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How to de-emphasize characters #AuthorToolboxBlogHop
Some excellent advice here from crime writer Raimey Gallant
THE FOLLOWING CONVERSATION, WHICH IS BASED ON A REAL EMAIL EXCHANGE WITH MY AGENT, HAS BEEN SET IN A 1920’S HARD-BOILED DETECTIVE NOVEL FOR DRAMATIC PURPOSES.
So I pick up the telephone and wouldn’tcha know—it’s my agent. “Too many characters in your manuscript,” she says to me.
So I says to my agent, I says, “Well, golly. What do I do?”
“Kill two of ’em. Kill two of ’em dead.”
Course, I know my agent isn’t suggesting I put a hit out on my characters, but—ha!—wouldn’t it be a laugh if she was. “Suppose we edit out this one dame,” I says to her (I didn’t much like that character anyway), “but instead of killing this other fella, suppose we de-emphasize him. I can cut back his description, and hey, I can un-name him, too. That way, the amount of words devoted to him is more proportional-like, as far as…
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So you want to be a writer? Some simple steps you should take #AuthorToolboxBlogHop
Despite having four short stories published, I still consider myself a new and beginning writer. And I probably will until I have a novel or two under my belt. But I have learned a lot over the last few years. So here are some tips for you if you are wanting to get started on... Continue Reading →
Reviews: they are not always what they seem
We've all done it: we see a book advertised and decide to read the reviews. Smart thing to do really. Books are expensive, especially if you are a prolific reader. Even eBooks add up if you read a lot. Now I'm also pretty sure that most of you also consult more than one review: although... Continue Reading →
In Praise of the Conference
That word - 'conference' - conjures all different pictures for different people. And I've been to some shockers in my life, believe me. But last Saturday, I attended one of the best I have been to and I gained so much from it. The Speculative Fiction Festival was held on Saturday 29th June, 2019, by... Continue Reading →
Why can’t I be organised when it comes to writing?
Ask anyone who worked with me: I am a study in organisation. If anyone couldn't find their copy of something, they knew I would have it. I was always the first to have my student reports in, and my programming and registration were used as an example of how to do it right. But retirement... Continue Reading →
Don’t forget to get your copy of Ink Dreams
Now that Easter and ANZAC Day are over, you may have a bit more time up your sleeve to do some reading. With that in mind, just thought I would remind you that my two latest published stories are in Ink Dreams. My very first published paranormal, Follow the Light, gives you a glimpse into the life... Continue Reading →
Lest we forget
The Wall of Remembrance at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, Australia, holds the names of over 100,000 Australian servicemen and women who lost their lives fighting in a war. Some were volunteers, some were conscripts - but all of them deserve to be remembered with honour and respect. I won't go into details... Continue Reading →
AT Bookshelf
via AT Bookshelf
Ink Dreams is coming!
The long-awaited release of the new anthology from Authors Tale - Ink Dreams - is nearly here. I am so excited for my two latest stories to be published. The historical fiction I am having published in Ink Dreams is 'Where Dreams Die'. I'm really proud of this one, and it was chosen to be one of... Continue Reading →
