Janice Hardy's Blog, page 34
December 9, 2020
5 Ways to Fix a Stalled Scene in Your Novel
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_HardyIt’s a terrible feeling when the scene you’re working on grinds to a halt—and you have no idea how to get it moving again.
Imagine it—you’re in the middle of a writing session, your fingers are dancing over the keyboard, and suddenly…
They stop.
The words, your fingers, your understanding of what comes next in your novel.
Your scene has stalled and you don’t know why, and what’s worse, you have no idea what to do to fix it.
We’ve all been there, and it doesn’t matter if you’re a brand-new writer working on your first story or a professional author with fifty published novels. Sometimes, scenes just stall. Ideas poof out of your head and leave you hanging. Your characters stop talking to you, and the last thing they said was so out of the blue that you can’t fathom what they meant by it or what they plan to do.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
December 8, 2020
4 Essentials of Unforgettable Endings
By Laurence MacNaughton, @LMacNaughtonPart of The How They Do It Series
JH: A solid ending not only satisfies readers, but makes them eager to reader your next novel. Laurence MacNaughton shares four tips on how to write unforgettable endings.
It's possible that more writers struggle with the ending of a story than the blank page at the beginning. The good news is, writing a terrific ending is easier than you think. Just follow these four steps.
1. Put the main character in the driver's seat.
This is potentially the best thing you could do to wrap up your story: make sure your main character is the one who makes the ending happen.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
December 7, 2020
An Easy Way to Create Conflict in Your Novel
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy Conflict is vital to a novel, but that doesn't mean it has to be a fight.
A common misconception with conflict is that is has to be antagonistic. Characters should fight, argue, and plot against each other in the worst ways, but this is just one of the many ways in which you can create trouble in your novel.
It's also one of the least interesting, because with most antagonistic fights, there's one right side and one wrong side. Usually, the protagonist is on the right side, so all we're really doing is writing an argument readers already agree with—which might work for reality TV, but it's not as much fun in a novel.
Friendly disagreements can also create conflict, especially between people who love each other dearly.
The disagreement you have with your spouse affects you much more strongly than the one you have with a co-worker you barely know. Having characters disagree on what to do or how to behave offers layers of both external plot conflict and internal emotional conflict.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
December 3, 2020
Editorial Feedback: Friend or Foe?
By Sherry Howard, @SherLHowardPart of The Writer's Life Series
JH: Feedback is a valuable part of the writing process, but it can also be intimidating. Sherry Howard discusses why you don't need to be afraid of what people think of your writing.
Sherry Howard lives with her children and silly dogs in Middletown, Kentucky. Sherry is the author of the picture book ROCK AND ROLL WOODS, with a starred Kirkus review. Her poems and stories have appeared in multiple journals and anthologies. She also writes for the educational market, with about a dozen books. Her middle grade book, SPIRITS AMONG US, released in October.
Sherry Howard | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Take it away Sherry...
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
December 2, 2020
How to Sneak Clues Past Your Readers and Keep Them Guessing
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_HardySome writers weave clues so seamlessly into a novel, we never even realize they’re there until they all converge in the end.
My subconscious is a better writer than I am. It drops in details and makes connections in my first drafts that I don’t see until the next draft—if at all.
Sometimes, it takes the sharp eyes of my critique group to spot the "clever things" I’ve written that I’m totally unaware of (grin).
I suspect your subconscious does this, too.
It’s only natural. Stories churn in our heads even when we aren’t consciously thinking about them. Our brains remember throwaway details and build on them without our input.
And when we make the connections, we get that rush and think, “oooo that is soooo cool.”
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
December 1, 2020
Building Your Writer Support Network
By Jodi Turchin, @jlturchinPart of The Writer's Life Series
JH: Writing is a tough business, so it's important for writers to build a strong support system. Jodi Turchin shares tips on building a support network to get you through the tough times, as well as celebrate the good.
Jodi Turchin is a Young Adult novelist represented by Dawn Frederick at Red Sofa Literary. She’s also a photographer, a high school English teacher, an adjunct college professor, and a former actress and director.
Website | Twitter
Take it away Jodi…
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
November 30, 2020
3 Ways to Make Your Writing Come Alive
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy Quick—what’s your favorite book from your childhood?
The first novel I remember sweeping me away and capturing my imagination was The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I don’t remember how old I was, but probably around ten or so. It was magical, filled with adventure and mystery and characters I cared about. It’s a story I love to this day.
Other novels came after that—A Wrinkle in Time, The Black Stallion, Earth Times Two, The Haunted Cove, Trumpet of the Swans. All novels I loved as a child, and these were the first titles I thought of when writing this post. They’ve stayed with me for decades.
The best stories are the ones that come alive in a reader's imagination. They pull them into the story world and sweep them away in the struggles and dreams of the characters.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
November 28, 2020
WIP Diagnostic: Is This Working? A Closer Look at a Short Story Opening
Critique By Maria D'Marco WIP 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 WIP Diagnostics, please check out these guidelines.
Submissions currently in the queue: Zero
Please Note: As of today, critique slots are open.
This week’s questions:
1. Does this work as an opening?
2. Would you want to read the rest of the story?
3. Does the dialogue seem appropriate to the scene?
Market/Genre: Fantasy Short Story
On to the diagnosis…
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
November 26, 2020
Firearms In Fiction: What Authors Need to Know
By Dave Chesson, @DaveChessonPart of The Indie Authors Series
JH: Not every writer is an expert on firearms, but if you're using them in your novel, make sure you get the details right. Dave Chesson shares tips and info on what writers need to know about firearms.
Dave Chesson is the founder of Kindlepreneur.com and creator of Publisher Rocket, a software that helps authors market their books more effectively.
Website | Twitter | Facebook
Take it away Dave…Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
November 25, 2020
Broken, but Still Good: 3 Ways to Create Character Flaws
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy Choose the right flaws and weaknesses to round out your characters.
There's an old saying: "I'm not looking for the perfect man, just one with faults I like." No clue where I heard this, but it always stuck with me, because it’s so true. Everyone has faults, and some are more palatable than others.
This is true for our characters, too. Their flaws and weaknesses make them three-dimensional people readers can relate to and root for. They also allow our characters to make the mistakes and bad choices that lead to compelling plots.
But picking any old flaw isn't going to cut it. Who cares if the protagonist can't cook if cooking never matters to the story? So what if they can’t commit if they’re never asked to? It's important to choose flaws and weaknesses that add to the overall novel.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
