Glossary

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Glossary of

Text Box: GLOSSARY Action Tag: Action used to identify the speaker of words spoken in quotes. Ex: “Fine!” Sherry slammed the door. Agent: A person that represents your work and tries to sell it for you to editors. Backdrop: The setting of your story. Backstory: What happened to your characters before your story began. Bibliography: A list of sources used to write a non fiction article. Cliché: A stereotypical expression that has been overused Ex: He was strong as an ox. Conflict: That which causes your character to struggle. Cover letter: A letter that is sent with a manuscript or proposal to introduce your project and yourself to an editor or agent. Editor: A person who works for a magazine, newspaper, or publishing house to whom you submit your work for publication. Fat: Redundant words and phrases that weakens the writing. Fiction: works of the imagination, made-up stories. Flashback: Inserting an earlier event into the chronological structure of a story. Manuscript: A typed out story, article, or novel. Metaphor: Using a word or phrase to suggest comparison. Ex: “A mighty fortress is our God.” Narrative: When the story moves into narration, or telling and explaining what is happening outside a character point of view. Non Fiction: works that are not fictional. Point of View (POV): The position of the narrator. Who is telling the story at that moment. Whose head are we in as we read along? Proposal: A thorough presentation of your work to an editor or agent for publication. Query Letter: A letter to propose your project to an editor or agent. Usually one page long. Said Tag: Used to identify the speaker of words spoken in quotes. Ex: “Do what you want,” Sherry said. Scene: The section of a story that represents a single episode or event. Self Addressed Stamped Envelope (SASE): An envelope addressed to yourself with sufficient postage that is send with a query letter or manuscript so that the editor or agent can mail their decision back to you at your cost. Simile: A figure of speck in which two things are compared by using “like” or “as.” Ex: She is like a rose. Synopsis: A one to two page summary of the plot of a novel. Unsolicited: When you send in your work to an editor or agent without their permission to do so.

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