REVISION: Addressing Editorial Comments
It's never easy to read the editorial comments from a publisher. The comments below were a surprise because most of the stories in my...
Analyzing A Novel
I don't remember where I got this, but it has been a useful guide. SOME QUESTIONS TO USE IN ANALYZING A NOVEL 1. Who is the protagonist...
Revision
Revision: I always like to field test my longer pieces to see what kind of comments I’ll get. I originally sent out queries and some...
"Patch of Dirt:" Multiple Points of View
I just finished my short novel called “The River,” a story of tormented love between cousins and a German farmer. It takes place in 1926...
"Patch of Dirt:" Filtering
I've found this article on filtering to be one of the best about how to make your writing more forceful. Filtering "Filtering" is when...
"Patch of Dirt:" Chekhov's Gun
What’s this business about “Chekhov’s gun”? Anton Chekhov, a Russian author and playwright (and doctor) is often considered a master...
"Patch of Dirt:" WRITERS ON WRITING; Easy on the Adverbs, Exclamation Points and Especiall
These are rules I've picked up along the way to help me remain invisible when I'm writing a book, to help me show rather than tell what's...
"Patch of Dirt:" Magazine Choice and Description Form
MAGAZINE DESCRIPTION Name of Magazine: Editor: Address: Issue Date: **** Description What subject does the magazine cover? Readership...
"Patch of Dirt:" 36 Dramatic Situations and 7 Basic Plots
The 36 Dramatic Situations Each situation is stated; followed by the necessary elements for each situation. 1. Supplication o ...
"Patch of Dirt:" Character Exercise
Becoming your character--an exercise in characterization: For the purposes of demonstration, let's say you've decided to become ...
