Janice Hardy's Blog, page 57
December 21, 2019
Real Life Diagnostics: Does the Opening Page of This Magical Realism Tale 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: Zero
Please Note: As of today, RLD slots are open and taking submissions for next year, starting on January 4.
This week’s question:
Does this opening work?
Market/Genre: Magical Realism (Gothic Fairy Tale)
On to the diagnosis…
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
December 18, 2019
Taking a Break for the Holidays
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy2019 has been the busiest, craziest, most hectic year I've had in a very long time. It's also been a great year, but things have been slipping since October, and this site is one of them (ironically, because I've been working on the online workshops to add to the site).
I've decided to throw in the towel and accept that I'm not going to get any new posts done, or even revise any old ones the remainder of the year.
There are still some guest posts scheduled, so the site won't go totally dark, and I have one more Real Life Diagnostic in the queue. I imagine you guys are just as swamped as I am, so it's not a bad time for a break.
I'll be back for my regular "end of the year wrap up" at New Year's, and then jump into 2020 with some new and exciting things, as well as getting back to a normal posting schedule.
Hope everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday season, happy writing, and I'll see you again in a few weeks.
--JaniceWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
December 16, 2019
Plotting With Michael Hague's Six Stage Plot Structure
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy Like a lot of people this time of year, I'm utterly buried with far too many tasks, so I'm dipping into the archives today for a oldie but goodie. I'll be back to my normal posting routine before long, I promise. It's just been an exceptionally crazy few months.
There are a multitude of different plot structures writers use to create their stories, and this series looks at the handful of most popular ones.
So far we've discussed the Three-Act Structure, the Hero’s Journey, and the Save the Cat Beat Sheet. That leaves one more popular structure--Michael Hague's Six Stage Plot Structure. (Side note, if you ever get an opportunity to sit in on one of Hague's workshops, I highly recommend them.)
This structure is a great choice for those who want a minimal amount of outlining. It's elegant in its simplicity and provides a lot of room to grow your plot organically. And yes, it too uses a three-act structure. It's also a variation on the Hero's Journey, so you'll quickly notice the similarities there.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
December 12, 2019
Authors: What to Do When You Want to Quit
By Charity Bradford, @charitybradfordPart of The Indie Author Series
JH: Being an indie author can be a wonderful experience, but like every job, sometimes you just want to throw in the towel. Charity Bradford returns to the lecture hall today with tips on understanding what's getting your down.
Charity Bradford has been a voracious reader ever since her 5th grade teacher introduced her to the world of books with Where the Red Fern Grows. She soon became kindred spirits with Anne Shirley and got lost in the worlds of Card, McCaffrey, Bradbury, and Nagata. By college, she was sewing her own Starfleet uniform and developing her alter-ego as a comic book sidekick. She lives in Northwest Arkansas with her hubby and four kids. Some of her guilty pleasures include binge watching Doctor Who and Ancient Aliens. Charity also writes clean contemporary romance under the name River Ford.
Website | Website (River Ford) Newsletter Sign-up | Charity on Facebook | River on Facebook |Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
Take it away Charity…
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
December 10, 2019
Compelling Character Arcs in 4 Easy Steps
By Laurence MacNaughton, @LMacNaughtonPart of the How They Do It Series
JH: Character change can be a vital part of a novel, even if it's a gung-ho plot-driven story. Laurence MacNaughton shares how to craft a compelling character arc in four easy steps.
I'll let you in on a secret: readers want your character to change.
They know, deep down, that your character is unhappy with the status quo at the beginning of your book. Something is terribly wrong in your character's life, and things can't keep going on this way. Something's got to give. Readers fervently hope that your character will rise to the challenge and become a better, happier person.
In other words, what your readers want is a character arc. But how do you create one? Believe it or not, there is an easy way. Here's how to create an arc in any story.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
December 6, 2019
Don't Forget to Open Your Advent Window at Writers Helping Writers (Did I Mention the Prizes?)
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_HardyJust a reminder that the amazing Advent Calendar for Writers is still chugging away. 14 days of prizes, folks, and you can enter the drawings for all of them if you want.
What the Heck Is an Advent Calendar for Writers?
You know those Advent Calendars that have a delicious chocolate behind each window, counting down to Christmas? Well, it’s like that, only more helpful and less fattening.
Every day from December 1st to December 14th Angela and Becca over at Writers Helping Writers will provide a link to a giveaway just for writers. You click the link, opening the daily “window” and boom, there will be something fabulous you could win. Things such as…
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
December 5, 2019
The Dating, er, Agent-Search Game
By Lisa Lowe Stauffer, @LisaLStaufferPart of The Writer's Life Series
JH: Finding an agent is almost as challenging (if not more so) than finding a publisher for your manuscript. Lisa Lowe Stauffer visits the lecture hall today with tips on how to make the most of your agent search.
Lisa Lowe Stauffer, author of Two By Two (Zonderkidz, 2018) eagerly anticipates the release of the next book in the Outlander series. In the meantime, she stays busy writing books for children and teens, volunteering with SCBWI as the Assistant Regional Adviser to Southern Breeze region, and traveling with her own red-headed husband.
Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter |
Take it away Lisa…
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
December 4, 2019
Expect the Unexpected: Creating Plot Twists
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_HardyI'm up against a deadline this month to get a manuscript finished, so I'm dipping into the archives again and updating a reader favorite. Enjoy!
A great plot twist is a wonderful thing, be it in the books we write or the ones we read. We revel is that unexpected event or revelation that changes everything we thought we knew and takes the story to a whole new level. We delight in those surprises that make us think, "wow, that was awesome. I never saw that coming."
Trouble is, knowing you want a plot twist is a lot easier than coming up with a good one. There's no formula for devising a great twist, because every plot is different and any number of things can work in a novel.
My trick for twisting my plot is pretty simple:
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
December 3, 2019
Outlines Are for Revision (Say What?) A Different Approach for Your Process
By Spencer Ellsworth, @spencimusPart of The How They Do It Series
JH: Unless you've been lucky enough to find your perfect writing process, odds are anything that might help you be more productive piques your interest. Spencer Ellsworth visits the lecture hall today with a different way to write that uses both plotter and pantser brains.
Spencer Ellsworth has been writing since he learned how. He is the author of The Great Faerie Strike , a tale of the Otherworld’s first labor union, from Broken Eye Books. He is also the author of the space opera Starfire Trilogy from Tor, and many other short works. He lives in Bellingham, WA, with his wife and three children, works at a small tribal college, and would really like a war mammoth, please.
Website | Twitter | Goodreads
Take it away Spencer…
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
December 1, 2019
14 Days of Writing Prizes, Starting...NOW!
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_HardyIt’s the season of giving, so I've partnered up with Writers Helping Writers and One Stop for Writers to bring you a PRIZE-PACKED Advent Calendar for Writers. And when I say prize packed, I’m talking over $2600 in prizes to be won!
Each day between December 1st and December 14th, a new Advent Calendar Window is available to be opened by you, and behind it? A giveaway for a prize that will greatly help you and your writing career.
Today is my giveaway day, with a chance at a free 12-week online course from my brand-new and coming soon online workshops (more details on this after the new year).
But I just get the honor of launching this giveaway season--there are fourteen more amazing prizes you'll want to go check out.Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
