Stringed instruments have a little-known special ability: sympathetic vibration. Each string is tuned to a particular pitch, and when something nearby generates a sound exactly on that pitch, the string will hum along. For example, you can get a violin, a harp, or a piano to do this. Some unusual instruments have special strings that […]
Resources for Fiction Writers
A part of our mission here at Castle Gate Press is to nurture authors. We know what it’s like to work hard polishing a novel only to receive rejection after rejection in response to query letters. Sometimes all it takes is a nudge in the right direction to get on the right track. Other times, […]
Better than a critique group…
Critique groups as currently practiced by many writers include sharing books, one chapter at a time, for comment and critique. I’ve done this before, and while it helped hone my line-editing skills, it did nothing to help me plot the book, a question which remained a puzzle for me for a long time. In addition, […]
Writers, how to make a great plot
If you hang out with other writers in critique groups, you may get lots of advice about the mechanics of good writing. Watch the passive voice. Use strong verbs rather than adverbs. Use the five senses in descriptions. And so on. But what about the overarching story? Are your critique partners watching that too? Often, […]
Is blogging necessary for authors?
Some writers just aren’t cut out for regular blogging. In fact they can’t think of something they’d less rather do. Publishers seem to want it though. What to do? Author and writing educator Susan May Warren has a thought: don’t blog. Instead, have a website with a newsletter signup on the first page. And use […]