Learning Center

At one time or another, all authors are rookies, newbies, debut authors, first-timers. We think our manuscript is flawless when we send it in to the publisher, and it never is. It isn't flawless when we aren't rookies either, as our editors often tell us.

Not that I'm a seasoned writer by any means, but at almost three years in as a published author, I've been edited by some really good people and by some who left much to be desired, but with each edit, I've learned something.

If you’ve been watching publishing industry trends of late, you’ve probably noticed that middle-grade fiction is being sold like hotcakes. Have you thought about writing for the in-the-middle crowd? Here are some rules to keep in mind when dipping your toe into middle-grade waters:

Congratulations to all Savvy Authors!

Our first Congratulations this week goes out to a Savvy Authors member Letty James. Because of winning one of the 15-page critiques during the Savvy Symposium, she has signed not one, but two contracts with Soul Mate Publishing. One is for her contemporary Mistress for Hire and the other is for an erotica anthology. Congratulations, Letty!

Erin Richards sold her YA debut novel Vigilante Nights, a contemporary suspense with romantic elements, to Merit Press Books. Vigilante Nights will release in July 2013. She has also recently signed with agent Natalie Lakosil at the Bradford Literary Agency. Congratulations, Erin!

That has got to be one of the most often asked questions, closely followed by, 'where do you get your ideas from'.

Well, in my case the answer to that is usually so vague that folks stare at me as though I have grown six heads. You see, I am one of that strange breed of writers who write by the seat of their pants, or pansters as we are known.

I’ve always believed that most writers have at least one element to writing or storytelling that they do naturally well. For me, it’s always been dialogue. When it comes to writing, I hear the story, from the characters’ mouths – what can I say, my head is full of British people. In any case because dialogue is a thing that comes readily for me as a writer, I have a hard time explaining how to write dialogue. But aspiring writers as me all the time so I put my thinking cap on and came up with five dialogue tips I learned from watching CSI (and really any of the three in the franchise would do).

If you’re an author, backstory can be one of the trickiest things about writing. If you try to put in too much too soon, it’s breaking one of the many rules of writing. We all know rules were made to be broken, and who doesn’t love breaking them now and then, but there’s a reason our instructors, editors, and agents yell at us not to overdo backstory. A very good reason. The reader wants THIS story, the story of NOW, not the story of what happened yesterday. There are exceptions, but for the most part, we all agree. How many times have you found yourself skimming a prologue or lengthy section of backstory?

My role as a writing coach for authors both aspiring and multi-published lets me see the writing process of a wide variety of writers. I’m not talking about the process of ideation, planning, drafting, revising and editing, but rather the larger process of how these individuals understand how they write. The difference is much like the difference between pedaling, steering, balancing, stopping, and starting when you ride a bicycle and the overall act of riding the bicycle (or, in my case, the difference between starting, cornering, braking, shifting, braking, and so on when riding a motorcycle and the overall act of riding a motorcycle). As a teacher and coach, I get to see lots of people “ride bicycles” in the form of executing their own personal writing processes and drafting scenes and entire books.

Though this article discusses a single plot element, we'll look at that element from many different angles. So many angles, I'm willing to bet that by the time you're done reading, you'll have come up with dozens of new ideas to make your story special.

That Special Element
One way to add richness to your tale and potentially add layers to your theme is by weaving a special occasion through the story. This could include a holiday, a wedding, a birthday, or any other major event that impacts your characters' lives.

Donald Maass, in his book Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook, says that larger-than-life characters powerfully attract us because they are surprising, vital and alive. They do not let life slip by. Every moment counts. Every day has meaning.

Do you often wish you could live your life this way? Few of us can. The realities of life and the drudgeries of our daily grind get in the way. It becomes tough to live every day with such positive energy. And this is the main reason that readers read, to escape the drudgeries and ordinariness of their lives. So, when they turn to those warm, smooth pages full of dark squiggles or the lovely, bright shining glow of their computers or e-readers what should you, the author, give them? You should give them exactly what they are looking for.