Don’t write just for today’s readers.
At a recent garage sale, I bought a much-needed tube of sunscreen—and also a snowblower.
I used one immediately. I’ll need the other next winter—on a day with no need for sunscreen.
That kind of thinking also applies to publishing.
If you’re writing for a newspaper, you’re safe to cite examples from the events of this week. … Continue reading
Three drafts are likely not enough.
How many drafts does it take to perfect a novel? According to one veteran writer, at least four.
In his Facebook post this past weekend, Ace Andrew Collins mentioned he has “signed contracts with publishers for 96 releases: 42 nonfiction, 28 novels, and 26 youth books.” So it’s fair to say he knows something about writing success.
A few … Continue reading
For coaching on what to cut, watch a film’s special edition.
After I watched a special edition DVD Romancing the Stone, I made a point to see the bonus features. As I watched, I realized they offer insights for a novelist.
Great novels aren’t written, the saying goes. They’re rewritten.
This includes reviewing each scene’s purposes ― confirming it accomplishes such tasks as advancing the … Continue reading