can't help telling stories
When freelance editor Lisa Roettger offered tips to writers recently, she said a developmental edit might point out problems with pacing. Here are some ideas from fantasy writer Victoria Grefer about how to fix pacing problems.
In Fiction: How Much “Down Time” is Too Much? | Creative Writing with the Crimson League
http://crimsonleague.com/2015/02/17/in-fiction-how-much-down-time-is-too-much/
With the discovery of a lost Harper Lee manuscript, writers are talking about what to do with a first manuscript. At Writing the Novel, an author panel organized by WNIJ public radio at Northern Illinois University, the topic came up. (Another session is scheduled Feb. 18; check here for details.) While the stories of the three panelists varied, none said his or her first novel fell from their fingertips to publication without some bumps — and some work — in the road. Anne R. Allen offers some advice about what to do with first novels in this blog post.
Anne R. Allen’s Blog: Should You “Send Out” that First Novel? 9 Things to Consider First
http://annerallen.blogspot.com/2015/02/should-you-send-out-that-first-novel-9.html?m=1
Some contests are just for fun … and bragging rights. This is one of them.
WORD of ART2 is our second collaboration of authors and artists. This is how it works: Authors submit stories (see rules below), we post those submissions online and invite artists to select a story that inspires them. The artists then create a canvas to accompany the words. A hard cover, full-color book with both word and art is published. Then we host a gallery reception and book release party to showcase the displayed art with a program featuring readings and books for sale in September.
Author Guidelines:
Word submissions open Saturday, February 14, 2015.
Work can be any genre– fiction, non-fiction, poetry, etc.
Subject matter is at your discretion, but please, nothing of a graphic nature.
Stories must be original and previously unpublished.
Stories must NOT exceed a 200 word count, poetry limit is 16 lines.
Submissions exceeding the word or line count will not be posted.
All submissions must have a title. This will also be…
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What makes a poet? Here’s an interview with the U.S. poet laureate that offers some insights.
U.S. Poet Laureate Philip Levine on Writing, Ethics, Being Jewish, and More – Tablet Magazine
http://tabletmag.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/books/96700/philip-levine
Zoë Sharp is as another generous British author who was a featured presenter at Love Is Murder in Chicago last weekend. Not only did she take part in panels, she conducted a master class and, at tea time Saturday, she demonstrated self-defense techniques (with the help of Robert Goldsborough, who recovered with a seated massage in the exhibit hall shortly after).
In the master class, one tip she offered was to give careful thought to where to start your story. Sure, that’s not new advice. But in the context of her presentation, I completely rethought the beginning of a book I’ve been working on for the last couple years. That was one of the moments that made the whole conference worth the price of admission.
If you’re unfamiliar with Zoë’s work, even if you aren’t a fan of suspenseful stories, take a look at her Charlie Fox series. If you do nothing more than make a study of her first lines, she’ll inspire you. Check out her website, At the Sharp End … .
sharon p. lynn 