Writing an Amazing Fiction Query
Business, Writing » QueriesSeptember 3rd, 2006
First off, what is a query? A query is the first letter you will ever send to a prospective agent or publisher. Keep in mind that most publishers won’t look at your query unless you have an agent. Some small presses, as well. This is your one opportunity to represent yourself and your work as sparkling, new, interesting, and basically worth their attention. So how do you do that? Once again, The Writer (July 2006) pulls through with a great article by Jordan E. Rosenfeld. Once again, I will pull the main points.
Writerisms
Writing » Editing, Terms, TipsSeptember 2nd, 2006
Writerisms and other Sins: A Writer’s Shortcut to Stronger Writing
Copyright © 1995 by C.J. Cherryh
Writerisms: overused and misused language. In more direct words: find ‘em, root ‘em out, and look at your prose without the underbrush.
Synopsis Writing
Business, Writing » SynopsisSeptember 2nd, 2006
Jaguarpaddler pulled together all the rules he found for writing a good synopsis to send to an agent and/or editor, and I thought they were useful so here they are.
Before writing answer the following questions concisely.
The Importance of Theme
Writing » ThemeSeptember 1st, 2006
I was reading the August issue of The Writer the other day, (which, by the way, has at least three really good articles in it) and found an article written by Paola Corso on integrating theme and story. Corso opens the article with the sad truth that when asked “what their short story is about, writers often recite a chronology of events because they equate plot with theme.” Corso goes on to say that it isn’t the “who, what, where and when but the why that gives meaning and elevates your writing to a thematic level.”
Couple of Quotes
Writing » QuotesAugust 31st, 2006
Every true novelist listens for that suprapersonal wisdome which explains why great novels are always a little more intelligent than their authors. - Milan Kundera
My great anxiety is to get my book done, before bodily and mental powers fail and deplete. - Lewis Carroll
Website Update/Writer’s Block
Writing » Announcements, Work-in-Progress, Writer's BlockAugust 28th, 2006
As you may have guessed, I’m going through writer’s block. I find that when I’m stuck, I need to start reading again. Or doing more research. Or, not think about writing at all, but work on my other projects (which include working on my comic, performing another T-shirt surgery, balancing my account, and, unfortunately, Facebook haha).
What do you do to combat the Writer’s Block?
Mr Beta Male
Writing » Character Development, Work-in-ProgressAugust 27th, 2006
In your everyday historical romance, the hero is an Alpha Male. He takes charge, he’s depressingly sexy, and he makes you jealous of the heroine because she gets to touch those perfectly scuplted pecs. Don’t get me wrong, they certainly are fun to read. But my stories usually feature the Beta Male. What does that even mean, the Beta Male? Doesn’t that mean he’s a wimp? That’s he’s almost…too pretty to be a man? No, I don’t think so. (I am, admittedly, a little biased.) …
Four Writing Tips
Writing » Craft, TipsAugust 24th, 2006
I found these tips amusing and true, from imaginarycircus. Go to her post to see a couple humorous comments too:
1. By withholding information from your reader you do not create mystery and suspense. i.e. by saying that your character is hiding a heavy object in her skirt and then revealing it is a gun later–you probably are just annoying your reader. If you had simply said she had a gun in her skirt and was following a man that would create tension and pique curiosity. Vague is not interesting. Concrete details are. (There are always exceptions to these rules, I know.)
Self-Publishing Experiences
Business, Marketing, Writing » Print-on-Demand, Publishing, Self-Pubbing, TraditionalAugust 23rd, 2006
When people ask me about my book, I tell them I self-published it. This is true and untrue. I paid to have the book printed, I bought a set of the book and sold it to my family and friends, and was interviewed by my local television station about it. Mainly because I was a senior in high school and it was my senior thesis. But if I had gone the actual self-publication route, I would have found a printer, custom designed my cover and interior, and kept all the profits for myself. What I did in reality was go through a print-on-demand company, Aventine Press….
Writing Update
Writing » Work-in-ProgressAugust 16th, 2006
Did I mention that my current novel just passed the 70,000 word mark? Not to say that writing that many words means it’s any good, haha. However, keep in mind that most good agents/editors say a “developed” story should be around 100,000 words. If you’re reaching for novel length, that is. So yeah. I’m plugging away, even with my summer research (sort of an introduction to graduate school) coming to a close and multiple family emergencies. For those of you writing, keep it up. You’ll never get published if you don’t finish what you have.
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