Janice Hardy's Blog, page 117
January 21, 2018
Writing Prompt: The Story Starter: Sorry for Your Loss
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy This 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.
Write about the loss of something dear.
It can be a person, animal, item--even a personal belief or truth someone cared about. Dig deep and use your own personal experience with loss to tap into the same emotions, even if your story is pure fiction.
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
January 20, 2018
Real Life Diagnostics: Would You Keep Reading this Fantasy Opening?
Critique By Maria D'Marco Real 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: Three
Please Note: As of today, RLD slots are booked through February 10.
This week’s questions:
1. Does the opening give one a sense of place; i.e. This is Olympus?
2. Does the opening conflict sound dire enough to be believable?
3. Is the writing sufficient for an opening scene or should it have more conflict?
Market/Genre: Fantasy
On to the diagnosis…
Read more »Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
January 19, 2018
Free Show, Don't Tell Workshop (and More) at the OCLS Writers Conference in Orlando, FL
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_HardyOn Saturday, January 27, 2018, I'll be giving a free workshop on Show, Don't Tell at the Orange County Library System Writers Conference.
Hope to see you there!
About the Conference
Make 2018 the year you finish and publish a novel. The OCLS Writers Conference will provide the tools and knowledge you need to reach your writing and publishing goals this year. Authors and publishing professionals will teach workshops on both craft and business topics.
This conference is free to the public, but registration is required for all attendees.
Take a peek at all the great workshops offered:
Read more »Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
January 18, 2018
The Long Con: Ten Things You Need to Know About Going to Conventions as a Writer
By John G. Hartness, @johnhartness Part of the Indie Author Series
JH: Please help me welcome Fiction University's newest faculty member, John G. Hartness. He'll be writing about his indie author experience and expertise every other month.
John G. Hartness is a teller of tales, a righter of wrong, defender of ladies’ virtues, and some people call him Maurice, for he speaks of the pompatus of love. He is also the best-selling author of EPIC-Award-winning series The Black Knight Chronicles from Bell Bridge Books, a comedic urban fantasy series that answers the eternal question “Why aren’t there more fat vampires?” He is also the creator of the comic horror Bubba the Monster Hunter series, and the creator and co-editor of the Big Bad series of horror anthologies from Dark Oak Press and Media. 2015 has seen John launch a new dark fantasy series featuring Quncy Harker, Demon Hunter.
In his copious free time John enjoys long walks on the beach, rescuing kittens from trees and recording new episodes of his podcast the Writer’s Journey, where he interviews other writers and explores their journey to writing success. John is also a contributor to the Magical Words group blog. An avid Magic: the Gathering player, John is strong in his nerd-fu and has sometimes been referred to as “the Kevin Smith of Charlotte, NC.” And not just for his girth.
Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Patreon | Podcasts
Take it away John...
Read more »Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
January 17, 2018
Plotting a Novel: The Big Picture vs. Single Scenes
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy Plotting a novel (or a short story) seems like it ought to be an easy thing to do, because you’re just describing what happens in the book. But “How do I plot a novel?” is also the number one question I get asked, so clearly, plotting is harder than it looks.
When I first started writing, I too struggled with plotting. I didn’t fully understand what it was, so I wound up explaining how my characters explored whatever cool idea I’d come up with. I had no actual plots, even though I’d thought I did. All my novels sounded like this (and yes, these are manuscripts I’ve written):
A fantasy novel about a group of pirates who get caught up in an ancient prophecy and have to fight an evil god A science fiction novel about a group of teens who get stranded on a new colony world and have to survive until help comes A middle grade novel about a group of outcasts at a school for monsters Read more »Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
January 16, 2018
5 Lessons on Writing Humor
By Chris von Halle, @ChrisvonHalle Part of the How They Do It Series
JH: There's an old joke about dying is easy, but comedy is hard, and Jack Lemmon knew what he was talking about. If you're struggling with the funny, Chris von Halle visits the lecture hall today to share some tips on writing humor.
Chris von Halle is pretty sure he has superhuman powers, if only he could discover and untap them. Until he does, he’ll just have to be satisfied with living in Ridgewood, New Jersey, engaging in such extraordinary activities as watching tennis and basketball, playing video games, and trying to improve his already sublimely muscular rear, if he says so himself.
Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram |
Take it away Chris...
Read more »Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
January 15, 2018
Why Should Fiction Writers Blog?
By Anne R. Allen, @annerallen Part of the How They Do It Series
JH: When I sold my first novel (back in 2008), everyone told me I needed to start a blog. All the authors were doing it, and if I wanted to be successful, I had to jump in. As a teen fantasy author, I had no idea what to blog about (or why anyone would care that I was blogging at all), so I fell back on what I knew--writing. For me, it worked out great, but not all writers have been as lucky. For those facing the "to blog or not to blog?" question, the delightful Anne R. Allen visits the lecture hall today to share her expertise on blogging as a fiction writer.
Anne R. Allen is the author of 12 books, including her new release from Kotu Beach Press: The Author Blog: Easy Blogging for Busy Authors . Her award-winning blog, Anne R. Allen's Blog…with Ruth Harris was named one of Writer's Digest's Best 101 Websites for Writers. She's also the co-author of How to Be a Writer in the E-Age , with NYT bestseller Catherine Ryan Hyde.
Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter |
The Author Blog: Easy Blogging for Busy Authors is available in ebook for $2.99 for a limited time at Nook, Kobo, Apple, and Amazon. The paper version launches in February 2018.
Take it away Anne...
Read more »Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
January 14, 2018
Writing Prompt: The Chain Story: Just a Squeak
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy This week’s prompt is a chain story! I’ll give you the first line, and someone else comments and builds off that line. Next commenter will build off that line, and so on.
In the event of two commenters posting at the same time and sending the story in different directions, just pick the line you like best, or try to incorporate both if you can.
It started with a squeak.
Let the fun begin.
Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
January 6, 2018
Real Life Diagnostics: Does This Women’s Fiction Opening Work?
Critique By Maria D'Marco Real 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: None
Please Note: As of today, RLD slots are open.
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
January 5, 2018
The Sum of the Parts: Writing a Synopsis
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy This week's Refresher Friday takes another look at something many of us might be doing this month--writing a synopsis.
Aside from queries--and maybe electronic hotel card keys--few things are as frustrating as writing a synopsis.
Condensing an entire novel to just a few pages means some things are going to be minimized or even excluded. I've found that approaching a synopsis similarly to how I approach outlining my novel helps me narrow down what to include.
Read more »Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
