Pile On: Combing Scenes for Dramatic Punch

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

When I first got my critiques back for Darkfall, I knew I had an issue with the ending (no surprise there). My friend tossed out an idea to fix it that I knew instantly was the right move.

Mash the ending together.

In that early draft, there was Major Event A (ME-A) that set off the third act and climax of the book/series. It culminated at Major Event B (ME-B). Lots of stuff happened between those two points, but the tension and stakes never really rose after ME-A, so the ending didn't have the punch it needed.

But once I shoved ME-B on top of ME-A, well, then I had a whole new ballgame. An awesome ballgame, really, and my stakes went through the roof, the tension rose and the conflicts crashed so much better. ME-A was hard for my protag, but it became so much harder when Nya also had to deal with ME-B at the same time. And it also fixed an issue where it felt like the book ended, but then there was still all this other stuff to do.

Guest Author Miranda Kenneally: A Book is a Song

By Miranda Kenneally

Today we have YA author (and fellow NLA writer) Miranda Kenneally here to chat with us about making your writing sing, and the little things you can do to make a big difference. Her novel CATCHING JORDAN is another one generating a lot of buzz out there, so check it out. I was a huge fan of the old Zanballer books when I was a kid, so this one is going on my holiday list for sure.

Miranda is the author of CATCHING JORDAN, a contemporary YA novel about football and femininity, coming in December 2011. Other books include THE GIRL I USED TO BE (fall 2012) and BAD, BAD THING (spring 2013). Miranda is the co-creator of Dear Teen Me. The Dear Teen Me Anthology will be published by Zest Books (distributed by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) in late 2012. She enjoys reading and writing young adult literature, and loves Star Trek, music, sports, Mexican food, Twitter, coffee, and her husband. Follow her on Twitter or Facebook. Miranda is represented by Sara Megibow at Nelson Literary Agency.

Take it away Miranda…

Why Refreshing What Your Know About Writing is a Good Thing

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

I love reading about writing. There's something about an article that looks at -- say dialogue -- in a new way and makes me realize I could improve it if I did X, that gets me all aflutter. It's one of the reasons I love reading writing blogs so much. They're a wonderful way to grow as a writer.

I often point these out to writer pals, and I've had some mention (and I'm paraphrasing here), "Yeah, that's a great blog, but it's all basic stuff. We're way past that." In a way it's true, but in a way, it's not.

It's easy to forget about the fundamentals when they're old hat to you. When you don't sweat over structure, worry over dialogue, fret over setting, you don't always look at them as closely as you once did. Sometimes, they suffer because of it. Or if not, they might not be as stunning as they could be, because they're good enough. It's all stuff you know. You're past all that.

Real Life Diagnostics: A Question of POV and Voice

Real Life Diagnostics is a weekly column that studies a snippet of a work in progress for specific issues. Readers are encouraged to send in work with questions, and I diagnose them on the blog. It’s part critique, part example, designed to help the submitter as well as anyone else having a similar problem.

If you're interested in submitting to Real Life Diagnostics, check out the page for guidelines.

Submissions currently in the queue: Six

This week’s questions:

This is the first scene in my current WIP. It's a fantasy book, and I've been trying to integrate characterization and world building as unobtrusively as possible. Does this opening scene hook the reader? Does it make you want to keep reading? Am I staying consistent with the POV? I'm aiming for close third POV. Finally, what do you think of the voice? Is it at all like a ten-year-old boy's?

On to the diagnosis…

Am I Worthy? You Decide! Top 10 Blogs for Writers

Write To Done is having its "Nominate Your Favorite Writing Blog: 6th Annual Top 10 Blogs for Writers Contest". If The Other Side of the Story has helped you, and you think it deserves a shot at making the list, please head on oven and nominate me. (If not me, then nominate the blogs you think belong in the Top 10. Share the love)


Just head on over to Write To Done and:

1. Leave a comment with "Janice Hardy's The Other Side of the Story at http://blog.janicehardy.com/" in it (go ahead, cut and paste if you'd like)

2. Say why you think it deserves to be in the Top 10 Blogs for Writers. (this is important, as just site addresses don't count)

To make the cut, a blog must be nominated more than once. (I have been nominated twice so far, thanks guys!) and nominations must be received by December 10, 2011. They'll narrow it down to the top 20 nominations, then cull from there. (so if I read this right, the more votes a blog gets the better)

This blog is a labor of love and you guys make it easy to write. I'm so fortunate to have a fantastic group of regulars here to brighten my day, make me laugh, and make me feel part of the wonderful writers' community.

ETA: I just wanted to thank everyone who's posted a nomination and said such wonderful things about me and the blog. I just don't have the words to say how much this support means to me. I'm already a winner cause you guys rock.