Robin Gainey did a great webinar for my writing conference about “First Page Perfect.” Here are some of her suggestions: In the perfect first page, the main character must be sympathetic and introduced in a setting: Here are some things she recommends you not do: Robin says you should read and question. Read your story…
I love Dean Koontz — he has a knack for setting the hairs on your nape standing up, while still leaving you with a feel-good ending (unlike Stephen King, who leaves a bitter taste in my mouth with his dystopian endings). Since his wife, Michelle, left seven years ago, Jeffy Coltrane has worked to maintain…
I “attended” a virtual query letter “boot camp” last month. Angie Hodapp talked about some pitfalls you might fall into while writing your query letter pitch — the part where you describe your story and try to hook the agent or editor. First, here are some awkward phrases to avoid: “Have you ever wondered…?” “What…
November’s Question: Albert Camus once said: “The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.” Flannery O’Conner said: “I write to discover what I know.” Authors across time and distance have had many reasons to write. Why do you write what you write? Why do I write character-driven science fiction? I’ve had…