Monday, May 20, 2013
The Write Question: Children's Book Review: 'Cowpoke Clyde and Dirty D...
The Write Question: Children's Book Review: 'Cowpoke Clyde and Dirty D...: Cowpoke Clyde and Dirty Dawg by Lori Mortensen illustrated by Michael Allen Austin Clarion Books , 2013 Cowpoke Clyde is ready to rel...
Friday, May 10, 2013
Janet Gurtler- YA Addict: What did Linda Joy Singleton and her Best Friend D...
Janet Gurtler- YA Addict: What did Linda Joy Singleton and her Best Friend D...: Hello, hello! And please welcome to the friendship blog, YA Author, Linda Singleton. Linda Joy Singleton is the author of over 35 b...
Janet Gurtler- YA Addict: What did Linda Joy Singleton and her Best Friend D...
Janet Gurtler- YA Addict: What did Linda Joy Singleton and her Best Friend D...: Hello, hello! And please welcome to the friendship blog, YA Author, Linda Singleton. Linda Joy Singleton is the author of over 35 b...
PROJECT MAYHEM: TEN THINGS A MIDDLE GRADE AUTHOR HATES TO HEAR by ...
PROJECT MAYHEM: TEN THINGS A MIDDLE GRADE AUTHOR HATES TO HEAR by ...: --> A few years ago, I was hired to speak at a writer’s conference as the token ‘juvenile novelist’. (Yeah, I was confu...
Sunday, April 14, 2013
A YOUNG WRITER ASKED ME HOW TO START A BOOK...
Things to know when starting a book:
* Introduce ONLY the most important characters--too many characters can be confusing.
* Introduce your characters in an active way -- while they are doing something even if it's just walking out of school. If they are talking, the conversation should lead into the story problem. Usually that means the heroine has something she wants and the story will show how she tries to get what she wants -- and sometimes she won't get it but will learn something about herself instead.
* Don't explain too much in the opening. Lead into the heroine's story problem. For instance if she's afraid to leave the house but her mother is kidnapped, she'll have to overcome her fears to rescue her mom. The opening wouldn't start at the kidnapping but show her arguing with her mom about never leaving the house--then right after she yells to her mother that she never wants to see her again, her mother is kidnapped--this sets up an external problem (kidnapping) and internal problem (getting along with her mother).
*Think of your story in 3 parts: beginning, middle and ending. The beginning introduces characters, sets up problems. Middle is action that rises both internally and externally. Ending is not always happy but the problem is solved; perhaps her mother is rescued but someone else is hurt along the way.
* Have fun with your story. Don't worry about making it perfect in the right draft. Rewriting is the best writing. Just write the storythen go back and improve it by rewriting and it can help to find a critique group either online or in person. Oh and go to www.verlakay.com for writing advice
* Introduce ONLY the most important characters--too many characters can be confusing.
* Introduce your characters in an active way -- while they are doing something even if it's just walking out of school. If they are talking, the conversation should lead into the story problem. Usually that means the heroine has something she wants and the story will show how she tries to get what she wants -- and sometimes she won't get it but will learn something about herself instead.
* Don't explain too much in the opening. Lead into the heroine's story problem. For instance if she's afraid to leave the house but her mother is kidnapped, she'll have to overcome her fears to rescue her mom. The opening wouldn't start at the kidnapping but show her arguing with her mom about never leaving the house--then right after she yells to her mother that she never wants to see her again, her mother is kidnapped--this sets up an external problem (kidnapping) and internal problem (getting along with her mother).
*Think of your story in 3 parts: beginning, middle and ending. The beginning introduces characters, sets up problems. Middle is action that rises both internally and externally. Ending is not always happy but the problem is solved; perhaps her mother is rescued but someone else is hurt along the way.
* Have fun with your story. Don't worry about making it perfect in the right draft. Rewriting is the best writing. Just write the storythen go back and improve it by rewriting and it can help to find a critique group either online or in person. Oh and go to www.verlakay.com for writing advice
Friday, March 29, 2013
Red Pen Reviews: Opening lines: location and movement
Red Pen Reviews: Opening lines: location and movement: At the suggestion of the commenters over on Captain Awkward , perhaps my favorite advice blog in existence, I'm starting a loose series ...
Friday, March 08, 2013
Making Stuff Up And Writing It Down: The Trailer-Makin' Post
Making Stuff Up And Writing It Down: The Trailer-Makin' Post: Last week the nice people at Project Mayhem posted the CHAINED trailer release, and I wanted to write a longer post today about how I made ...
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
JennReneeRead: Review: Don't Die Dragonfly by Linda Joy Singleton...
JennReneeRead: Review: Don't Die Dragonfly by Linda Joy Singleton...: Title: Don't Die Dragonfly Author: Linda Joy Singleton Publisher: Llewellyn Publications Publishing Date: September 8th 2004 Pages:...
Sunday, December 30, 2012
A more personal post than usual for writers
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