Lift a Sagging Middle with “What If?” by Kay Keppler
Most writers, sooner or later, will hit the problem of the Sagging Middle. The story pacing slows—the plot might even bore you a little bit now—and you don’t know what to do about it.
Tagged: editor
Your Book in Five Words or Less: Your Title by Kay Keppler
You’ve finished your book. After all the hard work, you need a great title. But writing a title is a lot different from writing a full-length novel or even a short story. Writing a title takes creativity, but it isn’t storytelling—it’s marketing. Your potential readers see a title before they see anything in chapter one, and it has to hook them. Companies spend fortunes on finding the right name for new products—names that will resonate with consumers—and so should you.
Defeating the Sinister Synopsis by Jami Gray
You managed to find your way through the battlefield of plot, claw your way free of character motivation, and rejoiced as you conquered the unsurmountable ending of happiness. Behold the miracle, you have emerged triumphant with a COMPLETE BOOK.
Outlasting The Written Flood by Jami Gray
Every format of story telling—written, sung, painted, sculpted, photographed, inked, digitally enhanced—shares a sprinkle of an illusive elixir, a potion which will enable the viewer or reader to step into the magical world crafted from the artist’s mind. It is combination of words, note arrangement, brush strokes, use of lines, lighting, or shading that snag the listener’s imagination and set their hooks in so deep they believe, for a heartbeat or a collection of moments, that the artist’s fantastical world is real.
Enrich Your Story with Foreshadowing by Kay Keppler
The goal for every writer has to be writing a book so compelling that readers can’t put it down. Using foreshadowing can help you create that kind of suspense, because it hints at what comes later and motivates the reader to find out what that drama or secret is. Foreshadowing can also convey information that helps readers understand future events.
Anthologies by Catharine Bramkamp
Anthologies are often the first place a brand newbie writer can get published. Which is why many colleges and writing clubs collect and print anthologies. Inclusion in an anthology increases the value of group membership and lifts all boats – or in this case, author’s street cred.
Making The Hard Cuts by Jami Gray
With the upcoming conference and contest session upon us, writers may be scrambling to craft that perfect one-liner that captures the 300 plus pages of perfection to lob to an editor or agent. There may be some who are quietly being fitted for white jackets with buckles as they pare down their beautiful creature into 1 to 5 page synopsis to accompany that one-line pitch. If you’re hoping for words of wisdom on these two items, sorry, I’ll leave that to someone else better suited and not currently tearing their hair out trying to accomplish the same thing.
How Do You Feel? by Kay Keppler
Many writers, when they sit down to work, look with anxiety or stress at that blank page. Or they’re afraid to send their work out—to editors or publishers—or even for critique. Others are afraid they won’t sell. Or if they have sold, that they won’t sell again.
Your Job Description by Kay Keppler
I recently had the opportunity to do a beta read on a novel and provide a critique. The experience was both sad and depressing. Everything was off—pacing, character development, and conflict. Keeping all those ponies in harness pulling their weight and working together is complicated. But this is your job as a novelist.
Taking off the Holiday Blinders by Jason Leister
I was out hiking with my wife yesterday on Thanksgiving and everyone was extra nice. I saw families spending time together. It looked like people were actually enjoying themselves.
Self-Editing at the Finish Line by Kay Keppler
Your book is finished. You’ve written a first draft, and maybe you’ve revised it—maybe even several times. You wonder if it’s “finished.” It might be. You might have a perfect gem on your hands. However, you might want to take another look—a slow, careful look—after you’ve let it rest for a week or two.
Writing to Make a Difference: Indie Author Interview with Dalya Massachi
Welcome to today’s guest, Dalya Massachi, author of Writing to Make a Difference. Dayla has a passion for working with nonprofits, helping them raise money and get the word out about their causes. She specializes in helping social change professionals advance their missions through outstanding marketing and other written materials.
Metaphors and How to Develop Your Characters Part 4
If we readers love your characters, then we’ll go with them just about anywhere. Last week I talked about sharing the telling detail about a character through nouns and verbs. As writers, it’s our...
Author Entrepreneur: The #1 Tool You Need to Succeed
Talent? Mojo? The secret awesome kick ass plot? Money? Connections? Okay. All those things help. But what we really need to succeed in this business of being an author and making money at it,...
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