In this episode, I'm doing a little countdown of some of the best and most listened-to clips from the Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast in 2022. Here's a preview of what you'll hear in the episode:
[01:40] Tip #10: Test out your idea by writing a 1-2 sentence summary of your entire story, focusing on the main story thread.
[04:15] Tip #9: Create a scene-by-scene roadmap for your entire story (and then pressure-test it!) before you start writing.
[07:10] Tip #8: Write (and edit) your story in scenes, not chapters! This will help you stay on track and produce a well-paced story.
[10:40] Tip #7: Not everything that happens in a story needs to be dramatized in a full-blown scene. Sometimes, you can summarize!
[13:05] Tip #6: Establish your character’s mental and emotional state at the very beginning of each one of your scenes.
[16:45] Tip #5: When you finish writing a first draft, the very first thing you should do is take a break!
[19:50] Tip #4: Make sure something meaningful happens in your opening pages if you want to catch the reader’s attention!
[22:35] Tip #3: If you want to hook an agent’s attention with your query letter, don’t be vague when summarizing your story–be specific!
[25:15] Tip #2: If you want to get a traditional publishing deal, consider self-publishing (first) to gain experience and grow your audience.
[26:55] Tip #1: Don’t assume a traditional publisher will provide significant marketing help if you get a book deal.
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