Tara Maya's Blog, page 51

WiP Wednesday and Call for Beta Readers for Wing

Wing, Book 5 of the Unfinished Song, is finished. I'll be announcing the release date next week.



The manuscript is with the editor and the alpha readers. It's about 90,000 words.



If anyone would like to be a Beta reader to proofread and help us hunt down typos, email me and let me know. Ideally, you'd receive a copy sometime be able to read it and get it back to me within a week.  I might not be able to take everyone who asks, but it's worth a try if you are interested. I already h...

How To Raise The Stakes In Your Novel

In an earlier post, I mentioned that to improve a scene or entire novel, one question to ask is, Can I raise the stakes?



Maybe the answer is Yes.



Great! How?



The principle is simple--anything activity that differentiates a living being from a rock raises the stakes.



Yes, yes, rocks don't have midlife crisis about whether their spouse is leaving them or whether their Art is Truly Great, but that's not what I'm talking about. High stakes have to touch a basic need of living things.



Put...

Is Harper Voyager's Deal Worth Taking?

I think we'll be seeing a lot more of this:

Harper Voyager has launched an international talent search, with aspiring writers invited to submit their un-agented manuscripts directly to the publisher.
The HarperCollins sci-fi and fantasy imprint will be opening a two week window in October where writers can submit their novels, with plans to publish selected titles digitally.

Writers are wondering if this is a good deal. Obviously before the digital revolution and the possibility of cutting...

Seven Questions To Ask To Improve a Scene (or an Entire Novel)

Or you could just add Taylor Kinney.



There are seven questions you can ask your about your book before you begin to write it, which will make it a stronger book. Those questions work best if you ask them before you actually sit down to write.



Now, if you're like me, and sitting in front of a computer with a finished or progressing manuscript, these questions might frustrate you--it's a little too late to change the stakes of your entire novel.



It's not too late to help strengthen the no...

Three Tips On How To Show Theme in Your Novel

I discuss my series The Unfinished Song, though I have tried to avoid details or reveals, I do discuss themes, characters and events in the books which might be spoilers. If you haven't read it yet, you can start the series here for free: The Unfinished Song: Initiate (kindle or kindle app). Or, if you want a different format, email me here: tara@taramayastales.com.









Every story which is true and beautiful and worthwhile coalesces around a solid core. It's like the compact iron ball at th...

9-11 Will Be Forgotten

It will be forgotten. One day. We all will be, as the universe grinds on to its slow heat death over trillions and trillions of unimaginable years.



It will be forgotten, as other human tragedies have been forgotten. And denied. And belittled. And shrugged away. Because we are human. Because we have to go on living. Because new generations are born who weren't there and don't know or don't care; or can bring themselves to care only if they stretch their empathy and their imagination and c...

What Are The Genres In Children's Literature? - Kid's Corner

 











Once a week, I'm going to do a Kid's Corner post, devoted to children's literature. Today's question is about how to define genre in Children's Literature. Some people would place Young Adult lit here too, but I think it makes more sense to discuss that with adult fiction, since the crossover in readership and material is profound. When I discuss Children's Lit, I'm talking about books for young children up to Middle Grade. 




Children's Lit encompasses the full range of...

What Are The Genre's In Children's Literature? - Kid's Corner

 











Once a week, I'm going to do a Kid's Corner post, devoted to children's literature. Today's question is about how to define genre in Children's Literature. Some people would place Young Adult lit here too, but I think it makes more sense to discuss that with adult fiction, since the crossover in readership and material is profound. When I discuss Children's Lit, I'm talking about books for young children up to Middle Grade. 




Children's Lit encompasses the full range of...

Finding the Best Word for the Job

FINDING THE BEST WORD FOR THE JOB




by Rayne Hall




Specific words make a story vivid because
they paint a clear picture for the reader.




“A woman with a
dog” creates only a vague picture. By replacing “woman” and “dog” with
specific  words you can bring your story
alive: 

“A lady with a
poodle”

“A tart with a
mongrel”

“A gothgirl
with a puppy”

“A redhead with
a Rottweiler”




 “The man looked like a
sports champion” is bland.  Show us what
kind of man and w...

Salute to Dragon Con

Dr. Who by Mark Satchwill


The Art of Dragon Con: "It's the last official weekend of summer. Its also the weekend that
Atlanta hosts the largest Sci-Fi and Fantasy convention in the world.
It's an annual event that draws thousands of people from all over the
world. At Dragon-Con you will find everything science fiction and
fantasy in gaming, art, film, music, comics and literature. This week's
Art of the Day pays tribute to Dragon-Con, the people who participate in
and attend the convention...