Timing is everything.
The Philadelphia Writers’ Conference (PWC2015) this past weekend could not have come at a more opportune time for this lapsed writer.
I needed a shot of inspiration badly.
To those of you I have bored kept abreast of my novel-writing journey, you may have noticed I’ve been a little quiet lately.
My novel-writing locomotive had screeched to a shuddering stop.
When we last saw our heroine (me), she was on that train headed for Destination Draft #2.
But all of a sudden, life got in the way and threw a roadblock on the tracks.
I’m not complaining. It was all good stuff: a couple of months of family celebrations that meant busy weekends and lots of company. With two of my children getting married in a matter of months, there was also wedding planning to be done during their visits home.
So that destination remained elusive. And the more time that passed, the less fired up our heroine was.
So she, or I, needed a shot in arm, and that I got in spades at this fabulous writers’ conference.
It’s a new day!
Ten Writing Tips
Full of energy and ready to tackle that manuscript, I pause only to share some writing tips that I picked up at the conference and credit the presenters who provided them. I hope these will be as useful or informative for you as they were for me.
Don’t use adverbs.
This was a hard pill for me to swallow, because I love adverbs deeply. Admiringly. Hopelessly. But adverbs tell you how to feel instead of show you, and that’s not good writing. (Judi Fennell)
Use ellipses and m-dashes correctly.
An ellipsis is for trailing off thoughts. “His marriage proposal took me by surprise, and I wasn’t sure …”
M-dashes (long dashes) are used with truncated thoughts. For example, someone interrupts.
“A marriage proposal, so soon? I—“
“Surprised?” He reached over to touch my cheek. (Judi Fennell)
Start your story where your life goes left.
You don’t have to start when you wake up in the morning, have a cup of coffee, get dressed, etc. Start it when the real action starts. Like, you walk outside and witness a car accident, if that is pertinent to the story. (Judi Fennell)
Romance and women’s fiction are two separate genres.
Women’s fiction is about a woman’s journey. Romance novels always end either happily ever after or happily for now. (Judi Fennell)
Short stories have hooks, lines and sinkers.
The hook is the incident that happens in the very first paragraph. The lines that follow serve to up the stakes. The sinker is the conclusion and the last line must relate to what you said in the beginning. (Fran Wilde)
In novel writing, setting comes first.
You have to anchor the reader in a world. Characters are products of the landscape you create and expressions of the world they live in. (Solomon Jones)
You can be both a pantser and an outliner.
A pantser is someone who writes by the seat of his/her pants without first making an outline (me!) and an outliner obviously outlines. It is OK to be pantser for the first draft and an outliner between the first and second drafts. (Stuart Horwitz)
What is the optimal number of beta readers?
Between three and seven. (Stuart Horwitz)
Increase the pace in short stories.
Make sentences short. Do not data dump. Dialogue should consist of a few quick pieces. (Fran Wilde)
How can you generate material?
Count your words (set a goal)
Find a neutral audience (avoid critics and find the cheerleaders)
Don’t try to organize anything
Make the time
Listen
Have fun (the most important) (Stuart Horwitz)
Thank you to the amazing presenters who provided so many valuable takeaways, and I’ll see you at PWC2016.
And now, my train is leaving the station. All aboard!
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2015 Helene Cohen Bludman
These are fabulous tips—even for a non-fiction writer like myself.
I admire anyone able to write fiction well, so consider me in your cheering section. Cheers to you in making the most of that shot in the arm!
Lisa at Grandma’s Briefs recently posted…A grand ONE! Plus GRAND Social No. 159 link party for grandparents
And I am one of your biggest admirers, Lisa. Your writing is always spot on!
These are great tips!! Even for a blogger, like me. I have read we should show not tell, and now I know how to do it better. Thanks!!
That’s something I have to keep reminding myself, Jennifer!
These are all great tips for writers! I am so sad to read that about “adverbs” as I’m a big fan of them as well! But, it does make sense! Thanks for sharing these tidbits that just reinforce better (more engaging) writing on so many levels.
Jessica Harlow recently posted…A perfect cup of tea with a bottom dispensing teapot!
Thank you, Jessica! Glad to share some of what I learned.
Fantastic tips, and I’m glad you were re-inspired. You are my heroine, Helene, whether or not you ever write a novel (which you will, by the way, and which will be hugely successful). xo
Lois Alter Mark recently posted…“come from away” – a future tony winner at the la jolla playhouse
I love you, Lois! xoxo
I dont think I will be writing a novel anytime soon but these are great for blogging.
maria @ close to home recently posted…Help Support SCLERODERMA #HardWord, #Scleroderma #IC
Very true, Maria. Thanks for stopping by.
Hi! So glad my workshop was informational! Now get back on that train! As Nora Roberts says, “You can fix a bad page; you can’t fix a good one.”
All the best! It was great meeting you!
You are such a wonderful teacher, Judi! I’ve got so many notes from your classes. Thanks a million!
I love the heroine of this story because she is graceful and filled with curiosity and endless amounts of knowledge. Thank you for sharing your new knowledge with us. No adverbs? Now I have to add that along with not signing emails “Best”….-? 🙂
These tips are very timely for me, even as a non-fiction writer.
I look forward to reading your book and seeing as #1 on the NY Times! Don’t laugh – I am sure of it.
Cathy Chester recently posted…Napa In New York: Our Trip To The Wine Country
I love you, Cathy! xoxo
These look like good tips to integrate into one’s writing practice / writing product. It’s so wonderful to watch you spend more time on writing itself, the craft of writing, and the social network of writers. All my best to you!
Karen D. Austin recently posted…TV or Not TV: Images of Older Adults
Thank you so much, Karen. I’m trying to play catch up with the craft. There is so much to learn!
Those are some great tips! I think I have a lot of work to do. One other tip you forgot, coffee.
Coffee is key to any success. 😉
The tips seem right on, don’t they? I love a good writers’ conference!
Carol Cassara recently posted…Did you have a past life?
Me too!
I’ve had the same problem lately although I am stuck at the ending. Something keeps stopping me from finishing and while I have been busy I think it’s more mental. I have got to get my but in gear. I think I have this fear of what will happen when I finally get it finished which is stupid! I love the tips I’m going to pin them!
Rena mcDaniel recently posted…THE PHYSICAL TOLL OF ALZ CAREGIVING
I’m stuck with my ending too, Rena. You are not alone!
Thank your for sharing these tips. Writing is such a personal journey and I am glad that you are back on the train. I can’t wait for the final product.
That is so sweet of you, Ines, thanks!
Great tips, Helene. Were there any specific ones for a memoir? Just curious…..
Claudia Schmidt recently posted…The Great French Adventure: Trip to the Local Gendarmerie
Claudia, there was a memoir workshop but I didn’t attend. You should come to this conference next year.
Great tips.. I need to remember them myself.
I am toying with taking a writing course in the fall to help get the creative juices flowing.
High school english was a long time ago and I have forgotten most of the important things I need to know.
Nothing like a writing course to get the creative juices flowing, I agree.
These are great tips! I’ve always wanted to be a writer. Any type of writer so I’m always looking for tips.
Great!
Sounds like fantastic advice for writers. Great info.
Thanks!
Timing IS everything! I can always use help with writing tips. It has been busy for you!
Mary recently posted…Father’s Day Gift Guide 2015
Thanks!
I”m a guilty m-dash and Elipises user ( for Blogging ) I knw what they are and how to us them but since my Blog is not a professional paper or book , I can get away with it
Lorane recently posted…From College to Life : Key Starter Pieces
Haha, I hear you, Lorane! I do the same.
Soooo glad our heroine is re-energized. I just know that whatever she does, it will be brilliant! I am the M-dash queen and know that I over use and mis-use them!
Can’t wait to see and read what comes next!
Ruth Curran recently posted…Energy & the Power to Direct Brain Change
You are the best, Ruth!
Okay, Helene. Now that you have all the rules. Sit your butt down in that chair and break them! Well, some of them. I’m waiting to become a beta reader.
Yes ma’am! And you are my #1 beta reader. xoxo
These are great tips! I tend to over-use the ellipsis but who doesn’t… 🙂
Christina recently posted…Book Review: Building A Framework
Seriously …
I am so glad you are back at it! I am definitely in your cheering section and I am looking forward to hearing you say that you typed, THE END!
What an informative conference it was. My head is spinning and I am so inspired. The best part of course was spending time with you and my other favorite writers. I am really looking forward to 2016!
Doreen McGettigan recently posted…Scary Medication Side Effects…
It was an amazing conference and even better sharing it with you! xoxo
Writing a book can be very, very stressful. These are all very useful and helpful tips.
Seattle Travel Blogger recently posted…5 Foods That Have as Much Vitamin C as Oranges
Great, thanks!
Dear Helene,
This is my first visit to your site, thank you so much for sharing those tips. Oh my, the very first one, I love adverbs. Good to know though and be mindful of showing rather than telling.
Welcome, Terri! I agree 100%. I LOVE adverbs but now I know not to use them. Grrr.
Such a great list of tips. I need all the help I can get with my writing sometimes. Now I just gotta get motivated to write more often!
Courtney recently posted…Ginger dressing.
That’s a big part of it, Courtney. That would be my 11th tip. Set aside time every day, even an hour, for writing and make it a routine.
As someone who is finally writing her first book, this is a timely post with great tips,
Carol Bryant recently posted…Super Sized Pet Blogger Summer Giveaway
Awesome, Carol! Good luck to you!
Great tips. SOmething to share with my students for sure
Laura funk recently posted…Surviving Infertility and Finding Success #TTC #Sponsored
Cool!
Great information. My problem is I write like I speak, I know it’s not proper but that is my style I guess.
Mama to 5 BLessings recently posted…Hunt To Find My Family’s Names #ShareACoke (Almost) Wordless Wednesday WITH Linky
That’s a good thing, Nicole. You should have your own voice in your writing.
Great tips for any writer, especially not writing at certain times of the day. I need to write when I feel inspired to!
Yes, so important, Ashley!
Very helpful information about writing. My good friend is writing her first novel. I will be sharing your post with her.
Debbie L. recently posted…Rodales Organic Life
I wish her luck! Hope my post helps.
I took a few creative writing classes in college. I have to admit that fiction was not my favorite. I love memoir writing, but it took a lot of WORK. Blogging is a great way for me to still write without having to revise, revise, and revise! 😉
Krystal recently posted…Strawberry Kiwi Summer Dessert
Very true. Writing is the easy part — revising is the hard part.
Great tips for the aspiring authors. I dream of writing a children’s book someday!
Annie {Stowed Stuff} recently posted…This Week On YouTube
Good luck, Annie!
I don’t know that I can EVER give up adverbs. Although I guess they are better suited to creative writing. .. good food for thought.
Priscilla – the wheelchair mommy Hedlin recently posted…Nathan’s NF1 story summarized
It’s hard for me to remove them, Priscilla, but I totally get why I should now.
Love these writing tips! Especially the one about starting your story with the action instead of building up to it.
Tonya C recently posted…FREE Birthday Party Printables Designed Exclusively for Jelly Belly
Yes, that is something I need to keep in mind.
I never thought about some of these. Good advice, makes for great reading material!
Heather D. (@GirlGoneMom) recently posted…Real Agent Guard for Agent Safety
Thanks!
Those are all really great tips. I once thought about writing novels but it wasn’t for me at all. 🙂
Amanda Love recently posted…Reasons To Drive Instead Of Fly For Your Vacation
Thanks for stopping by, Amanda!
Such great tips and very helpful. I really enjoyed the distinction between ellipses and m-dashes. Something that often needs reminding!
Absolutely, Kristin!
Oh good! I’m glad it is helpful, Julie.
Thanks for the great tips, Helene. Good luck with the wedding plans. Will your son be staying in Europe?
Pat recently posted…Happy Father’s Day – Thanks for the Swimming Lesson
Thanks, Pat. Yes, they will be staying there for now.
It seems really reasonable that life gets in the way. So you take a breath and now…are you back on the train? Are you redrafting? Inspire me to get back on the train!!!
I am back on the train, and now that you’re going to be off the train, let’s get together and do some writing.
Wow and yes bookmarked!! I do have a book within me and this is also great for blogging too. I can’t thank you enough for sharing this valuable info. I’m a real “tips and tricks” kinda gal so this is right up my alley! <3 love it
Carolann recently posted…Travel And Makeup Application – The Perfect Solution
Wonderful, Carolann! Happy to hear that!
Such good points Helene. I’m going to bookmark this post. I like the thought about importance of setting. My fiction writing is so character driven. I need to think about setting a bit more. Show that to reader. Put my characters in a space that comes alive.
Thank you, Jamie. That was an eye opener for me, too.