Janice Hardy's Blog, page 73
June 8, 2019
Real Life Diagnostics: What Do You Think About the Voice in This Scene?
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, RLD slots are booked through June 15.
This week’s questions:
1. Which point-of-view and tense should I choose, in your opinion?
2. What do you think about the voice in this scene?
Market/Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
On to the diagnosis…
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
June 7, 2019
Testing...Testing...is This Query On? Identifying Problems in a Novel
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_HardyThis week's Refresher Friday returns to (and updates) one of my favorites--using the query letter to identify problems in a novel.
Writing a query letter can send many writers into a cold sweat, but I like to write queries before I start a novel. It helps me pinpoint the core pieces of my plot and lets me know right away if I'm missing something critical I'll need to write the book. Typically, if I can't write a query, that's a big red flag I won't be able to write the novel either. There's an inherent flaw in there, and until that gets fixed, the query (and novel) will never work.
The query is also a solid test for why a finished novel isn't working (or selling) for the very same reasons. Problem query letters often holds clues to problems in the novel we aren't seeing.
If you're just testing your novel idea before you write it, getting stuck on the query letter isn't so bad--but if you've spent years writing your novel, and suddenly find yourself struggling with the query letter, it can be pretty disheartening. It can also mean the novel's not yet ready.
Here are four common query letter issues that often reflect a problem with the novel itself:
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
June 6, 2019
How to Prep for Outdoor Book and Author Events
By Chrys Fey, @ChrysFeyPart of The Writer’s Life Series
JH: Book events are a lot of fun, and outdoor events are a great excuse to get a little fresh air and sunshine. But go in unprepared, and you might not have the best day. Chrys Fey is back this month with tips on how to prepare for an outdoor book event.
Chrys Fey is the author of 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.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Blog | Newsletter
Take it away Chrys…
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
June 5, 2019
Point of View Basics: Through My Eyes. Or Your Eyes. Or Somebody's Eyes.
By Janice Hardy. @Janice_Hardy Point of view defines the scope of a story--from the close and personal journey to the epic tale of generations. It's been a long time since POV basics first ran, so here's an updated look at the different types of point of view and their pitfalls.
Anyone who's ever attended one of my writing workshops has heard me say how vital point of view is to a writer. It's at the heart of everything we write, and the better we understand how to use it, the better our writing will be. Understanding point of view fixes (or helps us avoid) most common writing problems, such as telling, backstory, passive writing, and infodumping.
When you nail point of view, everything else gets easier. That's how strongly I feel about it.
When you're just starting out, point of view can be a murky aspect to master, let alone really get. Even writers who are solid one one type, can be clueless about another. And not just newbies have difficulties here. I recently ran into an extremely talented published author who was struggling with third person, since she'd never really written it before.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
June 4, 2019
A Look at Literary Devices: What Is Motif?
By Sherry Howard, @SherLHowardPart of The How They Do It Series
JH: Sometimes deep and meaningful writing just happens, but usually the writer put time and effort into making it look so effortless. Sherry Howard returns to the lecture hall this month to talk about motifs and how they strengthen our writing.
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:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads
Take it away Sherry…
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
June 3, 2019
The Easiest Way to Fix a Novel's Sagging Middle
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy A sagging middle is a problem a lot of writers face during a first draft, but there is one trick that will help get you through it.
Raise your hand if you've ever had trouble with the middle of your novel.
-hand raises-
I can't tell you how many 150-page drafts languished on my hard drive when I was still trying to figure out how to write an entire novel. I'd start out fine, but then after my inciting event and my first major plot point it ground to a halt. Not every draft was bad, but most of them were, well, boring.
They dragged, they snoozed, they spent a lot of time repeating the same types of scenes or activities and I just stopped working on them, sure that the idea was terrible and I was an equally terrible writer.
Neither was true.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
June 2, 2019
Writing Tips of Writing Prompts? Which Would You'd Rather See?
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy
I've been running the writing tips now for six months, and it's time to get some feedback and see how you guys like those. Some folks have emailed me and asked about the old prompts, so I thought I'd do a quick survey to see which type of Sunday post you preferred.
I'd appreciate a minute of your time to answer one question and help me out. Thanks!
Create your own user feedback survey Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
I've been running the writing tips now for six months, and it's time to get some feedback and see how you guys like those. Some folks have emailed me and asked about the old prompts, so I thought I'd do a quick survey to see which type of Sunday post you preferred.
I'd appreciate a minute of your time to answer one question and help me out. Thanks!
Create your own user feedback survey Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
June 1, 2019
Real Life Diagnostics: Would You Continue Reading This Opening?
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 June 15.
This week’s questions:
I have no clue at this point if it would make a reader want to continue, if it has too much backstory, and if Nettie comes across as someone a reader might want to know more about.
Market/Genre: Crime Novel
On to the diagnosis…
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
May 31, 2019
3 Unexpected Principles for Optimal Creativity
By Jennifer Blanchard Part of The Writer’s Life Series
JH: Staying creative over the long haul is something every writer needs to figure out how to maintain. Jennifer Blanchard returns to the lecture hall today with tips on reaching your optimal creativity.
Jennifer Blanchard is a best-selling author, a screenwriter, a Developmental Book Editor and the Writing Industry's Mindset Coach. It's her mission in life to change the way people think and challenge what they believe is possible. Her screenplay, "The Rules," placed as a Semi-Finalist in the Stage32 Rom-Com Script Contest in 2019. Grab her FREE Story Secrets audio series here.
Website | Goodreads | Facebook |
Take it away Jennifer...
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
May 30, 2019
Short Stories as Mini-Trilogies: Can it Work?
By Sarah Dahl, @sarahdahl13Part of the Focus on Short Fiction Series
JH: Just because they're short, doesn't mean they can't tell a long story. Today in our series “Focus on Short Fiction” Sarah Dahl returns to talk about writing trilogies - in the short form.
Technically, short stories have less time and space for everything: fewer characters, less world building, simpler arcs and subplots. Most times, there are no subplots, of course, and world building has to be spot-on: You need to create a sense of the people and place with just a few strokes of your pen. The drama is usually focused on one plotline and has one climax, very late in the story. Mastering this craft is mastering setup, timing and arcs, characters and resolution within as little space as possible. Writing short means writing without all the fluff and concluding absolutely on point.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
