Willie Said:

What Christmas presents can I get for 7th grade kids?

We Answered:

Being a 7th grader myself I might be able to help you with this:

Gel Pens
Journals
Candy
Gum
Pencil Case

Seeing as you're their teacher I wouldn't get anything that really needs any "thought" like a bracelet, DVD, etc. That would kind of scare me... Why do you need to get them gifts?

Ruby Said:

How to become a real author for fictional stories?

We Answered:

First,
Finish writing your story (obvious, I know).
Type it in proper manuscript form (http://www.neverend.com/msformat.htm has the details on what is needed).
Edit it many, many times to make it as good as it can be. Put it in a drawer, and don't even think about it, for a month or two, then take it out and do more editing. Don't try to say "It's perfect. It does not need editing." Yes, it does.
Get it proofread by someone who knows what they are doing (do not rely just on spellcheck).

If it is less than novel length (over 40,000 words), visit http://www.duotrope.com . It gives addresses and submission requirements for many magazines that publish short fiction.

If it is a novel, there are a tiny number of publishers who accept unsolicited manuscripts (those that don't go through a literary agent), so getting an agent is a really good idea.

When your book is edited and polished, come back here and ask about how to get an agent. You can also use the search-bar at the top of this page and ask. It's a popular question.

Bill Said:

Critique my short story for creative writing class? help! I only have tonight!?

We Answered:

I will be back, but...what is "sureen"?

Oh, okay.

I THOUGHT the second paragraph did not match the style of the others. It also does not help with the flow of your story.

My suggestion is to change it a bit. "Slither" makes it sound like you are reptilian, so unless that is the feeling you want to convey, I would look for another word.

That paragraph is also a bit confusing.

"I didn't want to, but I couldn't handle this anymore."

This sentence makes no sense. You didn't want to hold back but you couldn't handle it anymore? That cancels the other thought out.

"His dark hair, that shagged perfectly around his face, blew lightly in the wind. He stood tall and confident. The victim, and he trembled less than I did.
My hands shook fervently as his dark eyes pierced into mine. Why wasn’t he fearful? Why didn't he just run like all the others?"

Separate this paragraph from the ones following it.

I would italicize it to differentiate it as a paranormal experience, or else it will confuse the reader.

I do not know if this is the beginning or the middle of your story, but if it is the start, a bit more insight into the story would be more helpful.

I would also change the first sentence to "I was so close, I could taste it." instead of "It was..." You'll have people wondering what "it" is.

Eduardo Said:

A short essay for my creative writing class it is one page. Give suggestions on how to improve it please?

We Answered:

An absolutely excellent essay. Your perceptions are great. I do see some sentence structure problems, and some probs with use of the comma and semi-colon. Also, look at "devout mathcounts". Do you mean devout? Devoted? What is a mathcount? Clarify this point, and be consistent in your sentence structure. Keep writing--you are good.

Lewis Said:

What is the job market like for art students?

We Answered:

the job market for any of these things is miniscule, tiny, microscopic. the few jobs that exist are often filled by people who have been referred, so unless you are prepared to network like nuts, kiss a** with the very best of them, throw your competition under a bus while stepping on people's faces to climb the ladder and self-promote yourself 24/7, i think you ought to seriously consider a permanent day-job. sorry to be so negative, but that's the facts, ma'am.

Johnny Said:

Writing a childrens book. HELP?

We Answered:

Write a story about animals, little kids like animals.
You could make a story about a dog who does something bad (like breaks something) and runs away because he is afraid he'll get in trouble. Eventually he realizes what a mistake he has made and ends up going home and admitting to his mistakes. He is still punished (maybe like no bones for a week??) but realizes the value of owning up to ones mistakes and always telling the truth.

Willie Said:

what r some tips i should take to become a childrens author?

We Answered:

Well, first of course, you are going to have to figure out things to write about. If this is easy for you, then just make sure they are light and have good funny parts in them even if it is a kinda serious story. You should also make sure that what you are writing is pretty easy to get into if you want kids to be interested.:)