Janice Hardy's Blog, page 54
February 11, 2020
3 Rules to Raising Story Stakes
By Laurence MacNaughton, @LMacNaughtonPart of the How They Do It Series
JH: Many novels fail because the protagonist doesn't have anything at stake. Laurence MacNaughton shares three rules to making sure your story has the necessary stakes to make readers care.
I will never forget the time I watched an author face-plant the career opportunity of a lifetime without even knowing it.
This happened at a multi-author book event, with dozens of people attending. One particular author was reading the opening scene of her new book to a restless crowd. I sat in the very back, intently trying to listen, but I couldn't really get into the story. My mind kept wandering.
The person sitting next to me—a literary luminary who routinely negotiates million-dollar book deals—sighed with disappointment. “What’s at stake in this story? There's nothing at stake here.” And with that, they lost all interest in this author. Maybe forever.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
February 7, 2020
Janice Hardy Events and Workshops for 2020
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy
This year's event schedule isn't as hectic as last year's--though I suspect more will be added before we get further into 2020. If you're looking for some in-person craft workshops, give one of these a try.
Here are the conferences I'll be at and the workshops I'll be teaching (so far):
February 20-21: Florida Heritage Book Festival Writers Conference
Renaissance Marriott World Golf Village Resort St. Augustine, FL
February 20: Full Day Workshop 8am-4pm: Kicking Your Writing Up a Notch
It’s not uncommon for writers to hit a point where they know their writing is good, but it’s not where they want it (or need it) to be. They could use a little help to push their skills and story to the next level, but they’re not sure how to get that push or where to apply it in their manuscripts. In this workshop, you’ll learn ways to improve your writing and story developing skills to take your novel from nice to “Wow!” From macro-level structure techniques, to micro-level word choices, this full-day of exercises and tips will dig into your writing and polish the gems within. Bring your laptop or pages and be ready to write!
February 21: Understanding the Scene: The Engine of Your Story
Scenes are the building blocks of a novel, but they don't always unfold the way we want them to. In this workshop, you'll learn the mechanics of scene and its troublesome partner, the sequel, and how to use this pairing to drive your story. You'll also learn how to develop scenes and weave them together to build strong and focused plots, as well as what to do when you story grinds to a halt and you don't know why.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
This year's event schedule isn't as hectic as last year's--though I suspect more will be added before we get further into 2020. If you're looking for some in-person craft workshops, give one of these a try.
Here are the conferences I'll be at and the workshops I'll be teaching (so far):
February 20-21: Florida Heritage Book Festival Writers Conference
Renaissance Marriott World Golf Village Resort St. Augustine, FL
February 20: Full Day Workshop 8am-4pm: Kicking Your Writing Up a Notch
It’s not uncommon for writers to hit a point where they know their writing is good, but it’s not where they want it (or need it) to be. They could use a little help to push their skills and story to the next level, but they’re not sure how to get that push or where to apply it in their manuscripts. In this workshop, you’ll learn ways to improve your writing and story developing skills to take your novel from nice to “Wow!” From macro-level structure techniques, to micro-level word choices, this full-day of exercises and tips will dig into your writing and polish the gems within. Bring your laptop or pages and be ready to write!
February 21: Understanding the Scene: The Engine of Your Story
Scenes are the building blocks of a novel, but they don't always unfold the way we want them to. In this workshop, you'll learn the mechanics of scene and its troublesome partner, the sequel, and how to use this pairing to drive your story. You'll also learn how to develop scenes and weave them together to build strong and focused plots, as well as what to do when you story grinds to a halt and you don't know why.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_HardyThis year's event sched...
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy
This year's event schedule isn't as hectic as last year's--though I suspect more will be added before we get further into 2020. If you're looking for some in-person craft workshops, give one of these a try.
Here are the conferences I'll be at and the workshops I'll be teaching (so far):
February 20-21: Florida Heritage Book Festival Writers Conference
Renaissance Marriott World Golf Village Resort St. Augustine, FL
February 20: Full Day Workshop 8am-4pm: Kicking Your Writing Up a Notch
It’s not uncommon for writers to hit a point where they know their writing is good, but it’s not where they want it (or need it) to be. They could use a little help to push their skills and story to the next level, but they’re not sure how to get that push or where to apply it in their manuscripts. In this workshop, you’ll learn ways to improve your writing and story developing skills to take your novel from nice to “Wow!” From macro-level structure techniques, to micro-level word choices, this full-day of exercises and tips will dig into your writing and polish the gems within. Bring your laptop or pages and be ready to write!
February 21: Understanding the Scene: The Engine of Your Story
Scenes are the building blocks of a novel, but they don't always unfold the way we want them to. In this workshop, you'll learn the mechanics of scene and its troublesome partner, the sequel, and how to use this pairing to drive your story. You'll also learn how to develop scenes and weave them together to build strong and focused plots, as well as what to do when you story grinds to a halt and you don't know why.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
This year's event schedule isn't as hectic as last year's--though I suspect more will be added before we get further into 2020. If you're looking for some in-person craft workshops, give one of these a try.
Here are the conferences I'll be at and the workshops I'll be teaching (so far):
February 20-21: Florida Heritage Book Festival Writers Conference
Renaissance Marriott World Golf Village Resort St. Augustine, FL
February 20: Full Day Workshop 8am-4pm: Kicking Your Writing Up a Notch
It’s not uncommon for writers to hit a point where they know their writing is good, but it’s not where they want it (or need it) to be. They could use a little help to push their skills and story to the next level, but they’re not sure how to get that push or where to apply it in their manuscripts. In this workshop, you’ll learn ways to improve your writing and story developing skills to take your novel from nice to “Wow!” From macro-level structure techniques, to micro-level word choices, this full-day of exercises and tips will dig into your writing and polish the gems within. Bring your laptop or pages and be ready to write!
February 21: Understanding the Scene: The Engine of Your Story
Scenes are the building blocks of a novel, but they don't always unfold the way we want them to. In this workshop, you'll learn the mechanics of scene and its troublesome partner, the sequel, and how to use this pairing to drive your story. You'll also learn how to develop scenes and weave them together to build strong and focused plots, as well as what to do when you story grinds to a halt and you don't know why.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
February 6, 2020
What Novelists Can Learn from Studying Picture Books
By Sherry Howard, @SherLHowardPart of the How They Do It Series
JH: Writing is writing no matter what the genre or market, and we can learn a lot by studying what other writers--and markets--have done. Sherry Howard shares thoughts on what novelists can learn from studying picture books.
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.
Sherry Howard | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Take it away Sherry...
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
February 5, 2020
Hey, Still with Me? Poking Dead Scenes With a Stick, Part One
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy Revisions aren't for weaklings. They're hard, they take commitment, and sometimes you have to make the tough call and decide the fate of a scene that isn't pulling its weight.
I've been deep in a revision for a few months now, looking at each scene with a critical eye. Is it advancing the plot or story? Is it serving the story in any way? Is it a scene that should stay, or do I need to kill it?
I've been lucky so far, and most of the scenes are indeed doing their jobs, but I have had to kill a few that weren't. It's always hard, because there's usually something in that scene I liked, otherwise it never would have made it this far.
But cutting dead scenes from a manuscript improves the novel as a whole. It's just not always easy to know if we should.
To be clear, I'm talking about problem scenes, not scenes you know are working.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
February 4, 2020
How to Persevere When the Mountain Seems Unconquerable
By Jodi Turchin, @jlturchinPart of The Writer's Life Series
JH: Being an author is a rough job, particularly if you haven't quite made the last step between writer and author. Jodi Turchin shares tips on hanging in there when the writing times get tough.
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, a former actress and director, an Independent Scentsy Consultant, a Younique presenter, and a dog-mom.
Website | Twitter
Take it away Jodi…
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
February 3, 2020
Author, We Have a Problem: 4 Tips on Plotting Your Novel
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy When I ask writers what they struggle with the most, plot is often at the top of the list. Here are some tips to make plotting easier.
Despite their challenges, plots are really simple things to create (no, really,). A plot is just the events that make up your story. It's what happens in the novel, and what the characters do.
Now the hard part, and the part writers often struggle with, is crafting a good plot. Because plotting is easy, but plotting in a way that best serves your story is much harder. You can't just have "stuff" happening--all that "stuff" has to have a point and tell the story you want to tell, in the way you want to tell it.
This is why the same story can be told a million different ways, because the plot can always be different.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
January 30, 2020
Input for Writers: 6 Ways to Feed Your Muse
By Bethany HenryPart of The Writer’s Life Series
JH: Being productive isn't always about how much you write. Sometimes, it's about how well you manage your muse. Bethany Henry shares tips on how to feed your muse and keep your creativity flowing.
Bethany Henry writes fantasy novels and blogs about writing and wellness at bethany-henry.com. When not writing, she can often be found on the frisbee field, drinking tea, or reading picture books with her two little girls. Sign up for her email list for weekly posts on writing craft- along with fun extras like quotes and freebies.
Website | Blog | Facebook | Pinterest | Email List
Take it away Bethany...
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
January 29, 2020
Let's Talk Book Marketing! Twitter Chat Tonight
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy
I'm doing a Twitter Chat tonight with Bad Redhead Media, talking about the five marketing things I do with every book. I'll share what I do, how I get organized, and where to start marketing your book.
When: Wednesday, January 29
Time: 9pm EST / 6pm PST
Where: Twitter! Just look for the #BookMarketingChat hashtag
Join me, @BadRedheadMedia, and @TheRuralVA!
Hope to see you online.Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
I'm doing a Twitter Chat tonight with Bad Redhead Media, talking about the five marketing things I do with every book. I'll share what I do, how I get organized, and where to start marketing your book.When: Wednesday, January 29
Time: 9pm EST / 6pm PST
Where: Twitter! Just look for the #BookMarketingChat hashtag
Join me, @BadRedheadMedia, and @TheRuralVA!
Hope to see you online.Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
January 28, 2020
Writing Resolutions 2020: Kick the Social Media Addiction
By Bonnie RandallPart of The Writer's Life Series
JH: Social media has its uses, but when it sucks away our lives, joy, and creative energy, it doesn't do any writer any good. Bonnie Randall shares some scary numbers on what social media can do to your writing and your life.
Even as I write this, the ensuing hypocrisy is not lost on me: most of you will all be reading it off a screen, and will have likely arrived her via some social media platform; Facebook, Twitter, or the like.
Nonetheless:
I have arrived at a writing resolution for 2020 that’s been a long time coming, and a longer time needed. My own addiction to social media is a problem, and I’ve known it for a while—but it is not until now, with a few lofty fiction goals[1] in my near future, that I have actually wanted to make a change.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
