No, I’m not talking the sort of character building that has you talking to a therapist. This is for your imaginary friends you’ve been writing about. I find it helpful to actually buy a small notebook (Moleskine makes a good one) for each of your main characters. Inside, write the answers to all these questions…
At the South Carolina Writers Association StoryFest Conference, agent Amy Collins continued her discussion of the publishing business with a section on impressing an agent (or editor, etc.) Here’s what she had to say: First, find your people: authors like you and readers in your genre. Remember: you are not your readership! Questions: How to Find Your…
I spent last weekend at the South Carolina Writers Association StoryFest Confereence. Here’s some of what I learned there. Amy Collins of Talcott Notch Literary Services agency gave a dynamite workshop on the publishing business. Successful writers know the industry’s wants and needs: The writer must keep market viability in mind at all times. Your…
So I did a live pitch of the novel to an agent from Talcott Notch Literary Services at the SCWA StoryFest Conference today. Nerve-wracking but so worth it. She has asked – not only for the manuscript to Earthbeat, but also for Outlaw Security as well. She handles historical and science fiction! I wasn’t even…
One of my writing groups has decided that we want to try to produce an anthology, similar to the one I had the latest story published in. As a participant in that process, I have been roped…er…coerced into helping research what exactly might be involved in such an endeavor. We’re going to be using the…
This is courtesy of one of author Michael Stackpole’s lectures at Dragoncon, which is a science fiction convention that happens to have a Writing Track with great advice for any author. First, remember that you are not editing as you go along. As Stackpole says, “first, dig the hole” – get the manuscript down before you play…
Dialogue is a multi-tool for writers. You can advance the plot, hint at setting, give backstory, & describe the characters all in a line or two. Here are a few dialogue tips you can use:
I recently came across a compilation of various “Rules for Writing” from 45 different authors. Neil Gaiman’s Rules of Writing: Michael Moorcock’s 10 Tips for Good Storytelling: Michael Morpurgo’s 10 Rules for Writers:
It’s First Wednesday, so time for another Insecure Writer’s Support Group post. May 3 question – When you are working on a story, what inspires you? When I’m working on a story, many things can inspire me. As a science-fiction author, I’m more likely to be inspired by a science article or news byte I’ve seen,…
I hear this question a lot. How long is a chapter supposed to be anyway? Of course, the correct answer is usually “As long as it needs to be” — within reason. There’s actually a rationale behind keeping your chapters shorter, and it has to do with your readers and their attention spans. In days…