Xander Michael

Hi Elle,
Much too late to be of any use but I thought I’d stop by and tell you I enjoyed reading it. With the suggested tweaks you have this nailed!

Great blog, Richard. While I didn’t get past the first few pages of Earthsea, I did discover a fondness for City of Illusions, and it may be that I need to explore The Dispossessed when I have some time to appreciate it.

UNTITLED (321 words)

I remember the first time we kissed. An unsatisfactory blending of my pickled onion Monster Munch and his chips and curry sauce. No tongues. We stayed in the shadows at the side of the house so my mum wouldn’t see us from the kitchen window. He wiped the drips from his nose on the sleeve of his Harrington jacket and tried t…[Read more]

Thanks, Daeds. It’s been an interesting exercise.

Dancing With Words

Humble, that’s how my kind are deemed: the humble pen.
I don’t know why, since, led by the right hand, we’re capable of causing wars. Stopping them. Uniting distant hearts or breaking them apart. Telling tales that stir a million souls across a thousand years without pictures, smell or sound.
I aspire to that. Which is why,…[Read more]

Might I request that the warning above be amended to highlight the offensive nature of the post? Thanks.

Yes. I much prefer the start of this.

Blushing furiously, Philippa, because I’ve only just found this and we missed each other at York too. Good luck with the book – you’re obviously onto something x

*of course I can post it but it’s not that wonderful* ???

You gotta be kidding -those agents knew the truth of it 😉

Just caught up with this thread. Yay, again! Big battles and moral quandries sounds like my sorta book 😀

Yay, CJ! More good news, whatever pace it comes at! Congratulations!

I am clearly stealing all my tips from people who can put them much better than I can!!

YAAAAS!! Actual real definite contracts are the best sort of contracts. SO much well done! Break out the cake! 🙂

Thanks Lorraine. To some extent you’re reading my mind! I’ve changed the opening, she’s on a three day pass, we’re down to one policeman, added sensory bits, edited, edited. Your comments are very helpful. I think I might just put it on my website.

Good idea, Mad.
Umm. One I heard that I think made sense in terms of the editing process was ‘Write the first draft for yourself, edit for your readers.’

Also, Find the theme of your story. Themes tie characters, plots and subplots together.

Also (Although I am rubbish at doing this), when finishing for the day, stop in the middle of a scene,…[Read more]

This is brilliant, John. So much the opposite of where I expected it to go at the opening! I love her poise with the police – it adds such an element of shiver-factor.

I agree with others that a light dusting of other sensory details would help make the thing more potent, but I like the easy, matter of fact voice so don’t lose that.

One thing…[Read more]