I’m a 19-year-old just beginning my first novel. I’ve made several attempts at writing a book before, but they tended to only last for one session before I lost interest, so I’ve never written a story of more than about one thousand words. So my question: I know where I… Read more“Keeping your novel on track over the long haul: <br>for young writers”
Category: Advice Column
Keeping your novel on track over the long haul:
Designing or not designing your books
for publishing trends
Dear A. Victoria Mixon, Editor: Quick question (this one’s been plaguing me for years!)— How much consideration do we writers put toward the length of each work? I’m currently refreshing my intensive outline (for a young adult serious fantasy saga). The more I work on this, the more I realize… Read more“Designing or not designing your books <br>for publishing trends”
Writing fiction: an editor’s manifesto
Dear Editor: You keep telling us the publishing industry’s in massive transition. But the simple truth is I want to be a writer. What are my prospects?—E.P.G. Yes, the publishing industry is definitely in massive transition. All kinds of stuff is going on, including publishers throwing out the baby with… Read more“Writing fiction: an editor’s manifesto”
Tackling your genre market & audience
Dearest Editor, On agency web sites, I often read that a writer should know the market for his genre – know what is getting published – what is selling. However, I’ve also read agent interviews where the agent advises that it takes up to two years to get a manuscript… Read more“Tackling your genre market & audience”
Having the chops to be a writer
Dear Editor, I am ready to begin my second book after spending over two years on my first novel. New characters that have been swimming around in my head for months, scenes I know exactly how to write, a climax that is spectacular – they are all there, and yet… Read more“Having the chops to be a writer”
Starting a chapter with dialog
Is it true that a writer should not begin a chapter with dialogue?—Talkative in Toledo You know, this is another of those rules that get trotted out periodically to (supposedly) offer aspiring writers a short-cut to stardom. “Never use adverbs!” “Never use dialog tags other than ‘said’!” “Never use passive… Read more“Starting a chapter with dialog”
Setting an unfamiliar scene
My novel is historical fiction. Its setting is almost unrecognizable nowadays. From the animals that once lived there to what the people wore, it almost seems like a fantasy. I feel like I have to over compensate with details to explain that it was once real. How do I establish… Read more“Setting an unfamiliar scene”
Honestly or sensationally addressing YA taboos
Dear Editor, Physical violence, sexuality and adult scenarios such as drinking and drugs seem to be filtering down into the younger genres. Must YA writers ride this wave to be successful?—K Dear K, NO. You do not need to push the limits of taboo to write good fiction, for YA… Read more“Honestly or sensationally addressing YA taboos”
Promoting fiction
Dear Editor, So, when should I begin building my promotional platform?—Kathryn For fiction? Screw platform. Focus on your story. Donald Maass and Lisa Rector talked about this in our interview, pilule and what they said makes a lot of sense: the platform thing is a bit blown out of proportion… Read more“Promoting fiction”
Re-discovering the punch
I have worked and reworked my short story from flash fic into a 20,000 word novella and back to a 5000 word story. Now I feel it has lost the punch it had when I first wrote it, but I can’t seem to identify what it was that made it… Read more“Re-discovering the punch”