We’ve all read books with sagging middles. The story starts out with a bang and then seems to … sort of .. meander around a bit. If we are persistent we may find that the story settles down to a strong, bang-up ending. But with a sagging middle, most readers will never get there. So, […]
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… […]
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 […]