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Quick Skills: Tips on Creating that First line

By on April 24, 2012 in Editing Basics, How do I start my Scene?, Quick Skills, Susan May Warren

How you hook your reader on the first page? I love this quote by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, who won the 1992 Nobel Prize for Literature for 100 years of Solitude. “One of the most difficult things is the first paragraph…in the first paragraph, you solve most of the problems with your book. The theme is defined, the style, the tone. At least in my case, the paragraph is a kind of sample of what the rest of the book is going to be.” By the way, that book sold over 10 million copies. The hook paragraph, your first paragraph just might be the most important paragraph you write in your entire story. Yesterday, I talked about four ways to begin your story. Today, I’m going to share with you my […]

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Conversations: Crafting the first sentence hook!

By on April 23, 2012 in Editing Basics, How do I start my Scene?, Truth or Dare: Conversations with an aspiring novelist

“I’m sorry Sally, I don’t have much time today. I’m on my way to the airport.” I unwound the scarf from my neck and slid into the chair. “But I did want to talk to you quickly about Hooks and First Lines.” I pulled out the printed email she sent me. “I have your new draft here. You did such a great job of pulling me into the story and deleting all but the essential backstory. Now I want you to take a look at that first sentence. “See, most authors don’t start their stories out in the right place, and even when they do, they struggle to get that first line. I often write the first line last, after the book is written just because by then I know […]

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Conversations: Common Writing Mistakes I’m seeing

By on April 16, 2012 in Author Mistakes, Editing Basics, From the Inside...Out, How do I enter a Contest?, Story Crafting, Susan May Warren, The Hero's Journey Simplified, Truth or Dare: Conversations with an aspiring novelist

I miss Sally and our morning coffee.  But I’m on the road this week, teaching at conferences, and judging contests and I thought it might help to see a quick summary of the common mistakes I’m seeing as I look at entries and talk to aspiring authors. So here they are, in no particular order.   Not starting the story with a compelling situation.  So many entries and rough drafts are starting in a place where the author is either explaining the character’s backstory or creating the storyworld instead of getting to the character and creating a situation where we see him interacting with his world, setting up for the inciting incident (or even in the middle or after it). Remember, the first three chapters of your novel are the […]

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Featured Fiction Friday with Sandra D. Bricker

By on April 13, 2012 in Featured Book, Featured Fiction, Featured Fiction Fridays, How do I enter a Contest?

The Frasier Entries are in! Now all we can do is sit down, cuddle up with our bags of popcorn, and wait for the results. In the meantime though, My Book Therapy will spend Fridays introducing you to the work of our all-powerful judges. This week we are pleased to introduce you to Sandra D. Bricker and her new book: Always the Designer, Never the Bride (Book 3 of 4) – Abingdon Press. Q: Tell us about your Book. A: Always the Designer Never the Bride is Book #3 of 4 in the popular series that started with Always the Baker, Never the Bride: No matter how busy she is, dress designer Audrey Regan can’t say no to her friend Carly when she asks her to be maid of honor—and create the perfect […]

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