Do you want to write a short story, a children's picture book, an article or a novel but don't know where to begin? Do you want to know how to make your characters 'come to life', your dialogue sparkle and your settings realistic? Are you concerned with plot, theme, structure and the editing process? This book shows the writer how to develop their ideas into completed stories, with an in-depth analysis of what makes a story work. Author Judy Lawn's book is based on her experiences as a published writer in short stories, children's picture books, novels, articles, and journalism; and her years as a creative writing tutor. My Writing Journey My writing journey is ongoing. I hope I'm still writing when I'm an old lady. But to go back to the beginning - more than twenty five years ago - and my first writing attempts. It didn't take me long to realize they weren't exactly enthralling masterpieces. And I seemed to have forgotten every English lesson I'd ever had! So, I went back to 'school', completing what was then called sixth-form certificate in English, and three English papers through Massey University, a journalism course and a creative writing course all by correspondence. It was while I was working my way through the various writing assignments that my tutor suggested I submit some of my short stories. At that stage I wasn't confident enough to do so; in fact I was terrified at the thought. Other people read my stories? No way! About that time I joined a local writers group - and I came to the first cross-roads in my writing journey. A homework assignment was to write a story about the sea, so I wrote a fishing yarn. I took my story along to the next meet hopeful others would like it. Back in those days I was too shy to read my stories out loud, so my tutor read it out. When she'd finished, one of the other students sniffed, and said, 'Well, it's plagiarism, isn't it?' I was devastated. Even though the tutor assured me the story wasn't plagiarism, I was really upset and couldn't get the accusation out of my head. That night at home - it was winter, and I was sitting in front of the fire with my story still thinking about what had been said - I very nearly put that story in the fire! If I'd done so, I would have seen not only my story go up in smoke, but also my writing dreams. I took another look at the story and thought, 'I like this story.' That was the moment I became a writer. I believed in my story. A few weeks later I was browsing through the magazine section in a book shop and came across a fishing magazine. On the back page was a fishing yarn. I read the story through and thought, 'mine's just as good as that!' So, full of my new bravado I posted it off. That story, the one I'd nearly put in the fire, became my first published short story. I framed it. Years later, when I began teaching creative writing, I told my students about my experience in the hope they would never allow the 'things people say' to put them off their dream of becoming a writer. Over the next few years I had several more short stories published; and although it seemed a long slow process, I kept writing. In 1998 I came to another major cross-road in my life. My darling husband of nearly three years died suddenly of leukemia - and my world shattered. It was my writing that saved me. After a few months I felt able to go back and complete a novel I'd begun while he was still alive. 'Progressions' was eventually published by an American e-publishing company, and went on to win the 2005 EPIC Award for Best Single Title/Mainstream. Two children's picture books were next, one with Reed Publishing NZ, and the second with Penguin Group NZ, followed by another novel, and more short stories. Somewhere along the way I had the idea that I would like to teach creative writing, to pass on to others all that I'd learned about the writing process. I began compiling this book...