We took a little hiatus last week as we all got ready for NaNoWriMo. If you are a NaNo-er, you may be interested in joining the MBT Voices NaNoWriMo celebration. We’re encouraging people to dive in with daily notes, problem solving discussions and some great prizes (including a Kindle!) for those who complete their goal. We also have a tool to help you plot your story! So, if you’ve been thinking about participating in NaNoWriMo, go sign up on the official NaNoWriMo site, and then visit the 2010 MBT NaNoWriMo Celebration forum for encouragement, tips, and support as you write your novel in 30 days. Today, we’re going to move onto Act 2 and talk about how weave in the next two beats: Wooing and Sparks, as well […]
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Processing the Paralyzing Premise
I’ve heard editors and agents comment on book proposals. “Wow me.” Or, “I’m looking for something dynamic. Fantastic.” As a hungry writer, such words can be paralyzing. Editors and agents are asking for filet mignon when I’m approaching with my supersized McDonalds meal – hot from the grill and fry vat. I think, hope, pray, believe it’ll be a satisfying meal. But, no, turns out the requirement is filet. High concept. I’ve heard that too. Have you? “We’re looking for high concept ideas.” I’m not even sure what that means from house to house, agent to agent. Definitions and tastes vary from agent to agent, editor to editor. One agent loves literary. To him, a high concept, wow-me-fantastic story will have a literary tone. Another agent loves the high concept […]
Read the RestYour Now Story
“What’s the story of your heart?” Haven’t we all heard that question? Or overheard another author say, “I’m writing the story of my heart.” I believe in those lingering stories. The one waiting to be written. The idea not yet honed or ripened. Perhaps a story ahead of it’s time. But I don’t really have a “story of my heart.” I have a cool idea tucked away. An end-times epic not in line with the theology of the Left Behind books so I’m not sure mainstream publishing would be interested. But, I’m not aching to write it. At least not now. Because the story of my heart is the one I’m writing. And the story of your heart should be the one you are writing. If it’s not, ditch it. […]
Read the RestSample Chapters – Sell your Voice
Sample Chapters: Let’s talk just a moment about Sample Chapters. Every proposal package includes sample chapters for the story you are proposing. Even if you are a multi-published author, you will have to write sample chapters for new contracts with new publishers, so it is wise to learn how to write them now. There are so many elements to writing decent sample chapters, and we’ve covered most of those topics over the past year, but I felt we needed to touch on them in order to fully cover the proposal package. When new authors read “Sample Chapters” in the submission requirements of an editor or publisher’s website, sometimes they are tempted to think… “I’ll pick my BEST chapters…chapter one, chapter eight, and chapter twenty-two.” Delete that […]
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