When Weaving a Story, Keep “It” Simple

admin — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 04:46:29 +0000

When weaving a story, keep “it” simple. “It” = story-structure.

One of my favorite stories is E. B. White’s Charlotte’s Web. This timeless tale has wonderful hooks, memorable characters, universal themes and a compelling yet simple plotline. Writers, I recommend your dissecting this book and your favorite books if you want to understand story structure for fiction or narrative non-fiction.

Cheers!

May your writing projects take on new form and new vitality in the new year!

Sincerely,

Writing Coach/Manuscript Consultant Teresa LeYung Ryan

author of Love Made of Heart (recommended by the California School Library Association and the California Reading Association)

http://writingcoachteresa.com

Are There Editors/Book Doctors Who Specialize in Thrillers & Mysteries?

admin — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 08:22:16 +0000

The reason why I love editing thrillers and mysteries is that I enjoy helping authors keep track of the hooks, foreshadowing, the “crime thread” and the thematic plotline. Also, I like general fiction, memoirs, children’s and young adult fiction–especially when the protagonist is quirky and feisty.

Study Martha Alderson’s resources for plot: http://plotwhisperer.blogspot.com and http://www.blockbusterplots.com and http://www.youtube.com/user/marthaalderson

After you have completed the first draft of your book and have gained a handle on plot, please contact me if you’re shopping for a manuscript consultant/editor who can help you take your project to the next phrase. Here’s a testimonial from a client who is writing a most exciting thriller:

“I was an attendee at the CWC-BB and have been working since then with Teresa LeYung Ryan on my novel, The Sacred Heart. Teresa is so committed to her clients and does a remarkable job of coaching and encouraging while wielding an insightful red pen.

Tom Wolfe spoke last week in Charlotte for the public library there and I briefly interviewed him afterwards for The Writer magazine ….He said the basis for his writing continually came back to great reporting and that the key for any writer is getting out of the building and observing people – particularly being on the scene when something happens.

Thanks Teresa, for pushing my reporting skills.”

Don Hudson

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Are there editors/book doctors who specialize in thrillers & mysteries? Yes. You’ve found one of them.

Happy Holidays & Happy New Year, Writers!