Fantasy vs. Magical Realism
Here’s a useful article on a meaningful distinction. I’ve started pitching my work in progress, The Drowned Man, as magical realism. It certainly isn’t fantasy. Yet I’m not so sure it meets this...
View ArticleA Perennial Question: What is Literary Fiction?
Check out this discussion about the definition of literary fiction and add your opinion. While you’re at it, here’s literary agent Donald Maass’s answer. I like it. What do you think?
View Article7 Rookie Writing Mistakes (and 7 Ways to Improve)
Originally posted on A Writer's Path: ? by Phoebe Quinn 7 rookie writing mistakes: Writing about writers. The adage write what you know is all well and good (and somewhat debatable), but writing about...
View ArticleAgainst Outlines
Do you outline your novels? Why or why not? Since my title is “Against Outlines,” you may suspect I’m going to argue against them. Maybe, though, I’m not vehemently against outlines for writing novels....
View ArticleA Lesson in First Pages!
I often get good posts from Writer Unboxed, and today’s example is a recurring feature of the site called “Flog a Pro.” Monthly contributor Ray Rhamey invites readers to vote the first page of a...
View ArticleStory Questions and “Plights”: Which Did You Leave Out?
In my own writing and in my various writing groups, I’ve often focused on the need for a “story question.” Basically, if you don’t have a story question, you don’t have a story. You may have a diary,...
View ArticleThe Last Taboo in Y.A.?
I’m not a Young Adult author, but I found this piece from the New York Times intriguing. What do you think? Is “religion” as a central topic actually taboo (outside of the Christian publishing world,...
View ArticleHelp with Those Darned “Comps”
Maybe most of us know exactly what genre we’re writing for. Wish I was one of “us.” This piece from Penny Sansevieri via Anne R. Allen (the wonderful @annerallen) via Chris the Story Reading Ape...
View ArticleHow to add categories to your book on Amazon
Originally posted on deborahjay: Have you ever noticed that some books seem to be in lots of Amazon categories, and not just the two KDP allows you to choose when you publish your book? Did you know...
View ArticleUseful Info on Word Counts
This post from Bookends Literary about the preferred (or maybe acceptable) word counts for different genres justifies my efforts to cut 6,000-7,000 words from my latest finished manuscripts. Since word...
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