Wednesday's Links to Writing & Marketing Blog Posts

HOW DO YOU MAKE A GOOD STORY WORTHY OF GETTING PAST THE GATEKEEPER?

By: Karen Cioffi

Just about every author knows about the “gatekeeper.” The dreaded acquisitions editor who decides if your manuscript is worthy of her attention and the publishing house’s backing. In other words, the editor who decides if your manuscript is worthy of a publishing contract.

To make sure your ‘good’ story becomes a ‘worthy’ story, the Writer’s Digest article, “7 Simple Ways to Make a Good Story Great” gives excellent tips on just what it takes to create a ‘worthy’ story.

The author of the article, Elizabeth Sims, explains that “there are subtle differences between fiction that’s passable and fiction that pops—fiction that shows that you know what you’re doing.”

So what are those 7 strategies or tips?

1. Well, the first tip mentioned is the five senses. Sims says writers have to go beyond what is expected. Editors and agents want more. “They want physical business that deepens not just your setting, but your characterizations.”

2. Next on the list is the use of idiosyncrasies. Each of us has some idiosyncrasy, some weirdness, some form of irrational behavior that makes us unique and interesting. Using those characteristics deepens and broadens your characters.

. . .

Read the full article HERE!

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If you missed my writing & marketing tweets and retweets yesterday, here they are again:

1. The Ultimate Guide to Promoting Your Books at Conferences http://ow.ly/NqZhW
2. What To Do When All Your Characters Sound The Same - Writers Write http://ow.ly/NqZmJ
3. Showing Emotion: Moving Beyond The Face - WRITERS HELPING WRITERS™WRITERS HELPING WRITERS™ http://ow.ly/Nr0kN
4. N is for Narrative » Writeonsisters.com http://ow.ly/Nr0VT "Keep it interesting and keep it moving."
5. Does Your Author Website Have The Essentials To Attract Readers And Sell Your Books? | The Creative Penn http://ow.ly/Nr128
6. Fiction University: Creating an Author Business Plan: How Will the Business Run? http://ow.ly/Nr17S
7. When Life Throws a Curveball & You Can’t Write http://ow.ly/Nr1gm
8. List of character traits - www.fiction-writers-mentor.com http://ow.ly/Nr1Yt
9. 6 Showing and Telling Traps to Avoid - http://ow.ly/Nr27I
10. Author, Jody Hedlund: The Key to Knowing if You're Ready for Publication http://ow.ly/Nr2eD
11. 10 Essential Lessons You'll Learn in a Creative Writing Workshop | Writing Forward http://ow.ly/Nr2uV
12. 2015 Social Media Marketing Industry Report Social Media Examiner http://ow.ly/Nr2yU
13. 3 Reasons You Should Take a Break From Your Writing http://ow.ly/Nr2Ll
14. Problematic POV—Characters’ Names, Thoughts, and Senses | Live Write Thrive http://ow.ly/Nr2SF
15. Writer Unboxed » A Writer’s Eyes Are Always Open http://ow.ly/Nr3m8
16. HOW To Finish Your Damn Book | CATHERINE RYAN HOWARD http://ow.ly/Nr3xh
17. Six Comfortable Ways to Reach Readers Waiting on You - Where Writers Win http://ow.ly/Nr3Pp
18. How you can write a book on fragmented time | Belinda Williams http://ow.ly/Nr4dL
19. Get back to the story | Belinda Williams http://ow.ly/Nr4qd "Backstory for the reader."
20. The Best Way for Writers to Use Amazon’s Preorder Feature | Live Write Thrive http://ow.ly/Nr4G1
21. How Do You Make a Good Story Worthy of Getting Past the Gatekeeper? | Writing for Children with Karen Cioffi http://ow.ly/NrkaL

Happy writing and running, Kathy