting, promotional writing, crafting marketing biztext, penning ads, book publishing, the literary world or the life of being an author, email your details to: [email protected]

Our visitors, readers, contributors, author study groups and biz community welcomes as many opinions on human textual communication as possible, especially when it comes to writing technique and unique literary style as well as new writing methods or thoughts. Tell us what you think about Grammar!

Business Philosophy, Biz Management Writing and Marketing Articles and biz blog posts can be submitted here too, for our sister Website: http:///www.gurumarketingtips.com Topics accepted for Guru Marketing Tips include anything about business, marketing, sales building, profitable biz techniques, biz management, marketing strategies, ad tactics and promotional methods.

A New Tale (.com) values all kinds of creativity and innovation in writing! Tell us your opinions about fiction, nonfiction, theme, plot, writing style, tone, characterization, news reporting... Writing will always be advancing!

Gain Author Exposure, Showoff Your Writing Skills, Attract the Attention of Writing Industry Peers, Help Fellow Scribes, Add to Your Resume and Grow Your Fan Base by Guest Blogging! A New Tale Presently Seeks Writing Posts that Instruct and advise...

Show us your Writing Niche Authority... Genre Experts, explain how you get your ideas. Help New Writers Get Started! Let's Hear From The Authors of Teen Fiction.

Learn Real Estate Agent Copy Writing, Marketing Text & Business Writing From an Expert Author Broker Agent Trainer

3/18/2017

Finally a Place for Realtor's to Learn the Power of Writing Communication for Business Promotion, Leads & Profit...

Realtors need to keep current with the fast changing and Developing Marketing Strategies in their field. Now there is a place for Realtors to stay business suave. All the Best Realtor Business tools and Education guide books are here:
REAL ESTATE AGENT’S CAREER TRAINING EDUCATION CENTER...

Picture... New Realtor Training Course and Real Estate Agent Career Guide Books by Expert Realtor Trainer Gerri Leventhal are now available at Gerri Leventhal's New Real Estate Agent's Digital Education Center..

Award Winning Author & Real Estate Broker Gerri Leventhal offers her Newest e-books in her New Realtor Education Center CLICK PHOTO to see her latest Certificate Realty Career E-Course for Licensed Realtors.

Gerri Leventhal has launched the Real Estate Business Career Learning Center to fill in the spaces not being taught at Real Estate Schools. Here you will find Realtor Writing Tips, Business Management Books and Affordable Realty Business Courses designed specifically for advancing a Real Estate Agent's Career.

Gerri Leventhal's Reads, Books and Courses are designed based on her many years of teaching, mentoring and training newly Licensed and experienced Real Estate Agents. Realtors do a lot of marketing, for clients and for their own business; learning how to promote smarter, more efficiently and for better results will up a Realtor's Game immeasurably. Learn How to Run a Profitable Real Estate Business from a Broker/Realtor and Author who have been there and done that. Learn Real Estate Biz Wisdom that comes from in the field experience, working with real clients on their property projects of all types. Boost Your Realty Career!

Gerri Leventhal's Real Estate Agent's Career Training Education Center at Find NJ House Dot Com is a must e-place to bookmark, for Realtors seeking to learn the Real Estate Business as well as for anyone else who wishes to sell writing and business consulting to Real Estate Agents.

What Makes A Good Read

12/9/2016

WRITING & READING by Stu Leventhal

Every word, phrase, sentence, paragraph, theme has to help your whole piece deliver a reading experience. It is not about the writer being witty; but about building an artistic piece. Ask yourself if your writing is really free from normal conventions. Are you cliche writing? Are you copying technique or creating a style to fit your own projects purpose? Do you create with integrity? Are you showing us, telling us what matters to you?

Everyday life is boring but the good writers remind us how wonderful every second really is. The best writers do not make the boring, exciting by adding; they point us where to look closer so we too can see what fascinates them.

For Example: Your setting is a big part of your overall reading experience. I get it; you have a plot and you believe that truly you could write the same tale in the future, present or the past. Example: Romeo and Juliet into West Side Story.

Know that your setting, when really strong, contributes to the plot and theme. Characters should not and cannot not talk a certain way or respond the same in different settings or the setting is just blah and meaningless. Can you see how dialog could mean something special thing based on important current events happening at a specific time? You will understand this the more you develop your characters as you get into the writing of the story.

Choose the time period and place based on how it helps you say what it is you wish to say. Make your setting vivid and powerful so that no one would ever suggest you should change it. Your setting brings extra meaning to the story and impact to the read.

All elements of a tale have to be important to the other elements. The theme should force characters to act and speak in certain ways. The history of a place should create ambiance and tone which enhances the reason for the theme being so important and impactful to your reader. Plot scenes and drama should help you demonstrate your theme. It all works together to deliver a BANG of a reading experience.

Blogs are becoming quite popular and they are gaining in literary quality every day. I do not feel bloggers should take their audiences for granted. Blogging is an opportunity to be amateurish but you should still try to empress. Respect your fans and audiences. Do your best work and your writing will get better and better and better…naturally!
Knowing why you want to blog and who you are blogging to or for, will help you decide how to go about starting your new blog.

I, like most people expect a blog to be better quality than social media; quality meaning grammar, word usage and language skills. A blog should be visually unique since you have many more features you can incorporate into the look and function of your blog than comes on social sites.

Know what other bloggers in your genre or niche are doing and give people a better time when they visit your blog.

Blogs do not have to be fun, you can tackle serious stuff but working on your blog should be fun for you its creator. Remember you are competing for fans with the pro bloggers. These folks are trying to make a living just with their blog so they will be pulling out all stops to empress their audiences. Are you contributing to the stuff already out there in cyberspace? Is your blog really necessary?

Make sure you are proud of your blog!

How Does One Start the Telling of a Story?

9/9/2016

STARTING A STORY
By Stu Leventhal

Often authors start by stating why they are writing the tale. “When I was in my childhood, I witnessed a horrific event…” Or, they start because something in their life happened, “Last night my older brother Henry didn’t come home…” Or maybe something is happening in society, locally or nationally or globally that angers them and they wish to speak out about it.

Perhaps a writer is just writing to ease their own daily tensions by getting things off their chest or trying to figure out how they feel about their own life. "I recently came to a very important decision and I would like to share the events with you that caused me to reevaluate just about all I had previously believed important."

Others write to preserve and record incidents so we all do not forget important things that happened or are occurring. Authors frequently like to honor an event that moved them or put a person on a pedestal who they admire.

A writer may come to realize that they feel deeply about something as simple as an old wise tale like, “Hardship and struggle is the road to the truth.” Therefore they decide, I am going to write a story that shows that perseverance and determination will eventually bring about happiness. They are starting with a theme that is dear to their heart and they are trying to demonstrating the life’s message they believe, through depicting an event real or imagined, fiction or nonfiction. Of course there will probably be other writers who wish to show that very same message is just false hope.

There are many reasons for telling a story and thus there are going to be infinite ways to start the telling. Usually the method or means of which you introduce your tale stems from a particular mood that you wish to create for your reader. You want to get your audience, into a particular state of mind so they are ready to receive the coming details of your story.

You may wish to shock your readers into paying full attention right at the beginning or it may be better to lull them into a peaceful, calm and tranquil state so you can delightfully surprise them a few paragraphs later.

A story has many component or features; characters, themes, plots, sub plots, a setting…. It is told from a particular point of view. A tale may not always be the author’s vision it can be told through the eyes and words of a character or told by an observer. Your author may wish you, the reader, to feel as if your writer is keeping his or her own opinions out of the telling and thus leaving it all up to you to decide the merits of the various aspects of the story. After all there are as many ways to judge a tale as there are to tell a tale.

Many authors like to start their stories in the heat of the action and then go back and let the reader know the backstory that lead up to the monumental event. This is to capture the reader’s interest from the start in hopes that once readers have invested themselves in reading a nice chunk of pages, they will continue to read the whole tale. Other scribes just start at the very beginning and let the story develop as it goes in precise chronological order of time, beginning to end.

Know that the beginning of your tale must be interesting enough to hook the reader in. Personally, I do not believe a good author starts any of his or her stories in the exact same way. Each story is unique and thus needs its own special starting point. More often than not the beginning of a book or short story has been re-written, reworked and retooled more than any other portion of the story.

The start of the reading must mesh with the title of the story. There must be intrigue. A hint of mystery or humor is usually a good way to get readers interested enough to keep reading.

My advice is to never delay, write! Start telling your story wherever you are most enthused about writing at the moment. Get your thoughts down on paper as they are coming to you. Do not spend time on creating the perfect opening to your tale before you write the tale because you can always write the beginning after the bulk of the story is written down or even finished. Many writers write their story’s opening last.

The key to starting a good story is writing, writing, writing… You need plenty of words to cut and change, reword and revise. You will probably create lots of events and dialog that get edited out in order to improve the flow of the story. Let your writing continue to flow. Experiment and try things out because, bear in mind, there will be revision steps and lots of rewriting.

Get the story written down and then later on, reorganize it into the order in which you wish to unveil things to your readers. Remember the start of your story is a promise you are making to your readers that you must deliver on if you wish them to become fans who cannot wait to read everything else you write.

In today’s modern world, full of flashy distraction, the art of storytelling is becoming more important than ever. Business writers and politicians are using stories. Professors, managers and educators of all kinds employ stories because stories are memorable. Stories teach and inform and inspire better and quicker than preaching or other formal classroom and text book like instruction. Stories simply make learning more enjoyable.

People have been telling each other engaging stories since the beginning of human existence. Storytelling will continue as long as mankind exists. Improving y your storytelling abilities will make you more popular and appear more intelligent whether you are in a writing career or not.

How does one start the telling of a great story? By showing how enthused and excited you are about sharing your tale with other people. Your audience must be convinced, in the first few words that you, their author feels it is very important that others hear what is about to be revealed.

How do you start writing a new story? Feel free to share your methods, techniques, ideas...

NEW BOOKS!
by Stu Leventhal

Learn Creative Writing From a Super Star Mentor! Author, Poet, Reporter, Entrepreneur Stu Leventhal Gives Writers of All Genres a Pep talk! And some great tips Too!

Business Online and Offline is explained by Author and Business Consultant Stu Leventhal. Marketing, Management, Sales and Promoting in Modern Times Are All De-Mistified! You Will Learn How to Problem Solve and Grow Any Business Type!

AUTHOR! POET!
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