Janice Hardy's Blog, page 73
June 12, 2019
Has Fiction University Helped Your Writing? Share Your Stories!
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_HardyI'm hard at work on a new project I'm excited about (which I'll share in a few months when it's ready). To assist with this, I'd deeply appreciate hearing how the site, or even me personally if we've interacted at a conference or online, has helped you with your writing.
Aside from helping me fine-tune the new project to best serve writers, it would also be nice to have some testimonials and success stories for the whole marketing and promotional side of things (and yes, for those wondering, it is hard to ask this, but that's the biz).
Long or short, any size is fine, and a mix of lengths is actually perfect. You can leave a comment or email me if you prefer.
If there's a particular way you'd like to be identified if I use your quote or story, please use that in your comment, such as:
"Nice quote about Fiction University!" --Bob W.
"Wonderful story about Fiction University!" --Jane Smith
"Super nice quote about Fiction University!" --Sally West, author of Why Did it Have to be Zombies?
Than you so much, everyone. You guys are the best.Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
June 11, 2019
How to Use Foreign Languages in Fiction
By Laurence MacNaughton, @LMacNaughton Part of the How They Do It Series
JH: Using a foreign language in a novel can be tricky, but it can also add a sense of the larger, diverse world. This month, Laurence MacNaughton tackles options for using foreign languages in your story.
When a character in your story speaks a foreign language, should you write it out in that language, or in English? How can you make the dialogue sound exotic without confusing the reader?
These are tricky questions. Foreign languages can lend your characters and locations a more exotic flair, and even increase the dramatic tension in a scene. But before you start sprinkling a certain je ne sais quoi into your prose, understand that you have several options.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
June 10, 2019
Writing the Ending: Tying Up All the Loose Ends
By Janice Hardy, @Janice_HardyBefore we dive in today, just a heads up that I’m over at Anne R. Allen’s blog sharing thoughts on The Lure of the Writing Template: Why Filling in the Blanks Doesn’t Work. Come on over and say hello.
The ending of a novel is seldom just one moment. It takes a bit of juggling to get all the storylines tied up without stealing attention from the climax.
Even when we know our novel’s ending, there are usually multiple storylines in that story that also need to be wrapped up. Major subplots, secondary character arcs, small side plots that need resolving or readers will wonder about them. Everything needs to come together at the end in ways that support the story—not send it in six different directions.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
June 9, 2019
Sunday Writing Tip: Are You Using Enough Sensory Details in Your Descriptions?
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, check how many senses you're using when you describe things in a scene.
It's easy to remember sight and sound, since characters look at and listen to the world around them. But what about smell? Touch? Taste? You can flesh out a setting by adding sensory details. While not every description will need to use all five senses, catching a whiff of a scent instead of seeing what's causing the smell can be more powerful. Smell also triggers memories, so it's a great tool for when a character needs to remember something.
Check out your scenes, especially any setting descriptions. Try to use each of the five senses at least once in your descriptions.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com
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
