Janice Hardy's Blog, page 62
October 10, 2019
What’s Killing Your Query Pitch?
By L. Diane Wolfe Part of the How They Do It Series
JH: The query letter is often the first thing an agent or editor sees from you. And first impressions count for a lot. L. Diane Wolfe, visits the lecture hall today to share tips on getting your query letter in tip top shape.
Known as “Spunk On A Stick,” L. Diane Wolfe is a member of the National Speakers Association. She conducts seminars on book publishing, promoting, leadership, and goal-setting, and she offers book formatting and author consultation. Wolfe is the owner and senior editor at Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. and contributes to the Insecure Writer’s Support Group.
Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C | Spunk On A Stick | Spunk On A Stick’s Tips | Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Take it away Diane…
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
October 9, 2019
Lessons Learned from a Decade in Publishing
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_HardyLooking back on ten years as an author—and what I’d have done differently if I could have.
This week marks the tenth anniversary of the release of my debut novel, The Shifter . The cliche is to say, “Wow, I can’t believe it’s been ten whole years!”, but I have no trouble at all believing that. A lot has happened since I published my first novel.
Although no two writers have exactly the same experience, we do have experiences in common. This gives both a unique perspective and a shared common ground about being an author and a writer.
If I had the opportunity to do it all over again, here are some things I’d do differently.
And yes, I know some of these contradict each other, but that’s just life. Being an author is difficult at times, and part of the challenge is identifying when we need to do X instead of Y and not let Z distract us. Also knowing when we need to ignore that and do Y anyway. Or maybe Z.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
October 8, 2019
The Secret to Writing Fascinating Villains
By Laurence MacNaughton, @LMacNaughtonPart of the How They Do It Series
JH: Bad guys have always been my favorite, and there's something delicious about a great villain. Laurence MacNaughton takes his monthly spot at the podium today to share the secret to writing great villains.
What makes a villain fascinating?
It's not just about scaring the pants off the reader. The most terrifying thing a villain can do in a story isn't killing the hero or blowing up the world -- it's making their twisted viewpoint seem morally right, and making the hero seem wrong.
Because if the villain’s outlook starts to make sense, and the hero seems to have things backwards, then for just a moment, the reader has to wonder: Have I been rooting for the wrong side all along?
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
October 7, 2019
How to Ground (and Hook) Readers in Your Opening Scene
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy If readers get lost in your first scene, they’ll never get to the second.
The opening scene of my novel, The Shifter, features a girl getting caught stealing eggs out from under a sleeping chicken. It’s a fun scene, I enjoyed writing it, and most of all—it helped sell the novel.
Somewhere along the lines, my critique partners and I started referring to strong opening scenes as “chicken scenes.”
As in:
“I’m still working on my chicken scene.”
“I thought of the perfect chicken scene yesterday.”
“I can’t get this book written until I find my chicken scene.”
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
October 6, 2019
Writing Prompt: The Chain Story: This Old House
This is what my office looks like right now.By Janice Hardy, @Janice_HardyIt's the first Sunday of the month, and you know what that means. Writing prompts!
The chain story seems to be everyone's favorite, so I can't help doing one again. I’ll give you the first line, and someone else comments and builds off that line. Next commenter will build off that line, and so on.
In the event of two commenters posting at the same time and sending the story in different directions, just pick the line you like best, or try to incorporate both if you can.
Don’t ever remodel your house. Just…don’t.
Let the fun begin.
PS: Actually, that's what it looked like a week ago. It's much messier now since that's the staging area for the upstairs woodwork. Sawdust. So. Much. Sawdust. Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
October 5, 2019
Real Life Diagnostics: How Is the Pacing in This Scene?
Critique By Maria D'Marco Real 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: Two
Please Note: As of today, RLD slots are booked through October 19.
This week’s question:
How is the pacing in this segment?
Market/Genre: Middle Grade
On to the diagnosis…
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
October 4, 2019
NaNoWriMo Prep: Get Ready to NaNo Your Novel
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_HardyBefore I dive into to today's article, here's a heads up that I'm over at Writers in the Storm today talking about Getting Lost: When Your Plot Hides Behind the Details. Come on over and say hello.
It's that time of year again!
Writers all over the world are gearing up for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), so it's time to break out the ol'prep guides from the archives for those about to dive into the writing frenzy.
If you're not doing NaNo, this is a good overview of what goes into a novel, so you'll find some helpful tips on novel writing as well.
And if you're looking for a handy guide to the whole novel-planning process, I suggest taking a peek of my book, Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure, with ten self-guided workshops and over 100 exercises designed to guide you from idea to a workable outline and synopsis.
If you decided to do NaNo, I gather you already have an inkling of the novel you want to write. If you don’t, then I’d suggest starting with this article for some brainstorming ideas or looking at the bigger story picture here before diving into today’s article.
Ready? Okay, let's go!
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
October 3, 2019
Break out of the Box and Escape the Rut: Tips to Boost Your Creativity
By Shanna Swendson, @ShannaSwendsonPart of The Writer’s Life Series
JH: You can't keep up with your creative output without receiving creative input. Refilling the well matters. This month, Shanna Swendson shares another batch of tips on boosting your creativity.
Shanna Swendson earned a journalism degree from the University of Texas but decided it was more fun to make up the people she wrote about and became a novelist. She’s written a number of fantasy novels for teens and adults, including the Enchanted, Inc. series and the Rebel Mechanics series. She devotes her spare time to reading, knitting, and music.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Take it away Shanna…
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
October 2, 2019
Learn the Keys to Writing Powerful Fiction from the Best Storytellers in The Field
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy Have you heard about the Romance Writers Summit? It’s like attending an amazing writer’s conference without ever leaving your house. Kris Kennedy has brought together quite the collection of authors, editors, screenwriters, and even game writers, and sat down with every one of them to ask questions writers want answers to.
It might say “Romance Summit” on the door, but these sessions offer writers of all genres advice they can use.
Over twenty speakers will share their knowledge and expertise with interviews and sessions filled with helpful advice.
One of them is me! I had an info-packed interview session with Kris on Writing Opening Scenes that Grab the Reader. And for you pantsers out there…you’ll also find the always amazing Jami Gold sharing her Romance by The Beats workshop (and the full list of speakers is fantastic, so check it out). You’ll also hear from:
Internationally best-selling author Brad Parks on Adding Thrills & Suspense & Tension The “won just about every science fiction and fantasy award they offer” Rebecca Roanhorse on Character- and World-Building NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author Marie Force on Writing Series That’s only five of the twenty-two speakers at this thing. And did I mention you don’t even have to leave the house? And if you register now, you also get this extra free goodie: A mini-ebook covering three vital keys to crafting powerful, page-turning, fan-building romance fiction.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
Give Your Readers Someone to Hate
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_HardySometimes, your novel needs a character readers love to hate.
Last week, Literary Rambles posted a great article about why we need unlikable characters that reminded me of a conversation my husband and I once had.
We were watching Downton Abby and remarking on how much we disliked the characters of Thomas and O’Brien. But if the show got rid of them, then there’d be no one to hate, and we’d focus our dislike on the next least-likable character (looking at you, Mary).
After some discussion, we realized this was common across many shows and even books, both with us, and family and friends.
In order to have a hero, a story needs a villain.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
