Janice Hardy's Blog, page 58
November 28, 2019
Writers: Is Work-for-Hire for You?
By Sherry Howard, @SherLHoward
Part of The Writer's Life Series
JH: Work-for-hire isn't for everyone, but for some writers, it's a great way to get your work in front of readers and make some money. Sherry Howard is back again this month with tips and advice on being a work-for-hire author.
Sherry Howard lives in Middletown, Kentucky, in a household busy with kids and pets. She worked as an educator, and now has the luxury of writing full time. Her debut picture book, Rock and Roll Woods , released in October, 2018. And her middle grade NF, Deep Sea Divers , just released. She has more books in the pipeline for publication soon.
Sherry loves to meet other readers and writers, so be in touch on social media here:
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Take it away Sherry…Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
November 27, 2019
The Help You Need to Craft Stories Readers Love
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_HardyThe #1 thing you can do to improve your writing today
Is your book lacking that…oomph? Maybe your characters aren’t as engaging as they could be. Maybe your dialogue is feeling a bit stiff. Or maybe there’s something wrong with your plot that you can’t quite put your finger on, but you know it’s there.
Just in time for the holiday season, the guys over at InfoStack have created another writing bundle, and this time it's all about craft. Oh, it makes a fantastic holiday gift for your fellow writing pals, too.
The Writer’s Craft Super Stack is a complete digital collection of tools, training, and resources to help you create captivating worlds, memorable characters, page-turning dialogue, and more.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
November 26, 2019
The Biggest Blocks: Creating Names and Titles in Your Novel
By Bonnie Randall
Part of the How They Do It Series
JH: Character names and novel titles. Some writers can pull great ones out of the air, but for the rest of us...it's a struggle every time. Bonnie Randall shares thoughts on finding the right names for your novel.
Every writer has at least one hurdle that confronts their creativity. I happen to have two:
1. What’s in A Name?
A lot, actually. Names are as crucial to characters as setting is to plot. Sometimes, when I am very lucky, a character will waltz onto the stage of my imagination with his or her first and last name as clear as their plot, darkest hour, and denouement. Most times, though, I have nameless heroes and equally blank villains, and I will struggle through the process of creating a birth certificate that somehow echoes the plot, will be pleasing to the ear of the reader, does not step outside the boundaries of the era his or her story takes place in, and is also unique or meaningful enough that the name will be that character forevermore for the reader who connects with that story.
Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
Part of the How They Do It Series
JH: Character names and novel titles. Some writers can pull great ones out of the air, but for the rest of us...it's a struggle every time. Bonnie Randall shares thoughts on finding the right names for your novel.
Every writer has at least one hurdle that confronts their creativity. I happen to have two:
1. What’s in A Name?
A lot, actually. Names are as crucial to characters as setting is to plot. Sometimes, when I am very lucky, a character will waltz onto the stage of my imagination with his or her first and last name as clear as their plot, darkest hour, and denouement. Most times, though, I have nameless heroes and equally blank villains, and I will struggle through the process of creating a birth certificate that somehow echoes the plot, will be pleasing to the ear of the reader, does not step outside the boundaries of the era his or her story takes place in, and is also unique or meaningful enough that the name will be that character forevermore for the reader who connects with that story.
Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
November 25, 2019
Plotting With the Hero's Journey
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_HardyThe Hero's Journey is a plot structure that's been around as long as storytelling. And with Thanksgiving this week, it's a good time to dip into the archives for a little refresher.
In this mini-series, I've discussed the Three-Act Structure, Blake Snyder's Save the Cat structure, Michael Hague's Six Stage Plotting Structure), and Joyce Sweeney's Plot Clock structure. These are among the most-popular and often-used structures in creating stories, from short fiction to novels to screenplays. This time, let's dig into the hero's Journey.
The Hero's Journey is an archetypal narrative structure created by Joseph Campbell to describe the basic myth format used in storytelling for centuries—the hero on an adventure. It covers classic turning points and elements of the journey that are the basis for most modern storytelling formats.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
November 22, 2019
Teens, Dark Chocolate, and Surviving Writer Limbo
By Veronica Mixon, @WriteVMixonPart of The Writer’s Life Series
JH: Publishing is full of waiting, and waiting for an agent or publishing to get back to you is stressful for any writer. Veronica Mixon visits the lecture hall today to share tips on surviving this writer's limbo.
Veronica began storytelling at a young age, somewhere around three, when a host of imaginary friends lived in her bedroom closet and encouraged her penchant for spinning tales. A career in marketing, twenty years of world travel, and a large and boisterous southern family supply her with ample material for the mysteries she loves to write. She lives on the Georgia coast with her husband and her nine-year-old Standard Poodle, Jasper.
Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
Take it away Veronica…
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
November 21, 2019
Prepare for Public Speaking Like a Pro
By Chrys Fey, @ChrysFeyPart of The Writer’s Life Series
JH: Speaking in public is a nightmare for many people, but it's something authors need to be able to do. Today, Chrys Fey takes the podium today with tips on how to speak in pubic.
Chrys Fey is the author of the award-winning book Write with Fey: 10 Sparks to Guide You from Idea to Publication . Catch the sparks you need to write, edit, publish, and market your book! From writing your novel to prepping for publication and beyond, you’ll find sparks on every page, including 100 bonus marketing tips. Fey is an editor for Dancing Lemur Press and runs the Insecure Writer’s Support Group’s Goodreads book club. She is also the author of the Disaster Crimes series. Visit her blog, Write with Fey, for more tips.
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Take it away Chrys…
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
November 20, 2019
The Problem With "Revealing" Information That's Already in the Cover Copy
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy A novel's beginning is under a lot of pressure to hook readers and pull them into the story. But what happens when that hook is something we reveal on the back cover?
Opening scenes are hard enough to write already, but there's something writers need to be wary about, particularly if they indie publish.
An opening scene that "reveals" information stated in the cover copy as if it's a big secret.
For example, let's say your novel is about a town that's been hit by toxic nerve gas that's killed everyone under the age of twenty. Now the characters have to deal with this problem and the repercussions of it. Your cover copy might say something like...
When a tragic accident poisons a small town a kills everyone under the age of twenty, local doctor Jessica Halloway must find the cause before more fall ill and die. But as she searches for the cure, she uncovers a far more deadly source.Every single person who reads this cover copy is going to know before they open the book what the problem is.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
November 19, 2019
How to Write a Real Page-Turner, Part 5
By Laurisa White Reyes, @lwreyesPart of the How They Do It Series
JH: Laurisa White Reyes wraps up her How to Write a Page-Turner series today a sure-fire page-turner technique to keep readers hooked in your story.
Laurisa White Reyes is the Senior Editor of Skyrocket Press & Author Services. She has published sixteen books, including 8 Secrets to Successful Self-Publishing and the SCBWI Spark Award winner The Storytellers . Laurisa also provides personal coaching for writers. To connect with her, visit Skyrocket Press.
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Take it away Laurisa...Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
November 18, 2019
How to Make an Unhappy Character "Likable"
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy Novels don't always have a happy hero at the core--but that doesn't make the character any less "likable."
It's ironic that there are so many terms in writing that aren't clear exactly what they mean, or have multiple definitions or uses. "Likable" is one such term.
All the advice says we want a likable protagonist readers can root for, someone they'll want to hang out with for four hundred pages, and someone readers will connect with.
But likable isn't really the issue, and the word can be problematic.
Back in 2013, I received a question from a writer struggling to make her depressed character "likable." She also suffered from depression , and feared readers living in the head of a depressed character wasn't something "emotionally healthy folks are going to want to spend time with." I answered her question best I could.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
November 15, 2019
When It All Goes Horribly Wrong, Turn to Odyssey Online
By Dianna Sanchez, @diannabooksPart of The Writer's Life Series
JH: Writing is often hard to learn on your own, and luckily, there are classes and workshops galore to help up improve. Dianna Sanchez visits the lecture hall today to share her experiences with Odyssey Online.
Dianna Sanchez is the not-so-secret identity of Jenise Aminoff, also known to her children as the Queen of Sarcasm. She has worked as a technical writer, electrical engineer, programmer, farmer, and preschool cooking teacher, among many other things. Her middle-grade fantasy series includes A Witch’s Kitchen (2016), A Pixie’s Promise (2018), and An Elf’s Equations (forthcoming in March 2020). A Latina geek originally from New Mexico, she now lives in the Boston area with her husband and two daughters.
Website | Facebook | Twitter Goodreads |Kickstarter
Take it away Dianna...
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
