I am pleased to host author, ghostwriter, freelance writer, and 4RV Publishing Acquisition Editor Intern, Karen Coiffi-Ventrice to The Golden Pathway today. Phew...how does Karen wear so many hats effectively? Karen and I met early on in our writing careers at the Children's Writers' Coaching Club, where we both remain members. To watch her career explode into such a success is heartwarming indeed. Without further ado, I welcome Karen.
"Writing, Accounting, and Synergy"
By Karen Cioffi
In accounting, if you (the accountant or bookkeeper) are off even one penny, you have to search and work until that penny is found – all the income, expenses, assets, liabilities of a business must all sync at the end of every month, quarter, and year. You’re monthly trail balance sheet and the balance sheet, which reflects every penny in and out, must be perfect. There is also the reconciling the monthly bank statements.
The various data from every department, such as research and development, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll, must all be included in your trail balance sheet and balance sheet.
Writing, in some aspects is similar to accounting; each element of a story - theme, setting, plot, conflict, characters - must all work together to create an error free product at the end. In other words, they must meld together to create a coherent, engaging, and interesting article or book. The end piece must have proper grammar and the correct formatting. And, if something is amiss, the author needs to find the troublesome spots and correct them.
In both arenas, details are important, as is balance.
Suppose in accounting your accounts payable far exceeded your accounts receivable, or your liabilities far exceeded your assets. This would make for a dire situation, and one that would need correction.
Well, in writing, suppose you have wonderful characters, but they have no where to go; your story lacks an engaging plot and conflict. Or, maybe you have a great storyline, but your characters are flat, they have no dimension; these situations are also cause for alarm and need to be addressed.
In writing, it’s the combination of all the elements of writing that moves a story forward and creates a page-turning adventure or emotional tie to the reader. You may have a character driven story, or a plot driven story, but in both, you need all elements of the story to weave together, to create synergy.
Synergy is a great word. It means the combination, joined forces, or combined effects of individual elements which will create an end result that is greater than the sum of their individual effects or capabilities.
I actually like Wikipedia’s definition: “Synergy, in general, may be defined as two or more agents working together to produce a result not obtainable by any of the agents independently.”
This is what the elements of writing, joined together in just the right way, produces. Theme, setting, plot, conflict, and characters combine forces to go beyond their individual capabilities. The writing synergy process creates an end result that is not attainable by any of the elements independently.
Karen, terrific article thank you for sharing.
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Karen Cioffi is an author, ghostwriter, and freelance writer. For writing and marketing information visit Karen at http://karencioffiwritingandmarketing/, and sign up for her free newsletter: A Writer’s World. You’ll get 2 free e-books on writing and marketing in the process, and two more free e-books just for stopping by.
And, Karen will be having a July Book Tour featuring her new children’s middle grade fantasy book, Walking Through Walls, which is scheduled for release the beginning of July.
You can check out information about the tour at:
http://walkingthroughwalls-kcioffi.blogspot.com/
http://karencioffiwritingandmarketing.com/
Follow the Writers on the Move tour on Thursday, June 16 when Shelby Patrick hosts Carolyn Howard-Johnson - http://writershotspot.blogspot.com/.
Thank you for your time and interest.
Have a terrific day!
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Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm
