Very good, thanks! Sent from my iPhone
> On Jan 9, 2014, at 17:16, [email protected] wrote: > > > "Write it Sideways" site > > > Freely adapted from : > 101 Best Fiction Writing Tips > > by Suzannah Windsor Freeman > > > > > > 1. The premise of a novel has to get readers’ attention before they read a > word of the book. -What is it all about ? This needs to be clear on page #1 > or no later > than a few pages into the text and "clear" means exactly that, no confusion > possible > on the part of the reader, everything understandable > > 2. Something should happen immediately in your story that tells us what the > story is about. > > 3. Your protagonist can’t be easily satisfied. He needs to want something > badly > > 4. In the opening scene, give your protagonist strong emotions with which we > can identify. > > 5. The protagonist should fail many times before succeeding. > > 6. Know everything about your characters’ backstories, but write about only > 10% of it > > 7. Your characters’ names matter. Avoid names that have similar beginnings or > endings -choose names with the greatest possible care, ask what most readers > will think when reading about Ivan or Sally or Beulah or Alphonse. > > 8. Subplots are what put the meat on the bones of novel-length fiction > > 9. Every sentence of your story must reveal character or advance action. > > 10. Description assumes a point-of-view. Be clear about what that is. Then > find > a place to take a stand. > > 11. Get your facts right first, don't make stuff up when there are facts > which people can check. You can modify facts only insofar as the > modifications are > scientifically plausible. > > 12. As a chapter ends, where resolution would normally occur, a major new > complication is introduced, compelling the reader to read on. > > 13. Arrive late in a scene and leave early. No need to belabor setups or > conclusions in every scene. > > 14. Think every scene through, make sure you have actually dealt with all > major implications. > > 15. In action scenes, vary sentence length and structure to increase or > decrease speed and excitement. -in writing generally, mix it up. Short > paragraphs of only one sentence, then a long paragraph, then a paragraph of > three short sentences, etc > > 16. Sometimes the scenes you don’t want to write (because they make you > uncomfortable) are the scenes you most need to write > > 17. Description works best when it’s not ornamental or seen from the eye of > God, but when it comes from a character viewpoint. > > 18. Use simple words instead of deliberately choosing big words -actually > big words can be perfectly OK, but use long words sparingly and Very > Carefully > > 19. To pick up a dragging plot, try changing a scene setting to a more > interesting location. -or introduce new characters with new points of view > who want to solve > an established problem > > 20. Be careful of ‘bunny trails’—tangents that don’t enhance the story or > lead anywhere. > > 21. Your main characters should develop dramatically in their identities, > relationships, thoughts and feelings. > > 22. Instead of describing every character in detail, give each a > characteristic unique to him or her. > > 23. Christian fiction maintains certain standards, but not everything can or > should be sanitized. > > 24. Basically, while there may be rare exceptions, never use flashbacks > > 25. Ask yourself what might make a hyper-critical agent put down [reject] > your manuscript. > > -- > -- > Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community > <[email protected]> > Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism > Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org > > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. -- -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
