A few quick tips on Twitter today from Literary agent Juliet Mushens, on writing and editing:
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23subtip&src=hash
1. Question when the action starts and why. Lots of openings get bogged down in minutiae the reader doesn't need.
2. Unrealistic dialogue is a real pet peeve. Try reading it aloud to make sure it sounds natural.
3. If it is set in a complex world make your exposition light - told through conversations & scenes, not heavy info-dump
4. Read and read and read. Which characters work for you? Where do plots feel flabby? Then apply that to your own writing
5. Even if the reader doesn't need to know when your character lost their virginity, how they vote, where they shop! You should
6. Don't let your themes stifle your characters
7. We don't need to always approve or agree with your characters' decisions. But they need to make sense.
8. Books are like trees (bear with me here): your subplots are branches which should all be connected to the 'trunk' of the story
9. Don't distract yourself from the writing process with fixating on your social media profile, marketing etc. The book comes 1st
10. Above all - write. Novels, blogs, short stories. You learn from everything and improve each time.
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23subtip&src=hash
1. Question when the action starts and why. Lots of openings get bogged down in minutiae the reader doesn't need.
2. Unrealistic dialogue is a real pet peeve. Try reading it aloud to make sure it sounds natural.
3. If it is set in a complex world make your exposition light - told through conversations & scenes, not heavy info-dump
4. Read and read and read. Which characters work for you? Where do plots feel flabby? Then apply that to your own writing
5. Even if the reader doesn't need to know when your character lost their virginity, how they vote, where they shop! You should
6. Don't let your themes stifle your characters
7. We don't need to always approve or agree with your characters' decisions. But they need to make sense.
8. Books are like trees (bear with me here): your subplots are branches which should all be connected to the 'trunk' of the story
9. Don't distract yourself from the writing process with fixating on your social media profile, marketing etc. The book comes 1st
10. Above all - write. Novels, blogs, short stories. You learn from everything and improve each time.
