065I – The First Five Pages: An Interview with Laura Drake

065I – The First Five Pages: An Interview with Laura Drake

Explicit Warning for this episode

Award-winning author Laura Drake shares with us what she's learned about making the first five pages of your novel the absolute best they can be from her years working with an editor in traditional publishing. She's currently writing for Grand Central.

Among the tips she offers:

  • People come to books for the characters
  • Great plots without great characters might have remained unsold books
  • Hint at the character's backstory just enough so it raises questions in the reader's mind
  • Hint at the character himself so that readers begin to care right away - who is he, what does he want, and why should we care about what he cares about?
  • Start the first chapter as late as you can into the story you're telling
  • Opening lines are very important! Go read some of the best ones and learn from them (NOTE: Laura reads an opening line that includes the F-word several times; you may want to listen to this episode when small children aren't present)
  • The key to backstory isn't mechanical; it's visceral

Laura has kindly offered to give listeners an "opening checklist" she created and uses herself. Please email her from her website at LauraDrakeBooks.com. You can also follow Laura on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, and Blogger by clicking on the buttons on her website.

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(294)

Looking Forward Not Back: An Encouraging Words Episode

Looking Forward Not Back: An Encouraging Words Episode

Kitty Bucholtz and the Write Now Workshop Podcast is back! In this Encouraging Words episode (#293), Kitty explains her absence, chats about upcoming changes, and encourages listeners to think about w...

4 Tammi 29min

Writing About Real Charities for Podcasthon: Bonnie DePue and CHUM Therapeutic Riding

Writing About Real Charities for Podcasthon: Bonnie DePue and CHUM Therapeutic Riding

Episode 292: In the return of Write Now Workshop Podcast after a too-long sabbatical, Kitty joins Podcasthon (https://www.podcasthon.org/) and over 1000 other podcasters around the world who are highl...

22 Maalis 20251h 7min

Ep 291T Alessandra Torre Teaches 4 Big Take-Aways From Inkers Con

Ep 291T Alessandra Torre Teaches 4 Big Take-Aways From Inkers Con

Alessandra Torre is our guest today sharing her top 4 take-aways from just the marketing portion of the 2022 Inkers Con writers conference. (Not even her top 4 overall!) If you'd like to sign up for t...

6 Helmi 20231h 18min

Susan May Warren Teaches Time Management When Writing a Series

Susan May Warren Teaches Time Management When Writing a Series

EPISODE 290TPodcast favorite Susan May Warren, author of the new novel Sundown, shares how she manages her time as she creates a book series. Research, plotting, writing, she's got a time block for ea...

16 Joulu 20221h 17min

Suzanne Woods Fisher Teaches Things She Learned the Hard Way

Suzanne Woods Fisher Teaches Things She Learned the Hard Way

EPISODE 289Today's guest is Suzanne Woods Fisher, author of the new novel Anything But Plain. She shares a great presentation with ten things she learned during her writing career that she wants to pa...

14 Joulu 20221h 20min

Write a Book and Change the World: An Encouraging Words Episode

Write a Book and Change the World: An Encouraging Words Episode

EPISODE 288EI'm wearing my "How to Spot a Hero" Spider-Man T-shirt as I record this episode. YOU are the hero! And you can be the person who is the hero to someone else! You can be the person who writ...

1 Touko 20229min

Susan May Warren Teaches How to Write a Series

Susan May Warren Teaches How to Write a Series

EPISODE 287TOur guest today is award-winning author Susan May Warren teaching us how to write a series.There are several kinds of series and first Susie May explains them all. Then she shows us how to...

23 Huhti 20221h 22min

Planning for a Short Time: An Encouraging Words Episode

Planning for a Short Time: An Encouraging Words Episode

EPISODE 286EIt's the second quarter of the year -- how is your writing going? Where are you in meeting the goals you set for yourself a few months ago? Here are some tips for getting more done this qu...

20 Huhti 202212min

Suosittua kategoriassa Koulutus

rss-murhan-anatomia
psykopodiaa-podcast
voi-hyvin-meditaatiot-2
rss-niinku-asia-on
rss-vapaudu-voimaasi
kesken
rss-liian-kuuma-peruna
rss-laadukasta-ensihoitoa
psykologia
rss-luonnollinen-synnytys-podcast
rss-arkea-ja-aurinkoa-podcast-espanjasta
solu-ja-molekyylibiologian-perusteet
adhd-podi
rss-synapselingo-opi-englantia
rss-nyt-puhutaan-ulosotosta
rahapuhetta
jari-sarasvuo-podcast
leikitaanko-laakaria
aamukahvilla
rss-rahamania