Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #ontheporch
Most recents (6)
Strap in #writers - it's time to talk about developmental editing and my thought process when I'm reading over manuscripts.
#writingcommunity #pubtip #writetip #ontheporch
#writingcommunity #pubtip #writetip #ontheporch
Let's start with what is a developmental editor? This type of editor - which differs highly from a line editor or proof reader - looks at big picture elements of your story.
Think structure and content.
#writingcommunity #pubtip #writetip #ontheporch
Think structure and content.
#writingcommunity #pubtip #writetip #ontheporch
When I'm hired for a developmental edit, I'm keeping an eye on four major elements of a story:
1. Plot
2. Character
3. Worldbuilding
4. Pacing
#writingcommunity #pubtip #writetip #ontheporch
1. Plot
2. Character
3. Worldbuilding
4. Pacing
#writingcommunity #pubtip #writetip #ontheporch
THREAD: How can I create a better pitch while not also killing myself mentally, aka Pitching is tough, please help.
#ontheporch #writerscommunity #writerslife #amquerying #amwriting #writetip #iamaneditor #thisishowitworks
#ontheporch #writerscommunity #writerslife #amquerying #amwriting #writetip #iamaneditor #thisishowitworks
I think the first thing we have to cover today is that not everything you want to say about your story is going to fit or belongs in your pitch. Many things you think are critical to "understand" the story don't have to come into the pitch.
And this reveals the point of the pitch - not to understand the story (that's what reading the manuscript is for), but to become interesting in it, so that the pitch-audience says "I want more information, I will go check out this manuscript."
THREAD: The line of character and arc and theme. Or: How do I make this character matter in this world I've created? #WritingCommunity #writerscommunity #ontheporch #amwriting #amediting #writercommunity #manycommunities
Let's start with some definitions.
"Character" - your main character, but could also be a secondary one.
"Arc" - the journey the character takes - emotional, physical, mental ... going from a starting state to a changed state at story's end
Theme - the takeaway for the reader
"Character" - your main character, but could also be a secondary one.
"Arc" - the journey the character takes - emotional, physical, mental ... going from a starting state to a changed state at story's end
Theme - the takeaway for the reader
Ideally what we're creating is a character whose arc affects them and gives the reader multiple things to take away that can be (with some obvious modification) applied to their own life.
But how?
But how?
Alright friends, since query structure dominated in this poll, this thread will be about what to put in your query!
#WritingCommunity #amediting #ontheporch #querytip #pubtip
#WritingCommunity #amediting #ontheporch #querytip #pubtip
First and foremost, please put the name of the agent you're querying to start. Not dear agent or dear person (yes, I've seen it).
If you're querying them via a contest or con, add a line about that in the beginning.
#WritingCommunity #amediting #ontheporch #querytip #pubtip
If you're querying them via a contest or con, add a line about that in the beginning.
#WritingCommunity #amediting #ontheporch #querytip #pubtip
So how do you start your query?
Don't sugarcoat it. Introduce your character immediately. Who are they? What makes them unique or sets them up for what's about to happen?
#WritingCommunity #amediting #ontheporch #querytip #pubtip
Don't sugarcoat it. Introduce your character immediately. Who are they? What makes them unique or sets them up for what's about to happen?
#WritingCommunity #amediting #ontheporch #querytip #pubtip
I thought today we'd have a nice chat about outlines today.
Are they the enemy? Are you making them the enemy? What do they do? What good are they? Why is this the hill people want to die on?
#ontheporch #amwriting #amrevising #writerlife #amwritingromance #amwritingfantasy
Are they the enemy? Are you making them the enemy? What do they do? What good are they? Why is this the hill people want to die on?
#ontheporch #amwriting #amrevising #writerlife #amwritingromance #amwritingfantasy
For reasons I never learned in school and have only barely begun to learn in life as a professional, people absolutely love labels for their work, and the work of others. It gives them something to debate, it gives them something to cling to or hide from.
Right up there with the show-vs-tell argument is another ancient battlefield with its own misconceptions, assumptions, heaps of bullshit, and utility.
Pantser and plotter.
Yeah, we're going there today.
Pantser and plotter.
Yeah, we're going there today.
I think this morning's thread is a pretty good one. It's one of my favorite "it's important but boy oh boy do people freak out about it" topics.
This morning, I want to talk about "characterization"
#amwriting #ontheporch #amquerying #amrevising #writerslife
This morning, I want to talk about "characterization"
#amwriting #ontheporch #amquerying #amrevising #writerslife
CHARACTERIZATION is a big word that carries a lot of weight conceptually, but often gets blown out of proportion when the panic starts.
What is it?
It's making a character feel like a person. Like you could relate to them or find them out in your world pretty easily.
What is it?
It's making a character feel like a person. Like you could relate to them or find them out in your world pretty easily.
Now if there's a reason why I'm making this sound like it's kinda straightforward, that's because it is kinda straightforward.
Let's dispense with the bullshit of "it's so hard" and go give you some practical tools for it.
Go get some paper and your character.
Let's dispense with the bullshit of "it's so hard" and go give you some practical tools for it.
Go get some paper and your character.
