This week, I’m diving deeper into why some story beginnings may not work well for your book. Please click here to check out my article on the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers blog: “Top 10 Ways Not to Start a Story, Part 2.” As always, I’ll see you back here on my own site in a […]
Warning: Book Readers Have Commitment Issues
When it comes to reading books, do you have commitment issues? And by this, I don’t mean fear of committing to a book. I mean the opposite: fear of abandoning a book, even if you don’t like it. I’ll confess, I’ve struggled with book commitment issues. I have slogged through countless books that I didn’t […]
10 Ways Not to Start a Story – RMFW blog this week
Opening pages are the gateway into your story. If those opening pages don’t grab your reader (or agent or editor), they’ll slam that gate shut and move on to the next book. You won’t get a second chance to hook them again. But openings are hard, usually because we draft them before we truly understand […]
Hope, Caught in a Handful of Essays
If you’re worried about the next generation, I have good news. They’re going to make us proud. Back in April, I had the privilege of being a judge for a Colorado high school’s essay contest. I only got to read 6 of the 57 entries, but even so, I am encouraged. The kids are alright. […]
An Unexpected Benefit of Critique Groups – On the RMFW Blog
When you think of critique groups, you probably assume (hope) that they’ll give you some constructive feedback to improve a scene, chapter, or story. But did you know that’s only half of the benefit you can gain from a critique group? And it’s probably not even the most important half. I’m blogging about this over […]
10 Ways Writers Celebrate Spring
In the spring a writer’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love. And murder. And family drama. And history. And alien worlds. And vampires with a three-legged dog, an unfulfilling career, relationship woes, and daddy issues. Here are ten ways writers celebrate spring. It may not do as much for their house’s curbside appeal as, […]
