All Blog Posts Tagged 'rules' (7)

Adult Truth #4

“There is a great need for a sarcasm font.”

Why? Because of all those pesky ‘ly’ words we writers aren’t supposed to use, yet every other published author does. Come on, raise your hand if you’ve ever heard some author/agent/editor/writing guru pontificate on how writers should never, ever, ever, use adverbs, especially in dialogue tags. If you do, you risk rejection,…

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Added by Stephen Brayton on November 30, 2012 at 5:00pm — No Comments

Start with action.

Start with action.  I hear it every week in my writer's group.  I say it myself.  But is it right?  P.D. James is adamant that she wants her readers to know the characters before something unpleasant happens to them. That way, the impact is greater.  It's usual for her detective, Adam Dahlglissh, not to show up in the first fifty pages.  I think that breaks another writer's group rule:  Get your main character on stage right away.

 

Anne Perry started "Face of a Stranger", her…

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Added by Brian Hoffman on September 19, 2011 at 10:44am — 2 Comments

The tsunami of Social Media and how it can shape your career!

Hi all, Tim Hallinan did a very nice interview on the how and why I created All Mystery e-newsletter. If any of you are interested in how the tsunami of social media is taking charge of how books are promoted now, read this: http://www.timothyhallinan.com/blog/?p=3288

Added by R P Dahlke on January 15, 2011 at 2:14am — No Comments

Pauline Rowson's Ten Rules for Writing

I pinched this idea from recent articles in the Guardian where a number of writers are penning their ten rules for writing. I thought I'd add mine.



1 Always have a pencil and paper with you, in every handbag, shopping bag or pocket.



2. Travel by public transport, you see and meet some great characters for novels.



3. Earwig other people's conversations…

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Added by Pauline Rowson on February 24, 2010 at 2:30am — 13 Comments

And How About Those Apostrophes!

Pronouns are a mess, but the use of the apostrophe requires a Congressional committee or something. I've been tempted to take on the role of Night Grammarian, going around in a Ninja suit after dark fixing signs that say such things as "Kitten's for Sale" or "10 Items' or Less," or even "Mens' Clothing."



It isn't that hard, but it does require paying attention. My mom, a life-long English teacher, preferred to teach apostrophes this way.

First, reverse the adjective-noun order:… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on August 4, 2009 at 10:15pm — No Comments

There Ought to Be a Law

We Americans are well-intentioned people, and that sometimes leads to legislation that verges on the ridiculous. If someone robs a bank in a Richard Nixon mask and kills a six-year-old in the process, citizens will propose a law that robbing banks in Richard Nixon masks be subject to special sentencing.

If a protester burns the American flag on the Fourth of July, a Congressman will demand on the steps of his local courthouse that burning flags on a holiday be a capital offense. And I'm… Continue

Added by Peg Herring on April 28, 2009 at 9:57pm — No Comments

Leonard's 10 Rules for Writers

I've been a big fan of Elmore Leonard ever since I read his novel Mr. Paradise. I read his 10 Rules for Writers. Here's my review:





If you read customer's reviews of this hardcover book on Amazon.com you will quickly see that some people feel they were hoodwinked. In truth this "book" is really an article reprinted from The New York Times on the thickest paper I've ever seen between two covers. However, the…

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Added by Richard Krauss on April 18, 2008 at 11:00am — 2 Comments

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