Author Patrice Sarath » The winner is… | Author Patrice Sarath

The winner is…

Patrice Sarath — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 02:31:53 +0000

The winner of the book giveaway is Michelle Wood!

Michelle’s entry was picked at random by my son, who grabbed the post number out of a hat. We’re high-tech here at Gordath Wood central.

Congratulations to Michelle, who is obviously a well-read and confirmed Janeite, who also knows her Mrs. Radcliffe and Mysteries of Udolpho.

Michelle, email me your contact info and I will send you a copy of The Unexpected Miss Bennet. Thanks so much for playing, everyone, and stay tuned for more Miss Bennet fun.

ConDFW Short story contest reminder!

Patrice Sarath — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 02:33:01 +0000

Hey, writers! Just a reminder that the deadline for the ConDFW short story contest is approaching. February 1, people! I know everyone is waiting for the last minute, but don’t wait too long. In addition to the fabulous prizes offered by the con, I will give the winner a signed copy of Gordath Wood.

I’m looking forward to reading your entries.

ConDFW short story contest

Patrice Sarath — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:35:17 +0000

I’ll be one of the judges for the ConDFW short story contest so now is the time to get cranking. You still have a few months but you don’t want to end up writing something at the last minute.

So what makes a contest-winning story? The same things that make a sellable story. Character, setting, plot, good writing. You know, that stuff. At this point I don’t know who all the other judges are going to be, but here’s what I look for in a good story:

Character: All story comes from character. Who your main character is will drive your plot. How your character changes is how the plot affects your character. If you know your character well, then everything they do will make sense to the reader.

Action: This is different from plot, in that how your character acts and reacts will drive the plot.

Plot: The structure of your story. At the most basic level, it’s about what happens, but it’s also why things happen, and the results. Every action has a reaction.

Setting: It’s good to have one, and especially have your character(s) react to your setting, whether it’s out in space or in a fantasy alternate reality. Again, your character makes things real.

Theme: Don’t worry about this. This is for English class. Theme has no place in writing.

Good writing: Again, at the most basic level, please be competent with grammar and punctuation. The Elements of Style, also know as Strunk & White, is your friend. But good writing goes beyond good grammar. Take a look at your favorite author. No, I mean really look at the way they write. I often point to Chapter 6 of Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone (or Philosopher’s Stone) as an excellent example of the unfolding of plot, character, background, and setting. Everything you need to know about Harry, Ron, and Hermione and their classmates is presented in an engaging, clear, and well-written style. You can learn a lot from that chapter.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone’s entries! Good luck, and see you at the con in a few months.

Test your literary skills

Patrice Sarath — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 03:08:10 +0000

My friend Martin Owton makes drugs by day, is a writer by night, and in between finds time to set quizzes. This is one he came up with recently for writers.

I got an 11. Not great, but I’ll have you know, I didn’t google for a single answer.

Give it a try — put your answers in the comments field, and I will provide an answer key.

RUSHMOOR WRITERS QUIZ

1. How many James Bond novels did Ian Fleming write? 2. Canon Alberic’s Scrap-book, The Ash-Tree and Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad are all short stories by which author of ghost stories.3. Who wrote the Chronicles of Barsetshire?4. What was Charles Dickens’ first novel?5. Which highly successful novel of 1996 later a film, began life as a column in The Independent and later The Daily Telegraph? 6. Who is the current Poet Laureate?7. What is a Roman á Clef?8. What is the correct format for submitting a manuscript to a publisher or agent?9. Which author, whose first book The Black Moth was published in 1921, essentially established the genre of Regency Romance?10. Which British Prime Minister won the Nobel Prize for Literature?First Lines 11. The Mole had been working very hard all morning spring-cleaning his little home.12. Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy it its own way.13. The hammer banged reveille on the rail outside camp HQ at five o’clock as always. 14. Call Me Ishmael. 15. Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. 16. As I walked through the wilderness of this world I lighted upon a certain place where was a den and laid me down in that place to sleep; and, as I slept, I dreamed a dream. 17. There were four of us – George, and William Samuel Harris, and myself and Montmorency. 18. The family of Dashwood had long been settled in Sussex. 19. The Browns have become illustrious by the pen of Thackeray and the pencil of Doyle, within the memory of the young gentlemen who are now matriculating at the universities. 20. Renowned curator Jacques Saunière staggered through the vaulted archway of the museum’s Grand Gallery.

World Fantasy Con is fast approaching

Patrice Sarath — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:35:41 +0000

World Fantasy Con is coming up next week. They should have a finalized schedule early next week but so far it looks like I am reading at 2 pm on Friday. I am psyched! According to the prelim schedule I am sharing a reading time slot with Dennis L. McKiernan, who has one of the most fascinating stories ever about how he got started writing. Read it. It’s amazing. So if the readings are set up the way they do at Apollocon, in which authors share a reading, then I am very thrilled.

If you are going to the con I would love to meet up with you! Please let me know who’s in!

RevolutionSF Know Your Horses contest winners!

Patrice Sarath — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:36:27 +0000

RevolutionSF chose two winners from the correct entries for the Gordath Wood-inspired horse trivia contest. Congratulations to Carol Thompson and Paige James for knowing their horse stuff. They each received a signed copy of Gordath Wood (and should get those real soon, so if you are reading here, please know that your prizes are on the way.)

Here are the questions and answers for the contest.

Interestingly, there were actually two correct answers for the one of the movie questions. Either The Horse with the Flying Tail or Sylvester could be correct. I did not know that!

If you missed out on this one, stay tuned: There are going to be more contests with more prizes. Just you wait.