Tag Archive: fiction writing
Are We There Yet? (Book Writer’s Quandary Decoded)
When is your book ever right? When is it good enough, or even actually done? A new writer contacted me, in that same quandary that most writers face, whether with their first book or their 30th. Here was his message:…
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Writing Experts–Who Should You Trust?
When you ask an expert, you expect, well, the perfect answer, right? Yet, sometimes the answer is wrong! Why? I was recently asked about editing genres not in my wheelhouse. Why did they even ask me, I wondered? And have…
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Have You Asked: “What the Heck Happened to My Story?”
Twisty story endings are fun. But sometimes the story twist is on the author! I recently saw the movie “Arrival,” where the concepts of change and of time—and surprises– struck home. Arrival is a thoughtful movie, and as such I…
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Protagonist Murdered!
Caution: Villains Can Kill Your Story! Your main character may survive the bad guy’s beating, shooting and stabbing him. But your story can suffer–and die–if you don’t know how to pick the right antagonist and how to integrate him into your story….
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Is This the Definitive Way to Find YOUR Agent?
In my last post I offered the first rung of tried-and-true methods to find an agent. Here are two alternative (and opposite) ways to land an agent–one may be the perfect to get one step closer to your book deal! Agents have…
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Can Writers Really Trust An Agent?
Are you about to take the “finding an agent” path? Are there any drawbacks to getting an agent to represent your book? Sure there are! Every opportunity involves potential problems. There are good reasons to seek an agent: A good agent can open…
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Alert: The Gamble AFTER Readers Buy Your Book—and How to Be a Winner
What happens to your book AFTER it’s purchased? Huh? Why should you care? Publishers now DO care—and make decisions on marketing based on how readers read books! Too many writers concentrate only on: a colorful cover clever title and hot action on…
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When Do Weak Characters Spell Publishing Success?
Is your protagonist charming? Uh-oh! That may seem good, but then why is it many successful protagonists are weak, sad or, at least to a degree, miserable characters? How come? Many books and movies focus on the little kid who needs…
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Writing “50 Shades of Plot”
Want to learn how to plot your book “Fifty Shades of Grey” style? I’m not talking erotic mysteries, mind you (let’s save that for a slightly different forum, hmm?), but there is a secret hidden in this title that writers can…
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