Janice Hardy's Blog, page 74

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

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

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

Short Stories as Mini-Trilogies: Can it Work?

By Sarah Dahl, @sarahdahl13

Part 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

5 Tips for When You’re Stuck in a Scene

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Getting stuck in a scene can bring your novel to a screeching halt, but there are ways to get unstuck and keep on writing.

It happens to every writer at some point—the writing is clicking along, then suddenly it’s not. You hit a wall, you no longer like what you originally planned, the muse is nowhere to be found and she took the bucket for your creative well with her.

It’s not writer’s block, it’s just a scene that refuses to get out of your head and onto the page in a way that resembles decent writing. Or so-so writing. Or even bad writing. Let’s face it—the scene is totally giving you the finger.

Over the years, I’ve spent plenty of days struggling with horrifically rude scenes that just did not want to work, even though I knew (or thought I knew) exactly how the scene was going to unfold. Here are five tricks that always help me get the scene moving again.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com

Raising Your Novel’s Visibility: Blog Posts & Leveraging Library Contacts

By Bonnie Randall 

Part of the How They Do It Series 

JH: No matter if you're indie or traditionally published, there are things you can do to help promote your novel. This month, Bonnie Randall shares some tips from her recent launch of her new novel, Within the Summit's Shadow.

My new release is available! Within the Summit’s Shadow went live a little less than a month ago (so what are you waiting for?! Spooky suspense. Sizzling sexual tension. A menacing spirit called The Dead Boy. If you abandon me to click on Amazon right now, I won’t be offended).

Since then, I’ve been raising awareness about my novel. Some strategies have had traction, others have had less. Today I’ll share what has been working.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com

Real Life Diagnostics: Would You Keep Reading This Middle Grade Mystery?

Critique By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

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 8.

This week’s question:

Is this opening working?

Market/Genre: Middle Grade Mystery

On to the diagnosis…

Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com

5 Ways to Hook Your Readers

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

This week's Refresher Friday takes an updated look at ways to hook your readers and keep them reading. Enjoy!

"You need a strong hook" is advice you hear a lot of in writing, and it's good advice. A strong hook pulls readers into the story and makes them want to read on.

A hook is something that captures reader attention and piques interest in the novel. It can also be the gotcha or twist that makes the novel compelling and fresh, intriguing readers even further. It’s the “ooooh” factor that probably got you excited about the idea in the first place. It might be a plot point, a character goal, or a conflict. It could even be the theme.

In harsh terms, the hook is why a reader (or agent) should care about your book and not pick up someone else’s. Readers choose a novel because one book will stand out and sound more appealing than another—one “hooks” more than the other.

Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com

The Guilty Pleasures of Procrastination

By Dario Ciriello

Part of The Writer’s Life Series

JH: Writers procrastinate—especially when the writing isn’t flowing. Although we don’t get a lot of word written n those days, the little breaks can be useful. Dario Ciriello is back this month with tips on making the most of your procrastination.

When it comes to procrastination, nobody beats a writer.

There’s a popular saying that nobody’s house is cleaner than that of a writer on a deadline. Cleaning is indeed one strategy, if you enjoy that sort of thing. But the ways to stave off actual writing are limited only by the writer’s imagination.

In truth, writers are enormously creative when it comes to finding displacement activities. The late, great Douglas Adams was known for taking endless baths as his agent fretted and tried to talk him into delivering a manuscript. “I love deadlines,” said Adams, “I love the whooshing sound they make as they go past.”

Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com

Pacing, Line by Line

By Chris Eboch

Part of the How They Do It Series

JH: Finding the right pace is key to writing a story that keeps readers hooked. Please help me welcome Chris Eboch back to the lecture hall today, to share tips on pacing.

Chris Eboch is the author of Advanced Plotting and You Can Write for Children: How to Write Great Stories, Articles, and Books for Kids and Teenagers . She has written over 60 published books for children. Her novels for ages nine and up include The Eyes of Pharaoh , a mystery in ancient Egypt, and The Well of Sacrifice , a Mayan adventure. Learn more at her webpage or her Amazon page, or check out her writing tips at her Write Like a Pro! blog.

Chris also writes for adults under the name Kris Bock. Kris Bock novels are action-packed romantic adventures set in Southwestern landscapes. The Mad Monk's Treasure , “Smart romance with an 'Indiana Jones' feel,” is rated 4.7 out of 5 stars with 50 reviews. The stories explore the Southwest, especially New Mexico. Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com or visit Kris’s Amazon page.

Take it away Chris…
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com