The devil, it's said, is in the details. So, too, is much of the work of a writer. Too little detail leaves your characters wandering through the narrative equivalent of an empty stage. Too much, and you end up with great blocks of description that tempt the reader to skip and skim, looking for the action. To set your stage, it's important to choose the most appropriate, … [Read more...]
Changing Genres?
'Genre' is what defines a writer, or does it? Should a writer be confined to write in one genre? Is it risky for an author to change the genre that he or she writes in? I, for one, am one author who has changed my genre--from historical fiction to contemporary YA suspense. I know that there are several authors who do not write in one genre. Some write in more than two … [Read more...]
Are Mermaids the New Vampires?
Vampires have been hot subjects in novels and films with the Twilight series, True Blood, and more young adult (YA), romance and general fiction than you can shake a stick at. Although vampires are always popular, the Next Big Thing may be...mermaids. Really? Apparently so. USA Today points to a slew of recent mermaid books, including Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic … [Read more...]
Design Characters using Mind Maps
How do you design your characters? Some sources recommend filling in a questionnaire or CV. You need to answer questions like "what is her favourite film?", or "what does he drink?" etc. This doesn't work for me, because by the time I know the answers to those kind of questions I have written my novel. I design my characters in the same way you might find out about someone … [Read more...]
Why Be a Beta Reader?
One of the most important parts of my writing process is to find beta readers. Oh, there’s different types of beta readers and all of which I use for different reasons. They are indispensable in the process of getting your writing in shape. YOUR STORY AND THE READER’S Oh, yeah, there is always more than one side to a story. I’m sure you heard that one before. Well when it … [Read more...]
How to Speed Write
Nano (National Novel Writing Month) runs from November 1st-30th. It’s the writing frenzy where you kick out a large number of words to hopefully finish a novel in record time. Many people start the challenge and end up with a sizable number of pages by the end. Some are inspired to start writing for the first time. Others are inspired to finish something for the … [Read more...]
Five Quick Tips To Avoid Weak Writing
How many times have you read a novel and felt in the action? Great novels spike the reader’s fear, anxiety, anger, laughter--even hormones. It may even keep the reader up until the wee hours, glued to the pages. Stephen King and Nora Roberts make the big bucks for good reason. Painting a picture with words demonstrates a unique talent. However, writers must study the craft, … [Read more...]
Seven Mistakes That Will Get Your Novel Rejected
As a writing coach and book editor, I've seen too many novelists, with the very first line they write, destroy their chances of ever getting published. A good novel will grab the reader's attention with its first words, create characters the reader wants to know, create a situation the character must resolve, create suspense, create rising tension, and create a powerful … [Read more...]
Write a Novel – The Difference Between Voice and Tone
One of the best ways to understand something is to provide different treatments of the subject. Thomas Mann's eight stories in the popular Vintage imprint with DEATH IN VENICE as the lead title is ideal to work from, since each story is written in a different voice. Yet his masterpiece, THE MAGIC MOUNTAIN, depicts his voice as a separate entity unto its own--and one could say … [Read more...]
Write a Novel – How to Get Published
To write a novel that will be appealing to a major royalty publisher involves more than just talent and hard work. It requires creating a plan from the outset and the discipline to follow it. Everybody Has a Story Worth Telling If you have begun reading this article, there's a good possibility you have either been told this, heard this, or feel this way for your own … [Read more...]