Janice Hardy's Blog, page 103
June 28, 2018
What Are Your Thoughts On This New Column?
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy The Indie Author Series launched in January 2014, and since then, we’ve had more than 200 in-depth articles about navigating the self publishing world. It’s been a fantastic info-packed run, but it’s getting more and more difficult for my contributing authors to come up with topics and share new information every week. There’s only so much to talk about. I think it’s time to start thinking about how to revamp this column for 2019 (or even sooner if my authors and guests are excited about the change).
One of the things I’ve always liked about the Indie Author Series, is that it focused on the business side of writing. It was a place for indie authors to turn to for tips and advice on how to handle their careers and author businesses. I’d like to continue with that concept, but expand it to more than just indie authors—especially since a lot of what’s been shared applies to both indie and traditionally published authors. For example, no matter how you publish these days, you’re still responsible for a significant part (if not all) of your marketing and promotion. Both publishing options build a reader audience and gather subscribers for a newsletter. The business side overlaps a lot.
Read more »Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
June 27, 2018
3 Signs You Might Be Ignoring Writing Advice That Can Help You
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_HardyWe continue our Critique Connection mini-series ramp up on critiques today, with a look at signs that suggest you could be ignoring the very advice you need to improve your writing.
I couldn’t put an exact figure on the number of critiques I’ve received (or given), but I’ve no doubts it’s broken three figures (and gone over 500 for critiques I’ve given). I’ve been writing a long time, and I’ve been active in multiple critique groups in all those years.
I’ve gotten good critiques and bad. Helpful and useless. Encouraging and downright nasty. I’ve had newbies try to tell me how to write and professionals who trusted I knew what I was doing and let me do it. Some groups have been helpful while others have been terrible. When it comes to critiques and their colorful variety…
Read more »Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
June 26, 2018
The ‘Maverick Friend’ As a Plot Device
By Bonnie Randall Part of the How They Do It Series (Monthly Contributor)
If you have watched Harlan Coben’s Safe or The Five, you are familiar with the ‘Maverick Friend’, a character employed within many of Coben’s mysteries. The Maverick Friend is often someone who is ‘situationally ethical’; the virtues they have are often buried beneath the shocking things they do…or are what propel the wicked things they do. Maverick Friends are not the stories’ villains, yet they cheat, steal, lie, drink, use dope, sleep around, and sometimes even commit murder.
The Maverick Friend is often used as the character who can employ the vigilante-type violence a plot may require when such a resolution, if affected by the main protagonist, would be unbecoming, unacceptable, unbelievable, or would derail the story’s HEA. In my novel Divinity & the Python , it was crucial that neither my heroine nor my hero become killers, yet my villain needed to die. Enter my heroine’s ‘Maverick Friend’ who was, without HEA-derailing consequences, able to inflict the final act of violence that stopped evil in its tracks.
Read more »Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
June 25, 2018
Have You Heard about the WRITE-PUBLISH-PROFIT SUPER STACK Bundle?
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy
From time to time, I come across great deals for writers, and today I'm sharing one with you guys. It's a jam-packed writing bundle called the WRITE-PUBLISH-PROFIT SUPER STACK. Check it out here.
Now, this is not your average, every day “Bundle” of a couple of books or a webinar.
There are 30 + highly successful coaches, trainers and thought leaders that have contributed their full-length e-courses and e-books to the bundle. Plus, there’s some helpful writing and editing software as well other resources included.
Read more »Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
What to Do When Your Critique Feedback Gets Ignored
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_HardyIn a critique group, advice goes both ways—we give and we receive. But once in a while, the feedback we offer goes ignored. Our “gifts” are returned unopened.
It’s irritating when you spend hours reading a manuscript, make a multitude of comments, and carefully summarize your thoughts with advice on how to fix any issues you saw, and then the writer ignores everything you said.
It’s doubly annoying when that same writer asks for your advice manuscript after manuscript, and you know you’re wasting your time giving it to them. You could just submit the same critique and they wouldn’t even notice let alone heed your advice.
Read more »Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
June 24, 2018
Writing Prompt: The Story Starter: Hey, It’s You!
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_HardyThis week’s prompt is a story starter, so take the element provided and turn it into a story of any length you choose. If you’re stuck on size, I suggest aiming for 1000-2000 words.
On a flight, two people recognize each other. One is right. One is wrong.
Write whatever this triggers, and use these details however you wish. Put them together, use them separately, make one a detail in a scene, whatever inspires you—run with it. Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
June 23, 2018
Real Life Diagnostics: Does This Women’s Fiction Opening Work?
Critique By Janice Hardy, @Janice_HardyReal Life Diagnostics is a weekly column that studies a snippet of a work in progress for specific issues. Readers are encouraged to send in work with questions, and we diagnose it on the site. It’s part critique, part example, and designed to help the submitter as well as anyone else having a similar problem.
If you're interested in submitting to Real Life Diagnostics, please check out these guidelines.
Submissions currently in the queue: Two
Please Note: As of today, RLD slots are booked through July 7.
This week’s question:
Does this opening work?
Market/Genre: Women’s Fiction
On to the diagnosis…
Read more »Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
June 22, 2018
Balancing Real Life with Writing Fiction
By Patricia Caliskan, @Caliskaniverse_ Part of the How They Do It Series
JH: Balancing real life and writing is hard for almost everyone (even full-time authors like me). Patricia Caliskan returns to the lecture hall today to give us a few tips on how to juggle our busy writing lives.
Patricia Caliskan began her writing career as an entertainment journalist, before joining Trinity Mirror Newsgroup. She likes a nice, flouncy scarf, a good pair of boots, and laughter. Lots of laughter. Otherwise life feels far too grown-up for her liking.
Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon |
Take it away Patricia...
Read more »Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
June 21, 2018
Why a Serial Might Be a Good Move for Your Writing
By J. Kathleen Cheney, @jkcheney Part of the Indie Authors Series
Most of us are aware that there’s a strong audience for serial fiction out there. It’s not new. Serial fiction was published in newspapers in the Victorian age, in magazines, and consumed regularly on radio and television. Any series that has a continuing story is, in essence, serial. And the written word serial is gaining ground these days. Some of those authors are famous, some brand new, some indie, some trad-published, and some hybrids. Essentially, authors across the board have jumped on this stage.
If you’ve seen any of the serial outlets, like Serial Box, Wattpad, and Tapas, then you know that there are a range of authors out there supplying this niche with ever new stories.
(Here’s a great article from Den of Geek about some of the best serials out there.)
Read more »Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
June 20, 2018
8 Tips for Reviewing a Manuscript Critique
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_HardyOn July 2, I’ll be opening up Janice Hardy’s Critique Connection again for those looking for critique groups or partners. So it seemed like a good time to review how to handle a critique.
When you get that critique back, it can be easy to just ignore what you don't like and only take in the good stuff. But the “bad stuff” is what you asked for, and that feedback provides the opportunities to make your manuscript even better. Here are some things to remember when receiving a critique:
1. Take every comment seriously.
Even if it seems out of left field or flat out wrong, someone thought that based on what you wrote. Consider why the critiquer said what they said and try to see the underlying problem, then decide if it's a comment that needs to be addressed or not.
Read more »Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
