This week’s writing challenge looks kinda hard, so a LOT of you are not gonna wanna do it, but you’re ALL gonna wanna hear about the SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.

First, the writing challenge. Hey, no pain, no gain.

Here is a road rage scene from the movie Marathon Man. Watch it…

Okay, NOW what I want you to do is one of three things. (Extra points for number three)

EITHER:

1. Describe the place where dramatic irony occurs. Can you introduce that in a written scene? How would you do it? (Don’t know what dramatic irony is? Join the club.) OR
2. Describe the action in the chase scene between the Mercedes Driver (The Nazi) and the Caprice driver (The Jewish Guy). Can you write that scene? Why or why not? OR
3. The place where the nanny is crossing the street and the little girl almost gets run over – HOW would you set that up in a written story so we jump when we read it?*

Okay, you got me – I really just wanna know about #3.

Arrrggghhh!! I can’t figure it out!!

See, in a movie, they can cut away and cut back and you are surprised at what’s there when you see it.

They can jump out of a closet and say, “Boo!” and scare a viewer.

HOW IS THAT DONE IN WRITING???

How do you get the kid there and also scare a reader with the surprise of almost getting run over?

*Have you seen that done in a book? (Feel free to cite examples. That will count.)

Honestly, I’d be happy with some references and a discussion on what might work as much as somebody actually writing any of the three points above.

What do you think?

How would you do it, or have you seen it in writing someplace?

Okay, now…

Drumroll, please

Announcing the Word Weaver Writing Contest!

On the first Friday of April, I will announce the rules for our first quarterly writing contest. We will do three this year.

There will be prizes!

Right now I’m talking to people about

• $50, $25 and $10 Amazon gift cards (I will provide those)
• signed paperbacks, by me and other authors/sponsors (you could be one of those)
• book covers from real cover designers,
• editing services
• on and on.

YOU will have the month of April to enter an amazing piece of your own writing to our contest.

But I’m not telling you all the details now, because it starts in April. Don’t worry; as a friend of the blog, you’ll have an advantage. Probably.

Are you excited? I am.

On Friday April 7, 2017, you’ll learn all about the contest.

Oh, and you might wanna make an attempt at this week’s challenge, too. Just sayin’.

DO YOU NEED PUBLICITY for your book or website? Be a SPONSOR of the Word Weaver Writing Contest.

It’s cheap and easy!

We all hate marketing. Make it easy on yourself.

This contest will be seen by THOUSANDS of people. (Hey, YOU saw it, right?)

I have over 2,000 blog followers, over 13,000 Twitter followers, over 1,000 Facebook Author Page followers, and I will be advertising this contest in lots of places.

YOU will get LOTS of exposure as a sponsor – and it’s cheap!

Sure, I want big sponsors, but I don’t need that right away, and maybe not at all. I have lots of friends – you, for example – that need to get publicity for a book or service. Keep it in the family, I say.

We will use paperback copies of your book to be awarded, or a session of your editing, your cover design service – anything writing related! Who edited your book? Ask them to donate a service in exchange for getting their name under the noses of a bunch of people who need it! Who was your book cover designer? Give me their name. Use the contact me button to let me know. Let’s talk!

This is really gonna be fun, and after a few quarterly contests we’re gonna be swamped with entries, so be sure to tell your friends to get in early! (You should probably reblog this right now. Go ahead, I’ll wait.)

The more sponsors, the more prizes.

The more prizes, the more interest.

The more interest, the more exposure to your book or service – and YOU, if you enter the contest!

As a friend of the blog, you’ll get priority. Donating 5 eBooks costs you almost nothing, but you might get a much needed review out of it. Mailing 5 copies of your signed paperback costs about $20 (here’s info on using the post office’s inexpensive media mail). WHERE CAN YOU GET AN AD FOR TWENTY BUCKS???

Well, here. In this contest. Otherwise, not a lot of places. And I’ll be telling winners to review your book.

And I’ll be advertising the contest, too, so you’ll get that added exposure.

Does this sound fun?

Writer stuff usually is.

A real writing contest with prizes.

A chance to be a sponsor and get new people aware of your book (hello, reviews) or service.

Wow.

Get ready. I think April is gonna be a blast.

And take a whack at that scene from Marathon Man, would ya? It’s driving me nuts.

REBLOG THIS POST!

We need a LOT of publicity for this thing!!

REBLOG me! And please SHARE this post on Facebook and Twitter! See those little buttons down below? Put on your glasses. There they are. Click them. The FOLLOW button is now in the lower right hand corner.

Dan Alatorre is the author of several bestsellers and the amazingly great sci fi action thriller “The Navigators.” 

Click HERE to get your copy of The Navigators FREE on Kindle Unlimited!

Also available in paperback and audio book.