by mike | Feb 20, 2013 | Books, Editing, Publishing, Writing |
Okay, one more post on how writers engage their readers with a strong opening hook, and then I’ll get back to other important matters, such as bad horror movies. Actually, this is the only topic about writing to which I’ve devoted three posts, illustrating just how...
by mike | Feb 14, 2013 | Books, Editing, Publishing, Writing |
In Part One of this series I wrote about how important—how necessary—it is for writers to engage their readers immediately with an element of the story called the narrative hook. Both literary agents and, ultimately, readers want to get into your story quickly, or you...
by mike | Feb 10, 2013 | Books, Editing, Publishing, Writers' Conferences, Writing |
A novel is made up of quite a few elements, among them characterization, dialogue, point of view, setting, and so on. But in my mind, the most important element—without question—is the story’s opening, what we call the HOOK, or more specifically, the narrative hook....
by mike | Feb 4, 2013 | Books, Editing, Psychological Thrillers, Publishing, Research, Writers' Conferences, Writing |
August McLaughlin is “one of my writers”. More important, she is also a great friend. We met at a writers’ conference some years back—perhaps fortuitously, or even inevitably, as she had come to the conference on a quest to find a writing coach and mentor. Seems she...
by mike | Jan 10, 2013 | Adventure fantasy, Books, Publishing, Sword & Planet, Writing |
File this story under the heading, “Why I Do What I Do.” Prior to the holidays I received an email from a delightful lady named Celeste in Australia. Her note read, in part: Please give me a moment of your time, as I wish to create a special Christmas gift for a...
by mike | Jan 2, 2013 | Adventure fantasy, Books, Editing, Medical Thrillers, Publishing, Writing |
Happy New Year! Here is a fun and meaningful story for you writers out there. I first presented it a few years back in my writers’ newsletter, so there are some dated references, but also a number of updates. Enjoy! So, why should you “acknowledge” your writing...