Ryan Lanz's Blog, page 188

Only 3 More Days For the Contest!

Today is a quick reminder: there’s only three days left for the contest to be entered to win a free, professional critique and editorial review of your manuscript for the length of fifty pages. So far, the response has been healthy, but for anyone entering the contest within the next three days, there’s still … Continue reading Only 3 More Days For the Contest!

Writers Need to Rethink Rewrites

Rewrites have a negative connotation in the writing world, and when listening to some writers talk about them, you’d suspect they were on par with a root canal! I’m well up to my head in revisions for my SciFi novel right now, but you won’t catch me griping about them. Revisions and rewrites are … Continue reading Writers Need to Rethink Rewrites

4 Puzzle Pieces to Hook Your Readers

W = (Who, What, Where, and When) Right up front, give your readers what they want, information. Show your readers an image that hooks them from the beginning. 1. Who Introduce your main character and make the reader care. Show the reader who your characters are by their actions. Make them care not … Continue reading 4 Puzzle Pieces to Hook Your Readers

The Bone Season – Book Review

Originally posted on The Book Review Directory:
? The Bone Season The year is 2059. Nineteen-year-old Paige Mahoney is working in the criminal underworld of Scion London, based at Seven Dials, employed by a man named Jaxon Hall. Her job: to scout for information by breaking into people’s minds. For Paige is a dreamwalker, a…

Critique Partners 101: Everything You Need To Know Before Pairing Up

Pairing up with a critique partner or group is very useful in strengthening your writing and getting an opinion on your work in progress before it’s published. Here’s the 101 on what you should know before you find and work with a critique partner: It’s a partnership. Working with a critique partner or … Continue reading Critique Partners 101: Everything You Need To Know Before Pairing Up

The Four Women-in-Fantasy Tropes I’m Bored With

I know, I know. It’s been a long time since I’ve done one of these ‘Things I’m So Damn Tired Of’ posts. And you guys have been so lonely without them. So very, very lonely. Today’s liberal dose of hatred and despair is leveled at four fantasy heroine types who, especially in YA fiction, … Continue reading The Four Women-in-Fantasy Tropes I’m Bored With

Why Writing a Novel Is Like the AK-47 Rifle

Several years ago, I wrote a non-fiction book about the AK-47 rifle. It was not a gun book, per se, but a history about how this ubiquitous weapon changed the world, certainly the world of war. For those of you who never watch television, read the web or see a magazine, the AK-47 is … Continue reading Why Writing a Novel Is Like the AK-47 Rifle

On Writing – Book Review

Originally posted on The Book Review Directory:
? I recently finished reading, well actually listening to, Stephen King’sOn Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. Highly recommended for all writers! There’s a lot of conflicting advice about craft books for writers—some think you can’t learn from them, or that the best way to improve your writing…

What Does It Mean to Write About Happiness?

A few weeks ago, I came across a review on Goodreads mentioning Laurie Colwin and how, in that reader’s opinion, she was one of the few recent authors who wrote about happiness. My curiosity piqued, I ordered one of her novels, Happy All the Time, through my local library, and I let myself entertain … Continue reading What Does It Mean to Write About Happiness?

How To Pick an Agent (and Live Happily Ever After)

Warning: I can get over-excited with my blog posts and pull an Agatha Christie sort of “I will make you wait until the very end to see the take home message.” Here it is, up front: Ask agents offering you representation for at least three client references. Contact them. And now forthe long version: … Continue reading How To Pick an Agent (and Live Happily Ever After)