Selden and McClain's Manuscript Conjuring and Adjusting

05/12/2013

Submit your book!

http://www.writersmarket.com/MarketListings/ContestsAwards/84922,hoffer-award-books-the-eric?et_mid=651079&rid=239360188

Where writers learn how to get published, market, and sell their writing. Subscribe to WritersMarket.com today.

05/12/2013

Submit your unpublished short story!

http://www.writersmarket.com/MarketListings/ContestsAwards/132766,crazyhorse-fiction-prize?et_mid=651079&rid=239360188

Where writers learn how to get published, market, and sell their writing. Subscribe to WritersMarket.com today.

10/10/2013

09/09/2013

Short story writers! Don't forget that you need to be reading the best of what's out there. "Finis" for example, is a great example of compelling character drama, coupled with an (all too rare) apocalyptic storyline.

The Oxford books of SF, Fantasy, and of Ghost Stories, were invaluable in helping me better understand good storytelling, and gave me a century's worth of exploration of what ifs.

Class is in session.

This is the definitive collection of the twentieth-century's most characteristic genre--science fiction. The tales are organized chronologically to give readers a sense of how the genre's range, vitality, and literary quality have evolved over time. Each tale offers a unique vision, an altered re...

07/09/2013

Forgot to post earlier, three writing contests coming up, with October 31 deadlines, via WritersMarket.com :

The Patricia Bibby First Book Award is offered annually for the best previously unpublished first book of poetry. The winner receives $1,000 and book publication. Entries must be postmarked by October 31.

DIAGRAM Essay Contest is an annual for previously unpublished essays up to 10,000 words in length. The winner receives $1,000 and publication. Deadline: October 31.

PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction is offered annually for the best previously previously published book of fiction. The winner receives $15,000 and four finalists receive $5,000 each. Deadline: October 31.

06/09/2013

The point--or points--of view, and the tense you write your story in, dramatically (ahem) change the feel of the story. First person present is the most immediate, third person past gives the most distance. Make your choices with a reason for doing so.

08/08/2013

I think this just about covers it!

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Tag following quoted dialog:
"That's fine. Whatever you decide," he said.
"That's fine. What does she think?" he said.

Tag preceding quoted dialog:
He said, "That's fine. Whatever you decide."
He said, "That's fine. What does she think?"

Tag between two separate dialog sentences:
"That's fine," he said. "Whatever you decide."
"That's fine," he said. "What does she think?"
- or -
"That's fine." He said, "Whatever you decide."
"That's fine." He said, "What does she think?"

Tag interrupting a dialog sentence:
"That," he said, "is fine. Whatever you decide."
"That, "he said, "is fine. What does she think?"

Dialog without a tag, but with an associated narrative sentence

Narrative sentence following quoted dialog:
"That's fine. Whatever you decide." He shrugged.
"That's fine. What does she think?" He shrugged.

Narrative sentence preceding quoted dialog:
He shrugged. "That's fine. Whatever you decide."
He shrugged. "That's fine. What does she think?"

Narrative sentence between two separate dialog sentences:
"That's fine." He shrugged. "Whatever you decide."
"That's fine." He shrugged. "What does she think?"


Dialog ending with an exclamation point, ellipsis, or emdash follows the same pattern as the question mark.

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=133858

Dialog Punctuation and Capitalization Grammar and Syntax

03/08/2013

Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.
-Anton Chekhov

Show, don't tell.

Remember now, this is not an either/or; this is a both.

19/07/2013

Brilliant and funny vision/expansion of the classic story arc--complete with unreliable narrator.

Readers go for a ride.

08/07/2013

"All I could think about was the man's dead eyes, staring at me. They spoke to me. What was worse— I knew what they were saying. It was almost as though a kind of fear had stepped out of the shadows and was showing himself to me." -Sonya Ray (Sweet Tea)

I often explain that the first step toward better writing is made by getting rid of bad writing. As an editor, getting rid of bad writing is my main job. But then the writer has to get back to it, and write better.

It's a pleasure to read a new draft and see not only the changes and suggestions implemented, but to come across new material that really shines. So far, I've been very happily surprised with each manuscript that's come back to me for final checks. Today is no exception.

The Three Crowns series; a seven-novel Paranormal Romance series
Sweet Tea
North
Broken Boundaries