I have a question about #5 [on 5 Pickles to Write Yourself Into]. Is a garbled resolution the same as an ambiguous resolution—one where there’s no ‘happily-ever-after’ ending? Meaning an ending where there’s no clear winner or loser, perhaps reflecting the shades of gray found in real life? I feel… Read more“Ungarbling your resolution”
Category: Storytelling
Setting your novel someplace other than the US
Hi Victoria, I’ve been following your website for a while and now have a question that I hope you can assist with. I am a writer who lives in Australia. I’ve been told countless times that setting a novel in Australia (or most places outside the US) can mean the… Read more“Setting your novel someplace other than the US”
Keeping your novel on track over the long haul:
for young writers
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”
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”
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”
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”
Writing series fiction
Any suggestions for writing a book series? Do’s and Don’ts, etc.—Lyn South Here we’re probably talking about genre, because it’s all but impossible to create a series without categorizing it in a genre so booksellers can point readers in the right direction when they come in looking for book two… Read more“Writing series fiction”
Selling mechanical or artistic literature in today’s market
To some, writing is a skill. To others, it’s intuitive. I’ve been reading of late a small controversy brewing over the mechanical writer vs. the artistic. I believe that there is a place in this world for both, but my question is which technique does better in the general fiction… Read more“Selling mechanical or artistic literature in today’s market”
Trimming for your genre
Dear Editor, When I completed my novel, it contained 91,000 words! After careful editing, it is down to 62,000 words—still lengthy for my genre—upper middle grade. I feel like I have trimmed the story as far as I can, but it’s my first novel and I’m worried that its length… Read more“Trimming for your genre”