Janice Hardy's Blog, page 96

5 Tips for Writing Group Success

By Laurence MacNaughton, @LMacNaughton  

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

Thinking about joining a writing group, or starting your own? A supportive and insightful group can help you become a better writer and put you on the path to getting published. But a disorganized group can squelch your enthusiasm to write and leave you feeling confused. To stop the writing group headaches before they began, follow these crucial tips.

1. Choose (or start) a group that specializes in your genre.
One of the biggest mistakes most writing groups make is embracing every form of writing you can think of: essays, screenplays, nonfiction, poetry, romance novels, you name it.
Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com

The WRITE-PUBLISH-PROFIT SUPER STACK Bundle is Back (But only for a few days)

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

A while back, I came across a great compilation of resources for writers and self-publishers. It included over $3,000 worth of premium resources, from ebooks and courses, to huge discounts on writer services, and more, all for under $50.

The deal only lasted 7 days and then it was gone, but due to overwhelming demand, the deal is back and its live right now! Even better, this time, I've added one of my own books, and you can get Fixing Your Character and Point of View Problems as part of this bundle.

Click here to check it out!

Besides my book, you'll also find premium resources and tools from 35 + highly successful writers, publishers and thought leaders.

Here’s a quick list of just some of the info that’s included:

Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com

The Indie Publisher’s Toolbox – Part 1

By Ray Flynt

(Part of the Indie Author Series)

Due to a bit of a scheduling mishap last week, here's an extra Indie Author article on the tools you'll need to be successful to get your week started. Though this advice is good for any author no matter which publishing path they take.
Previously we examined the topic of “writer as entrepreneur.” Although this is called the Indie Author Series it’s really about being an Indie Publisher. You’ll find lots of tools and helpful hints here at Fiction University about being a better writer from how to make your stories more compelling to techniques for proofreading. You’ve written a great book. It’s time to make the world beat a path to your door.

If you were building (let’s think modestly) a dog house, you’d have a pretty good idea of the tools you’d need to accomplish the job: plywood, nails and/or screws, a saw, a hammer, a square, and an appropriate cover for the roof. Throw in a blanket and set a water bowl out front and voila -a dog house.
Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com

Writing Prompt: The Chain Story: A Lousy Invention?

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

This week’s prompt is a chain story! 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.

Whoever invented chocolate-covered coffee beans was either a genius or a madman.
Let the fun begin.

Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com

Real Life Diagnostics: Is This Narration Confusing?

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: One

Please Note: As of today, RLD slots are booked through September 15.

This week’s questions:

Can I jump around in time (and some POV) in a short story? 

The narration has both present and past tense. Does this confuse the reader? 

Does the title work as a play on the day and the outcome to the story? 

Am I asking the reader to intuit and deduce too much. For example, the man wants to kill himself on a Sunday because that is the day his wife died? The wife helped the man make decisions, and he recalls her words because of the sunshine, and that forces him to make a decision. Too much?

Market/Genre: Short Story

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

Five Crucial Tips for Convincing Action Scenes

By Harrison Demchick, @HDemchick

Part of the How They Do It Series

JH: Action scenes can be tough to write, since they're often a lot of description to describe a single act. Harrison Demchick visits the lecture hall today to share some tips on writing a convincing action scene. He's also offering a free compelling action checklist on his website, so be sure to check that out.

Take it away Harrison...

You’ve finally worked your way to the climax of your novel, and you’re thinking big. Lasers. Explosions. An avalanche in the middle of a hurricane. Basically the end result of a Marvel-sized movie budget flowing from the tips of your fast-typing fingers.

That’s great—but let’s slow down a little. Great action in fiction doesn’t come from size and scope alone. Effective action is crafted with care. As a book editor, I’ve worked on scenes as massive as a dozen or more superhuman teenagers battling it out with a litany of impossible powers, and scenes as small and well-considered as a heated argument in a confined space—and I’ve also seen all of these scenes fumble and fail for one reason or another.
Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com

Do You Know Who You Are? Building and Sharing Your Author Brand

By Kris Bock, @Kris_Bock

Part of the Indie Author Series

Walk through a grocery store. Chances are you can spot your favorite products from the colors
and style of the packaging. Drive down the highway. Does your stomach rumble when you see a familiar chain restaurant sign?

That’s successful branding.

Branding authors seems like more of a challenge, but the basic principle is the same. You want readers to have an instant reaction to your name and cover style. Authors can also take advantage of genre branding by matching the kinds of titles and covers a genre typically uses. For example, a muscular, bare-chested guy with a gun says “romantic suspense,” while a woman in a old-fashioned gown with a big skirt says “historical romance.”
Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com

Practical Advice for Beginning Fiction Writers

By George A Bernstein, @GeorgeBernstein

Part of the How They Do It Series

JH: As enjoyable as writing is, it can be tough for new writers to find their way. Please help me welcome George A. Bernstein to the lecture hall today, to share some practical advice on writing.

George A Bernstein is the retired President of a modest, publically held appliance manufacturer, now living in south Florida. He spent years attending writing seminars and conferences, learning to polish his work and developing a strong “voice.” He works with professional editors to ensure his novels meets his own rigorous standards, and all of his books are currently published by small indie press, GnD Publishing LLC, in which he has an interest.

White Death is the fourth of his Detective Al Warner Suspense series, with the others; Death’s Angel , Born to Die , and The Prom Dress Killer , all garnering rave reviews. Bernstein has become known for crafting endings no one expects. His fifth Warner novel is already in the works, to be published in 2019. Readers have likened Bernstein’s Detective Al Warner to Patterson’s Alex Cross.

Bernstein is also a “World-class” fly-fisherman, setting a baker’s dozen IGFA World Records, mostly on fly-rods, and he has published Toothy Critters Love Flies, the complete book on fly-fishing for pike & musky.

Website | Blog | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter |

Take it away George...
Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com

5 Common Problems With Middles

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

The irony of working on Labor Day urged me to dig into the archives today, so before you head out to BBQ and visit friends and family, enjoy this look at common problems with a novel's middle.  
The only thing tougher than a middle is an ending. Except for the maybe beginning.

For a long, long time in my early writing days, middles were the bane of my existence. I could start a story no problem, but once I got past the beginning, I narratively drove into the deep weeds. I don’t think there was a problem I didn’t run smack into when it came to middles--which is why I spent so much time figuring out how to make them work.


What makes middles so tough is that middles are where most of the plot happens. The protagonist tries and fails to resolve the story problem, the antagonist makes things harder and harder, the character arc unfolds, and all this stuff has to support whatever the beginning set up.
Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com

Writing Prompt: The Skill Builder: Two Sides to Description

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

This week’s prompt focuses on an exercise designed to work on a particular skill or technique, such as a POV exercise or character builder. Today’s skill: Description, with special emphasis on tone and mood.

Describe a storm from two perspectives—someone who loves it, and someone who fears it.
Write two paragraphs (under 150 words or so each) describing a storm. In the first, show it from the point of view of someone who enjoys storms and rain and gets pleasure or delight out of it, and reflect that mood in the words used. For the second paragraph, change the tone and mood to someone who’s afraid of the storm.

What else is going on in the snippet is up to you. It could be a couples’ first kiss in the rain or a child left alone at night. Use your imagination. 

If you need some refreshers on tone and mood, try these articles:
How to Set Tone and Mood in Your Scenes How the Wrong Tone Can Change Your Whole Novel Get Your Head in the Game: How Character Moods Affect the SceneLeave a Message at the Tone: Setting the Right Tone for Your StoryPlaying With Personification Atmospheric Pressure: Employing The Four Seasons To Enhance Atmosphere Painting With Prose    Written by Janice Hardy. Fiction-University.com