First Word

Did you know there is a difference between knowingly doing something in your storytelling process and just plain doing what you want to the point it will not attract a publisher? You must understand the structure and storytelling process in order to deviate from it. What do I mean? Well, I see amateur manuscripts where the writer clearly doesn't understand traditional structure, period. The writer will just do whatever he or she pleases, and it doesn't work because there is no context or construct in which the person is deviating. I will give you the reason why and an example. Readers understand certain principles about stories and how stories unfold. Readers have certain expectations about the reading experience, too. For example, readers expect characters to have something as basic as an understandable name. Now you say, what? Yes, I got a manuscript submitted once where the writer absolutely insisted the names be (wait for it) ______. Yes, you saw the right -- underlines for...

I read this statement in a recent review of the 3L Publishing book Vengeance is Now , which to paraphrase went something like this: strictly bad and good characters are boring. Author Scott D. Roberts and I have discussed flawed characters practically from the first time we met each other. We both have a propensity to enjoy the flaws the most -- and it's those flaws that prevent boring. In real life do you know anyone who is perfectly "white" or perfectly "black"? I know people who are overall good people, and I know people who I question their morals and ethics. Truth is most of us have our good points and our "messier" points. So when you're writing a novel or a story, it's always more interesting and provocative to make characters "gray" and then fill in the greater or lesser color of white or black. Let me give an example: In my forthcoming novel  Body in the Trunk , I've written the ex-husband as a real jerk. Yet our heroi...

Many new writers need assistance and guidance on their books. A book coach is an ideal choice to help make your book idea a reality. Why would you invest in a book coach? Because you lose objectivity in your own work or you need guidance and expertise to produce a book worthy of publishing. What should you look for if you decide to seek assistance from a book coach? Expertise, knowledge and skills -- your book coach cannot be some academic person who has only taught literature. The biggest complaint I had about English professors is that they were in the business of teaching something they never actually did. How can you teach or understand a process you've never done? Nothing is more meaningful and educational than the real thing. A coach should have not only the education but most importantly the experience. He or she should have written his or her own books or scripts. He or she should understand the process, and because he or she has done the process, he or she should have r...