NKs’ main page | NKs’ fantasy/science fiction | NKs’ mystery | NKs’ poetry
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Scoring in the Elevator & 4 other tips on How to Get Published In Hunting for an Agent, I cover the pros and cons of sending queries out to one or two carefully selected agents, or to every agent you can think of all at once. And both approaches do have pros and cons! In Writing the Dread Synopsis, and A Tale of two Synopsises, I explain how to craft a synopsis that works. It’s never easy, but I can tell you what you need to leave out, and how to make it come alive–which helps a lot. Scoring in the Elevator tells you how to craft a good one or two sentence answer to that ubiquitous question, “So, what’s your book about, anyway?” Some pros say you should never revise for an agent or editor who hasn’t agreed to buy your work, some say you always should. Do you want a Cookie? tackles that question, and describes the pitfalls of both those answers. *Individual tips $.99 Collection $2.99 |
How Big a Hammer? & 4 other tips on Emotion and Theme Beating the Evil TV reveals the one advantage writers have over all other storytelling mediums–and why you must exploit it. Setup and Payoff explains how your buildup of a story situation creates its ultimate impact on the reader. Playing for Higher Stakes discusses why simply raising the body count doesn’t make the outcome matter more. (This only applies to fiction, by the way–not real life!) How Big a Hammer? deals with theme: why it matters, and whether to go in hard of soft when you’re pounding home your message. And in TV or not TV isn’t the Question I talk about why writers shouldn’t care what kids do with the time they don’t spend reading. *Individual tips $.99 Collection $2.99 |
A Point of E-tiquette & 4 other tips on Professionalism The Pesky Typo Hunt explains how these small errors can sabotage your manuscipt, and the best technique I know to hunt them down and destroy them. A Point of E-tiquette discusses–in language so plain and simple as to command even a teen’s respect–why you need to run the spellchecker! In Bage and Handcuffs, I talk about why things like typos, and spell checking, and grammer that works, really do matter–even if your reader may not be conscious of them. Many writers will at some point want a pro to read their manuscript–Pitching to the Pros discusses whether you should try this, and what you can–and can’t–get from it. And The Editor is Never Wrong, Mostly deals with the question of how to respond when you disagree with editorial suggestions. *Individual tips $.99 Collection $2.99 |
Exploding Writing Myths & 4 other tips on Critique and Process Exploding Writing Myths discusses the things “they” say that may not be true for you. The Art & Necessity of Critique; parts 1,2 &3, covers how to find or create a writing critique group, how to give and take critique well, and how to structure your group that to survive over time, and also why novels must be critiqued differently from short stories. And in The Irrational Optimism of Writers we examine the fame of mind that keeps writers going, despite all the negative feedback that comes our way. *Individual tips $.99 Collection $2.99 |
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Taking out the Trash & 4 other tips on POV and Voice The one thing every agent and editor looks for is a strong, unique writers voice. In Taking out the Trash, I talk about how to find and polish yours. Tense Persons (POV part 1) covers the pros and cons of writing in 1st or 3rd person, and past or present tense. Single Spy to Teeming Horde (POV part 2) tackles the pros and cons of writing with one, few, or many POV characters. A POV Footnote lists the vast number of beginner mistakes that can be avoided by writing in close 3rd person. And in Writing the Other, I discuss why writers sometimes fail when writing a character of the opposite gender, and how to create believable characters who are different from you. *Individual tips $.99 Collection $2.99 |
What Color Hat does your Universe Wear? & 4 other tips on Science Fiction, Fantasy and Writing for Kids Making your Reader Believe deals with suspension of disbelief–why it’s so important in SF and Fantasy, and how to achieve it. But What do the Trees Say? covers what world building does for your fantasy or SF novel, and what it can’t do. In Taking Away the Easy Button I explain how to use magic in your story without abusing it–or your reader. What Color Hat does your Universe Wear? discusses how the world in which your charcters exist can illuminate them–or cast them into the shade. And in Writing Children’s Books vs. Adult Books, I talk about the differences between the two markets, and why writing for kids can do so much for your career. *Individual tips $.99 Collection $2.99 |
Doghouse on Malibu Beach & 4 other tips on Structure and Villainy Doghouse on Malibu Beach talks about what should and shouldn’t appear in the first five pages of your manuscript. Middle-of-the-Novel Mud tells you how to keep the middle of your story–and your readers–revved. And Rising to the Occasion deals with making the climax of your novel rock! High Concept, explains this elusive term, and whether or not it’s necessary. And in Villians, we discuss how you can use your bad guy to make your novel really good. *Individual tips $.99 Collection $2.99 |
Show & Tell & 4 other tips on Avoiding Common Mistakes Writers are alway told “show, don’t tell,” but that’s not always right. Show & Tell discusses when you shouldn’t use summary (telling) and when you shouldn’t. The Most Common Intermediate Mistake & Fixing the Most Common Intermediate Mistake focus on what makes a protagonist active, and how scene-sequel structure can force a lazy protagonist to get off his butt and run your plot! A Time to Write bursts the myth of “finding” time. And Are you the Next American Idol? (revised!) deals with the question of whether or not you should self-publish your novel. *Individual tips $.99 Collection $2.99
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