One of my favorite parts of being the editorial director at Castle Gate Press is the sense of hope that fills me every time I open an e-mail with a submission. Each one brings the possibility of a great story, memorable characters, and plot twists I won’t see coming. I almost hold my breath as I […]
MRUs Can Transform Your Writing
A search of the internet for advice on how write better fiction will lead to millions of links to articles about a wide variety of techniques that vary from learning the minutia of grammar to firming up your overarching theme. One technique, however, is both insanely simple and incredibly effective. It’s called the motivation-reaction unit, […]
The Importance of a Story Hook
After months of writing and revising, you’ve finally finished your first novel. You’ve agonized over writing a synopsis and rewritten your query letter a dozen times. Now, your e-mail holds your very first request for a partial manuscript. All that hard work is paying off, and you’re well on your way to publication, right? MAYBE… […]
Lessons from the Slush Pile
Although good news rarely comes from the slush pile, we can find many lessons about the craft of writing buried within it. One of our goals here at Castle Gate Press is to encourage new authors, so even though we can’t send personalized feedback to everyone who submits to us, I would like to share […]
A Word about Suspense
You’ve got a great story idea, characters your readers will love, and a fantastic surprise twist. You can’t wait to start writing and lead your readers along the path of suspense that builds up to the big reveal at some point late in the story. Most of all, it tickles your stomach to think of […]
Revision Prompt – Author Intrusion
You’ve heard of writing prompts, now we have revision prompts! Each prompt will give you a specific writing issue to check for in your WIP, along with tips on how to fix each. Going through this process one issue at a time will not only help polish your current novel but will also teach you specific ways to […]
Story Structure: the Man in the Mirror Moment
One of my favorite subjects is how to craft a story with good structure. It’s so important. A writer can learn all kinds of crafty skills, write you-are-there scenes, and still have a story that falls flat–unless a good structure holds it up. Today I’m talking about what is sometimes called the man-in-the-mirror moment, or […]
Why would I need to hire myself an editor?
Writers, you probably know that there are plenty of free-lance editors out there, ready to help you hone your novel. But do you need one? And do you need to pay one? Your needs depend on your goals. What if you want to take the slow route–taking five, ten years? I did it this way, […]
Revision Prompt – Dialogue Style
You’ve heard of writing prompts, now we have revision prompts! Each prompt will give you a specific writing issue to check for in your WIP, along with tips on how to fix each. Going through this process one issue at a time will not only help polish your current novel but will also teach you specific ways to […]
The basis of a strong plot
Writers, does your main character have an overriding goal for the middle section of your book? One that makes him or her reach outside his comfort zone, again and again? In a sense, could you call him a hero on a journey? Or is your main character dodging something, reacting to the actions of others, […]