4.8 • 733 Ratings
🗓️ 4 January 2024
⏱️ 80 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe are joined by guest Alicia Clancy, executive editor at Lake Union Publishing. They discuss the need to establish what is real and what is made up in a fantasy query; the importance of physical movement in the opening pages to help with pacing; avoiding vague plot points in your query, especially when relating to the climax; sufficiently explaining why you chose a specific character to focus on in your query letter when writing a multi-POV novel; the importance of including reasons why you're the person to write your story in your author bio paragraph; and being mindful of showing rather than telling.
After which Bianca interviews Chelene Knight, author of Let It Go. They talk about Chelene's various literary initiatives, including the Thrive Coaching Program and Forever Writers Club; writing as a marginalized writer and the pressures associated with that; the 360 view that Chelene has of the publishing world; choosing an audience for your book, rather than trying to appeal to everyone; Chelene's intentions with how she outlined and framed her latest book; and advice to writers who want to publish nonfiction.
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Websites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.com
Bookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwriting
More information about Chelene can be found at: https://cheleneknight.com/
She's also on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bsc_literary_studio/?hl=en
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0:00.0 | It's a new year and time to get fresh eyes on your work in progress. |
0:04.8 | Are you looking for beta readers, some of whom might potentially become writing group members |
0:09.2 | down the line? |
0:10.2 | Are you wanting to be matched up with those writing in a similar genre and or time |
0:15.0 | zone so they can critique your work as you critique theirs at the same time? |
0:19.5 | Your manuscript doesn't have to be complete to sign up |
0:22.1 | for this 3,000 word evaluation. This matchup will be open to registrations from now until the |
0:28.5 | 2nd of March with the matchup emails going out on the 3rd of March. Always such an exciting day. |
0:35.4 | For more information and to register, go to Bianca Moray.com and go to |
0:39.7 | the beta reader matchup tab. And please spread the word, even if you aren't joining the matchup this |
0:45.7 | time. The more writers we have signed up, the better the matches will be. Hello from CC. |
0:52.6 | I'm so excited to announce an all new class called Starting It |
0:56.4 | Right, which is all about how to begin your story in the best place and in the best way. Now, |
1:01.6 | this is going to be a four-day class, so come prepared to take lots of notes. We'll cover the different |
1:06.9 | types of beginnings and how to choose the best one for your story, how to frame your |
1:11.6 | inciting incident in a compelling way, common mistakes writers make when starting a story, |
1:17.3 | how to balance exposition and mystery, how to make readers connect with your protagonist, and how |
1:23.6 | to make the reader want to turn to the next chapter and so much more. |
1:28.3 | And guess what? |
1:29.3 | For the first time ever, there will be an interactive component to my class. |
1:34.3 | Everyone who is registered will have the option of sending in the opening scene of their work |
1:40.3 | for a chance to be critiqued during the webinar. |
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