Janice Hardy's Blog, page 75

Sunday Writing Tip: Make Sure Your Characters Have Their Own Voices

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 the voices of your main characters and make sure they all have unique voices
If you can hand lines of dialogue to another character and they read just fine no matter who says them, the characters might not be individuals yet—or their dialogue isn’t reflecting that individuality. While not every single line has to sound different, each character ought to have traits unique to them and voice that shows who they are.

Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com

Real Life Diagnostics: Would You Keep Reading This Space Opera 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 8.

This week’s questions:

1. Is there enough tension? I tried to keep it subtle, and use subtext, but maybe it’s too subtle?

2. Is there too much explanation? Not enough? These two were major characters in Book 1, but if people go a long time in between reading the books do they need more reminders?

3. Do you sense Tynan has a strong motivation, even if it isn't stated?

4. Is there a hook?

5. Would you keep reading?

Market/Genre: Space Opera/Galactic Empire

On to the diagnosis…

Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com

5 Tips for Writing with Small Children

By Bethany Henry

Part of The Writer’s Life Series

JH: Finding time to write can be difficult for any writer, but it’s even more challenging when you have other people needing your attention. Bethany Henry takes the podium today to share tips on writing with small children.

Bethany Henry firmly believes in eating ice cream throughout all four of New England’s seasons and that daily naps should be mandatory. She’s been writing and studying storycraft for years, generally gravitating toward YA fantasy, and runs a writing and lifestyle blog at bethany-henry.com.

When not writing, Bethany can be found dancing in her kitchen, playing ultimate frisbee, or chasing after her two little girls.

Bethany’s current novel in progress, Tiger and Jade, is inspired by her time working in Macau and traveling throughout Asia. Sign up for her email list to hear more.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Pinterest

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

Journal to Boost Productivity

By Rochelle Melander, @WriteNowCoach

Part of The Writer’s Life Series

JH: There are many ways to jump start the creative process, and writing coach Rochelle Melander visits the lecture hall today to share one of them—journaling.

Rochelle Melander is a certified professional coach, experienced book strategist, and the author of eleven books, including, Level Up: Quests to Master Mindset, Overcome Procrastination and Increase Productivity . She provides solutions for people who feel stuck, overwhelmed or confused by the writing and publishing process. She is the founder of Dream Keepers, a writing workshop that supports children and teens in finding their voice and sharing their stories.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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

What Every Writer Should Know About Theme

By Laurence MacNaughton, @LMacNaughton  

Part of the How They Do It Series (Contributing Author)

JH: Theme is a useful tool to deepen a novel, but it's often misunderstood. Luckily, Laurence MacNaughton is back this month with a fantastic look at how easy it is to find your theme.  

Theme seems to be one of those angst-triggering bogeymen that writers constantly wrestle with. But when you examine it closely, there's really nothing complicated about it. Theme is simply the lesson the main character learns over the course of the story.

(Or, in the case of a tragic ending, the lesson they failed to learn.)

Every story, from the silliest comedy to the deepest work of literature, delivers a moral message on some level. It basically says “life is like this.”

Think about some of the most famous movie quotes of all time:
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com

Sunday Writing Tip: Fix Incorrect I versus Me Issues

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, search for I and me and fix any incorrect usages
There’s a bit of a misconception that it should always be “Bob and I…” when choosing between I and me, but that’s not true. There are plenty of instances when me is correct.

An easy test to determine if you need I or me: Reduce the sentence to just the I part. For example:

Bob and I went to the store = I went to the store. I is the correct usage, as Me went to the store is clearly wrong.

Meet Bob and I at the store = Meet I at the store. Me would be the correct usage here, with meet me at the store.Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com

Real Life Diagnostics: Does This Opening Scene Feel Too Abrupt?

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: Three

Please Note: As of today, RLD slots are booked through June 8.

This week’s question:

This is the opening scene of my novel. I've tired this scene several ways. One felt too leisurely, another felt overly descriptive. Do you think version is too abrupt for a domestic suspense?

Market/Genre: Domestic Suspense

On to the diagnosis…
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com

How to Write New Novels When You’re on a Deadline

By Jodi Meadows, @jodimeadows

Part of The Writer’s Life Series

JH: Juggling projects is hard enough before you're published, but it becomes even tougher after that dream comes true. Please welcome NYT Bestselling author Jodi Meadows to the lecture hall today, to share tips on writing new novels while handling the ones you've already written (or sold).

Jodi Meadows wants to be a ferret when she grows up and she has no self-control when it comes to yarn, ink, or outer space. Still, she manages to write books. She is the author of the INCARNATE Trilogy, the ORPHAN QUEEN Duology, and the FALLEN ISLES Trilogy (HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen), and a coauthor of the New York Times bestsellers MY LADY JANE and MY PLAIN JANE (HarperTeen). She lives in rural Virginia.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

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

What Writing Advice Has Most Resonated with You?

By Ray Flynt

Part of The Writer's Life Series

JH: There's a lot of writing advice out there--some good, some bad, and some that's just not for you. Ray Flynt returns to the lecture hall today to share the writing advice that has resonated the most with him. 
My website identifies me as: Author and Actor. My acting began in college and continued in community theatre as a volunteer. In more recent years, I developed a one-man play where I portray Ben Franklin. I’ve earned a little money for my theatre work, which makes me a professional. By now you’re thinking, Fiction University. Shouldn’t this blog post focus on writing? I’m getting there. Bear with me.

Recently I read a theatre blog that began with, “Every acting teacher thinks that their particular method is the best.” That’s understandable, because they know it so well. The same holds true when people recommend a computer operating system – PC versus Mac. In most instances, their recommendation correlates with the one they are most familiar with. I witnessed the same effect in a workshop at which web hosting platforms were discussed; although the presenter noted several options, she leaned toward advocating for the particular system she used. Another example: Ask people their preference on using Microsoft Word versus Word Perfect versus Scrivener.
Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com

How a Limited vs. a Tight Point of View Can Confuse Writers

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Limited point of view ranges between a close and a far narrative distance, but is often considered the tight point of view.

I had conversations with two separate (and confused) writers this week about point of view (POV) and narrative distance, particularly with what was acceptable in a limited point of view. But what they were really asking had more to do with narrative distance than point of view.

The Difference Between a Limited and a Tight Point of View
Although often used interchangeably in conversation, limited point of view and tight point of view are not the same thing. Limited point of view is telling the story through one character’s point of view per scene. This applies to novels with one point of view character as well as multiple point of view characters. The difference between limited and omniscient, is that omniscient is in everyone’s head all the time, while limited is one character per scene.

Continue ReadingWritten by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com