Beginnings: From The Experts
You’ve heard my thoughts on writing a good beginning, but don’t just listen to me. Here are a couple of other resources for your review: Beginnings, Middles, and Ends by Nancy Kress A trusted name in fiction writing, Kress’s book is a staple when it comes to learning the basics. [...]
Practice the Pitch
Since we're talking about beginnings, this seemed appropriate. Author Kaye Dacus recently talked about the elevator pitch over on her blog. Do you know what you would say to an agent if you had 30 seconds alone in an elevator? If not, figure it out! http://kayedacus.com/2012/05/15/writer-talk-tuesday-lets-practice-our-elevator-pitches/
Beginnings: Get My Attention
“Once you get past the first four chapters, the book really picks up.” Has anyone ever told you that? I’ve heard that more than once, and I’ve even fallen for it a couple of times. I end up forcing myself to read a few pages before I realize I’m boring [...]
“Strong Language” in Fiction and Film
Every writer must decide what kind of words are appropriate for his writing. This rule applies particularly to those words euphemistically described as "strong language": common "cusswords" and the language of the gutter. As a former Infantry soldier and (worse yet) a graduate student, I guess I've heard them all. [...]
The Beginning: The Basics
Aside from the obvious, what is “the beginning”? What does it do? What purpose does it serve? I like to think of the beginning as the introduction. It’s where you introduce your setting, characters, and character goals/conflicts while capturing the reader’s attention and avoiding boring backstory. There’s no [...]