Show your reader what your protagonist sees.
Last night, when I resumed reading the detective story, I didn’t expect a lesson in the craft of fiction. But two-thirds through her tale, Australian novelist Kerry Greenwood offered a great example for writers who want to evoke emotion.
In chapter 9 of Flying Too High, set in 1928 Melbourne, private detective Phryne Fisher visits the … Continue reading
Don’t expect perfection on the first pass.
Two weeks ago, I completed my first editorial pass through a 103,000-word novel. Working part time, the task took nearly a month. By the end, I’d cut some 7,750 words.
I took care of the POV and made sure each new chapter immediately identified the main character, setting, and time. I fixed telling dialogue attributions and made sure … Continue reading
If it doesn’t work, all your effort is wasted.
As I prepared to teach on nonfiction books at a writers conference, I had three opportunities to test what I planned to present.
In the previous few days, I’d critiqued two nonfiction samples and one nonfiction book proposal. All three authors missed the point of what a first chapter should accomplish.