Janice Hardy's Blog, page 56
January 13, 2020
The Freedom of Writing Without Chapters
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy A first draft doesn’t need to adhere to a chapter format.
I’m not sure when I started writing this way, but sometime in the last four or five years, I stopped using chapters during a first draft. Instead, I write scenes grouped by acts, and decide later how those scenes fit into a chapter structure.
I don’t think I would have done this if I hadn’t started using Scrivener. Its folder and file format makes it easy to organize my manuscript into scenes and group them into chapters as needed. Writing in Word just didn’t have this same flexibility.
I discovered this “no chapter” draft gave me the freedom to write a scene and not worry about length, or even how it might transition to the next scene. I just wrote the scene and moved on to the next after it was drafted.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
January 12, 2020
Sunday Writing Tip: Add Tension to the First Line of Every Scene
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy Each week, I’ll offer a tip you can take and apply to your WIP to help improve it. They’ll be easy to do and shouldn’t take long, so they’ll be tips you can do without taking up your Sunday. Though I do reserve the right to offer a good tip now and then that will take longer—but only because it would apply to the entire manuscript.
This week, look at the opening line of each scene and chapter and make sure it has enough tension in it to draw readers into the scene.
We’ve looked at our scene openings before, but this time, let’s pat particular attention to the first line. Even if the scene itself has a hook, does the opening line have enough tension to get readers to that hook?
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
January 11, 2020
Real Life Diagnostics: Does This YA Romance Opening Draw You In?
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: One
Please Note: As of today, critique slots are booked through January 18.
This week’s questions:
As an opening, is it hook-y enough? Does it draw the reader in? Do you get a good sense of the protagonist?
Market/Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
On to the diagnosis…
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
January 10, 2020
5 Ways to Develop Character Voices
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_HardyIf you want memorable characters, don't forget to give them unique voices.
One of my earliest experiences with how voice affected fiction was in seventh grade, when my English teach played us a record (yes, record, I'm dating myself here) of Harlan Ellison reading his short story, "Repent, Harlequin!" Said the Ticktock Man. Not only was I blown away by the story, but by the way Ellison crafted the narrative. The voice was unique.
It wasn't until years later I learned there was a difference between author voice and character voice, but the lesson on "strong voice = strong story" had been stamped into my brain. Character voice is simply an extension of author voice.
A well-crafted character steps off the page and into readers' hearts, and a big part of that is their voice. Readers can see personality in the words that character uses, in the thoughts they think, and things they choose to say--or not say.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
January 9, 2020
A Secret for Success in Publishing: Define Success
By Laurisa White Reyes, @lwreyesPart of The Writers Life Series
JH: The first step to being successful is knowing what "success" means to you. Why do you want to publish a book? Laurisa White Reyes shares things to consider when deciding where to set your (indie- or self-) publishing goals.
Laurisa White Reyes is the award-winning author of seventeen books, including 8 Secrets to Successful Self-Publishing . She is also the founder and senior editor of Skyrocket Press and teaches English composition at College of the Canyons in Southern California. Visit her website at www.SkyrocketPress.com.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads |
Take it away Laurisa...
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
January 8, 2020
Crafting Hook Lines that Draw Readers in
By Janice Hardy, @Janie_Hardy
There's more than one way to hook a reader. Which is fortunate since we want to hook them on every page.
I've been writing most of my life, and I can still remember when I learned certain aspects of writing. Some lessons just stick with you, and what a "hook line" was is one of those lessons.
Around twelve years ago, I was at the Surrey International Writers' Conference (SiWC) and my "Blue Pencil Café" appointment--which is where an author or editor reads and critiques the first two pages of your manuscript. It was an enlightening experience.
I was meeting with author Carol Berg (a delightful woman), and as she read my pages, she put check marks on quite a few lines and said:
HER: You have some great hook lines here.
ME: Thanks! (Made mental note to look up what a “hook line” was)
Back then I didn't know what she was talking about, but she explained what she liked about those lines, so it became obvious what she meant. I was instinctively doing something right.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
January 7, 2020
Embracing the Women’s Fiction Genre Label
By Orly Konig, @OrlyKonigPart of the How They Do It Series
JH: Women's fiction covers a wide variety of stories, but there are common elements to every one. Orly Konig shares thoughts on the genre and tips on how to know if your book fits this popular category.
Orly Konig is an escapee from the corporate world. Now she spends her days chatting up imaginary friends, drinking too much coffee, and negotiating writing space around her cats. She is the founding president of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association and a member of the Tall Poppy Writers. She’s a book coach and author of The Distance Home and Carousel Beach .
Website | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | BookBub | Goodreads
Take it away Orly…
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
January 6, 2020
Three Things to Remember When Revising from a Critique
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy Revising from critique feedback can improve a manuscript—if you remember a few important details.
Starting the New Year probably ought to begin with the first draft of a new project, but I always seem to be revising when January 1 rolls around. This year is no different, and I’m deep into a final revision before this manuscript goes to my agent next week.
Naturally, revision and critiques are heavily on my mind this week, particularly the best way to get the most from the feedback I’ve recieved.
I’ve written a lot about critiques over the years, but there are always new things to learn and consider. Today, let’s look at three things to keep in mind when reviewing feedback:
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
January 4, 2020
Real Life Diagnostics: Infodumping in the Opening Page
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: one
Please Note: As of today, critique slots are booked through January 11.
This week’s questions:
Is it show, don’t tell? Does the opening page work?
Market/Genre: Mythological Fantasy
On to the diagnosis…
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
January 3, 2020
Are You Looking for a Critique Group or Partner?
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_HardyIt's Crit Time Again! The 2020 Winter Group is now open!
Back in 2013 I started a Yahoo Group called "Janice Hardy's Critique Connection" to help writers connect with like-minded folks looking for critique groups or partners. It was designed to help people find long-term, quality writing partners, not just places you can toss up your work and get quick feedback.
It went from a one-time event to annually, and now to every six months (I open it up every January and July). It's switched to Groups.io now, but it's the same group.
If you're looking to join or create a critique group, add more to your existing group, or find a critique partner, odds are you'll find someone here.
Just to be clear, I'm not personally critiquing anything in this group. This is for writers who are looking for critique partners or critique groups for more than just "I need some eyes on this before I submit it to an agent" type critiques. I'm solely a facilitator to help people connect without having to post their email addresses online, which some folks are hesitant to do.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
