Archive | May, 2014

Rachel Hauck, Princess Ever After, royals, royalty

The Importance of the Story Hook

By on May 29, 2014 in Editing Basics

A writer I’m mentoring sent me an email from an agent who read her piece as a result of a contest.

She loved the author’s writing and story telling but her story lacked a unique hook.

“What makes your story of a sports playing hero different from all the other sports playing heroes out there?”

The agent mentioned several ABA authors who wrote sports books similar to my friend’s. She also reminded the author that an agent or editor will see dozens of books “mimicking” those sports hero books so a book really has to stand out. It must have a different hook.

This hook is used in marketing, getting the book past the booksellers and onto the shelves. It’s used with the media to get the book some publicity.

The HOOK is what makes your every-day-story unique.

Okay, so let’s say you’re writing about a football player. What can you do to make him different?

After the NFL draft where the first openly gay player was drafted, the secular market will have books with that hook releases — if they haven’t already.

It’s not a topic readily accepted in the CBA, so you might not want to be so controversial.

Read the Rest
Continue Reading • Comments { 0 }

Social Media Minute—A List of Social Media Platforms and How They’re Used

By on May 27, 2014 in Edie Melson, Learn the art of Social Networking, Social Media Primer

I’ve shared a breakdown of social media platforms, along with how they’re used, on my blog in the past. But things change frequently in the digital world so it’s time for an update.

When we know what the focus of particular network is, it’s easier to evaluate if it’s a valuable addition to our personal plan.

So today I’m sharing a new list of social media platforms and how they’re used.

Read the Rest
Continue Reading • Comments { 0 }

Free to Write Because Others Paid the Price

By on May 24, 2014 in 4. Writer’s Life, Inspiration and Life Coaching, Encourage Me!, Life Coaching, Nurturing Creativity, Nurturing the Soul, Writer's life, Writing Life, Writing Life Coaching

If you turn on the TV and listen for an hour, you might conclude that America has lost its freedom. With strong political views on both sides of the fence, it’s difficult to know who’s right. That’s why I try always to do two things: 1) Other than exercising my right to vote, I stay away from the political arena as much as possible.  2) I listen very intently to hear the heartbeat of America. I grew up in the south. We always sang patriotic songs. American the Beautiful, God Bless America and the Star Spangled Banner could always be heard on special occasions. Today, after having spent years on foreign soil, I understand how important those words are. Just to be able to stand in the shower and belt out […]

Read the Rest
Continue Reading • Comments { 0 }
Rachel Hauck, Princess Ever After

The “I’s” Don’t Have It!

By on May 22, 2014 in Book Therapist, Rachel Hauck

Sit down. I want to talk about writing in First Person.

How many of you are writing in first? Yeah, I love First Person, too.

I long to write in First again. But the structure and texture of my stories, and the fact I’ve chosen to write in the romance genre (and I’ve already broken a few rules there) doesn’t lend to First Person these days.

I started out writing Third, then went to chick lit where first was part of the genre voice, and I “found” my-writer-self.

I think keeping diaries for 17 years helped me tap a deeper emotional layer when I hit the First Person trails.

Early on, I stumbled upon a truth while writing in First. Use dialog!

I’m not a great prose, expository type of writer, so I automatically go to “people talking.” Even in my diaries, I wrote dialog.

It’s the drama part of me. When I was a kid I’d walk around having pretend conversations with people. Mainly Donny Osmond but that’s for another post.

Read the Rest
Continue Reading • Comments { 0 }
MBT Menu