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Books by D.J. Butler
Category Archives: How to Write
Your First Book Almost Certainly Stinks
Mine did. I banged out the first draft in thirty days (350 pages, more or less) and shot it out to a couple of readers, including Eric Patten and my wife Emily (this was before the Story Monkeys formally existed, … Continue reading
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Structure: Hollywood Movies
There’s actually a lot to say about the structure of Hollywood films, but the basic building blocks they overwhelmingly share are three acts. Here’s how it looks: Act One (30 minutes): we meet the hero, and are made to feel … Continue reading
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End on a Hook
The night was warm, there was no fog in the garden, and I felt happy. After cheese, I watched the Trifles and the Pennystocks say their good-byes and leave, and my parents send Miss Truehart away in a hansom. Lady … Continue reading
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My Sister
Here’s another pop song by me. Review its structure; note the verses (the journey), the choruses (the theme) and the bridge (the moment of confrontation and realization). The crickets are quiet, the ground is hard when I get upA lot … Continue reading
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Start on a Hook
On the evening of the day that my father and I both died, he swept into the house jubilant and loud. Horrocks met him at the door, mumbling his usual polite welcomes and queries about his master’s day while he … Continue reading
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Structure: Chiasmus
I have been avoiding poetry in these notes on structure, principally because I am not qualified and secondarily because surely you already know that poetry is structured writing. I will, though, write briefly about one kind of “poetic” structure, because … Continue reading
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Structure: The Gospel of Matthew
I want to persuade you that writing is structured. Here’s another example. The Gospel of Matthew has a beginning consisting of a two-part prologue, the first part narrating the birth and infancy of Jesus (Matthew 1-2) and the second part … Continue reading
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Writing Group Advice: Be a Child!
You have to be teachable. If you aren’t, you’re wasting your time in a writing group. My policy with respect to input I get from the Story Monkeys (and from all sources, really, but especially from the Story Monkeys) is … Continue reading
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Structure: Popular Song
We continue to look at structure in forms of writing other than novels. Today: the pop song. You can analyze the parts of a popular song lyric in various ways. The three principal pieces that can be assembled into such … Continue reading
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Writing Group Advice: Be a Woman!
Sharing your writing, especially creative writing, with other people and asking for comments is sort of like taking your clothes off and asking for a critique. There are probably some people for whom such activity sounds inviting, but most of … Continue reading
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