Terry Shames's Blog: 7 Criminal Minds, page 62

Writing The Book You Love, by Josh Stallings

Q: What advice would you have for emerging writers about writing satisfying endings? Pitfalls? Things to avoid? Tips?

A: There are three vital sections in a novel that you have to get right - 

1) The first twenty pages, get those wrong and most readers will move on to another book. Cold but true. And not just readers, agents, editors, publishers, hell everyone but your family will drop it. Honestly even your family will put it down, but most of them care enough to lie to you.

“I love your new book,...

Limping to the Finish Line, by Catriona

Craft: What advice would you have for emerging authors about writing satisfying edndings? Tips? Traps? 

I'm going to add my voice in agreement with one of the points Gabriel made on Tuesday and then make a couple of my own.

Park your Pride

If there's a phrase I dislike more than "transcending the genre" - usually written by reviewers and so, so, so patronising: as if there's an amount of literary quality that makes a crime novel not a crime novel anymore! - then it's the phrase, usually said by wri...

And now that it's all over... by Cathy Ace

What advice would you have for emerging writersabout writing satisfying endings? Pitfalls? Things to avoid? Tips?

The first thing I want to say here is that the ending of anybook needs to be appropriate for the type of book in question; we, as authors,need to understand the expectations of readers.

For example, a thriller needs to have a thrilling ending…sono standing about with cups of tea or cocktails for an explanatory denouementbecause that’s NOT what the reader expects, nor wants. On...

A Sense for Endings by Gabriel Valjan

 

What advice would youhave for emerging writers about writing satisfying endings? Pitfalls? Things toavoid? Tips?

 

Because I’ve been asked to talk about Endings, to look atthe tail of the story and no other moving parts, such as character development,dialogue that otherwise contributes to a ‘satisfying read,’ I’ll attack somecommon complaints.

 

·     The ‘OPEN aka ‘CLIFFHANGER’ ending

 

It’s okay if it is meaningful and you’re writing a series,but what is left ...

And So It Goes

  

Q:  What advice would you have for emerging writers about writing satisfying endings? Pitfalls? Things to avoid? Tips?

 

-from Susan

 

Back up a bit: What qualifies as a satisfying ending? I think readers have different ideas and preferences that lead them to choose one sub-genre over another. 

 

The killer dies in a final fire fight.

The killer kills himself.

The killer is captured by the law and will be punished.

The hero kills the killer personally, without benefit of trial.

The killer is removed from...

Thank You

 

By Abir

 

Who has been or is your mentor in the writing community? How have they guided or helped your writing career?

 

Friday again, eh. We’ve almost made it to the end of another working week. 

 

This week’s topic is a good one, because none of us make it in this industry without the wisdom and generous help of others. Of course, there are always certain people who stand out, without whose guidance we would be nowhere, so let’s start with them.

 

I wouldn’t be a writer today if it hadn’t been for my...

Kim Hays — Sons and Brothers

 Mentors

Guest post from Kim Hays

I’ve never met Kim Hays in person, but we’ve been corresponding via e-mail for a couple of years now. She’s the author of the Linder and Donatelli mysteries (Polizei Bern series). I am a huge fan of her first book, Pesticide , and I’ve been singing its praises to whoever will listen ever since I read the ARC two years ago. I’ve been encouraging people to read it and to consider it for all the best 2022 debut awards. Pesticide is entertaining and informative. The hu...

A guest post by AJ Devlin

I invited fellow Vancouver writer, AJ Devlin to tackle this week’s question. AJ has worked as a screenwriter in Hollywood, and he’s the author of the two-fisted Hammerhead Jed mystery-comedy series. If you haven’t checked out the series, then you’re in for a treat. 

Who has been or is your mentor in the writing community? How have they guided or helped your writing career?

What a thrill to be asked by Dietrich Kalteis – one of Canada’s finest authors and winner of the Crime Writers of Canada Awa...

Who Can I Turn To?

Terry here. This week we are talking our mentorsin the writing community? 
Although I’d heard of people being mentors and mentees (is that a word?), I had only a vague idea of what a mentor actually is. Here’s the official definition: provides guidance, advice, feedback and support to the mentee. As well as serving as their role model, teacher, counselor, advisor, sponsor, advocate and ally. 
So my question: does the mentor have to be someone who provides all this good stuff repeatedly, or will o...

Mentors on my Writing Path Journey

Who has been or is your mentor in the writing community? How have they guided or helped your writing career?

Brenda starting off the week.

I've had a couple of people whom I consider mentors, although there are also many others who've given advice and helped me along the way. 

Sylvia McConnell was my first publisher and she took such an interest in my work and me as a person. In those early days, she patiently walked me through the publishing and editing process along with Alister Thompson, her tru...