Kathy Temean published a great list of tips from Jane Yolen:Here’s the start:No exclamation points.Easy on the adverbs.Don’t let your characters float by giving them endless dialogue.Have fun.BIC – Butt in chair. HOP – Heart on Page.P not F – Passion not fashion. Write what you like.Remember your story does not have to have a... Continue Reading →
What’s a Mary Sue?
Kate Testerman at KT Literary has the scoop:I had several questions on my live blog yesterday about Mary Sues. Karen asked, “What lets you know a character is a Mary Sue from the query or the sample pages?” And Allreb added, “I’d also be really curious to know what you consider a Mary Sue character,... Continue Reading →
Thoughts on coming up with first lines of your novel
Robert Bacon, who blogs at Selling Books, has thoughts on first lines.Nothing is more critical than the first few lines of a story, since this will often influence whether or not a reader will continue with a work. And a great opening is never more important than for a non-established writer who is trying to... Continue Reading →
Oops! Are you overwriting?
This piece on Editorial Ass is full of chuckles and good advice:We need to talk about my editing pet peeve. And, well, to put bluntly, it's not me. It's you.I know that you think that saying things in a straightforward way is boring. I can tell, having worked through about sixty grueling pages of your... Continue Reading →
The three-act, eight-sequence structure
If you're struggling with the structure of your novel, hop on over to the blog of Alexandra Sokoloff, a novelist and screenwriter who's broken down structure into manageable bits.Here's the top of a post on how you can use index cards to tame your work in progress:But the real secret of film writing and filmmaking,... Continue Reading →
On creating a fantasy world
Kristin Cashore has a great piece on the Horn Book site explaining, among other things, why Po could never say, "Hot dog, Katsa!" and how she wishes she'd invented something like a killybong. The author of GRACELING and FIRE tells what she did and what she wishes she'd done to build the world of those... Continue Reading →
How to mock up a picture book
If you've taken a class with Darcy Pattison, you know she gives great advice. The author of 19 GIRLS AND ME and two picture books about Oliver K. Woodman explains here why--and how--to make a dummy.Why Make a Dummy?Picture books combine text and words in a short 32 page book. The structure is so unusual,... Continue Reading →
A big mistake in story beginnings
Jane Friedman at Writer's Digest has a helpful post:I've read countless manuscripts that begin by describing a character writhing in pain. Mental pain, physical pain, emotional pain, you name it.For instance:John clenched his throat and tried to stop the flow of blood, but he couldn't. His skin became whiter and whiter, and he broke out... Continue Reading →
Are you over-explaining?
Anita Nolan has a helpful post on the topic:Rue, the word, means to bitterly regret. RUE, the acronym, means “resist the urge to explain.” Writers often over-explain, especially in the first draft. We often show the reader something, then we tell them. We want to be sure they understand what we’re trying to say.Read the... Continue Reading →
Taking a cue from screenwriters
Billy Mernit, who wrote a book about how to write romantic comedies, has a blog for screenwriters. He's offering up a series of tips about scripts that sell. Much of his advice pertains to books, or at least those with high-concept ambitions:Tip #4: Scripts that sell speak to universal subjects in a distinctive voice.One knowledgeable... Continue Reading →