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Writing during the Christmas holidays can be difficult. There’s too much to do, too much living to do! Here are some simple low-stress projects to keep you going. Just have fun with these! Show-Don’t-Tell with Sensory Go sit at a mall, beside a seasonal skating rink, at a holiday concert. Notice the sensory details of [...]
Sometimes when I read the opening of a manuscript, I’m totally confused. Trying too hard to grab the reader. These openings start with something startling. OK. Nothing wrong with that, except
I hail from Arkansas and until now, we’ve been known for the Clinton Presidential Library, the US’s only diamond mine (Crater of Diamonds State Park), and the headquarters of Wal-Mart. But this year we’ll be known for the Arkansas Teen Book Award, established by Arkansas Librarians. (Facebook page.) The reading list was announced in December, [...]
I hail from Arkansas and until now, we’ve been known for the Clinton Presidential Library, the US’s only diamond mine (Crater of Diamonds State Park), and the headquarters of Wal-Mart. But this year we’ll be known for the Arkansas Teen Book Award, established by Arkansas Librarians. (Facebook page.) The reading list was announced in December, [...]
12 Ways to Start a Novel First lines. We all obsess over our novel’s first lines, and rightly so, because from it the rest of the story must flow naturally and without a pause. Here are 10 strategies to use on first lines for your novel. I’ve illustrated them with the “100 Best Lines from [...]
The holidays and the end of the year are bringing out the generous nature of agents! The 2nd Sort-of-Annual Stupendously Ultimate First Paragraph Challenge Deadline: 7pm. EST, Thursday, December 11, 2008. Who: Literary agent Nathan Bransford, Curtis Brown, San Francisco office What: Post the first paragraph of your WIP and compete for the prize of [...]
Openings are incredibly important. This was brought back to me recently as I was judging a contest. Those manuscripts that kept my interest for three pages were rare. Usually, they lost me by the middle of page two! Am I harsh? I don’t think so. Grab the Reader with Your Opening Lines Noah Lukeman has [...]
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