Nathan Bransford - The Forums

About the song that changed my story...for the better.

http://saraflower.wordpress.com/

Thank you guys! :)

This is the first part of my first chapter. Please let me know what you think. Thank you! :) If this isn't a dream, then I must be mad. Gabriel looked over his shoulder. The dark silhouette of the ghostlike horseman was closer than before. He kicked his mare's heaving sides. It had become nearly too...

sierramcconnell wrote:Okay, I'm really really guilty of wanting to know what people look like. I want to know their eyes, their hair, their clothing. I want to know DETAILS down to if they have a swingin' chain on their pocket.

I'm pathetic that way, because I like details about characters.

I`m the EXACT same way!!

I`m no expert on queries, but I think your query successfully brings the reader into the drama and excitement of the story. It captures that early adult, twenty-something voice of your main character very well. I`m thinking you should mention the fiance earlier on and simply tell what the startling ...

dgaughran wrote: You think it's unprofessional to have a website about your unpublished works in progress? That is just ridiculous. In fact, the opposite is true. Take a look at my website below for an example.

Great work on the website! Very professional. I like it.

I'd consider a battle scene opening as the inciting complication of the tale. The cause that propels a protagonist into action. For instances, a veteran warrior disillusioned with war by the battle or retired prematurely by the battle, the aftermath of the battle sets in train a series of events le...

If this is a Work In Progress, forget you ever heard this advice and just keep writing. When you get to the end, after throwing yourself a Huzzah! A Book of Mine Own! Party (these last about eight minutes, then it's time to catch up on showering and reading the mail), go back and look at the scene....

The Pawn by Steven James.

I wrote about critique buddies. I mentioned this forum, too. I hope that was okay!! :)

http://saraflower.wordpress.com/

Is it too cliche to have a battle at the beginning of a fantasy story? I wrote a fighting scene in mine before I found out that a lot of people do this. *Sigh* I have read that some agents say they have seen too much of this in fantasy. Is it worth it to begin the story sometime before the battle ta...

(This is my first time trying to use the strikeout/red insert, so I may not have done it right. Sorry if I didn't. But hopefully it will make sense when I submit it.) Anyway...I really liked reading your excerpt. I liked the little beginning/not a prologue...forgot what you called it...but I have t...

I decided not to do a prologue, but rather put in a small excerpt from a later chapter in the book to hint at what will happen later. Let me know what you think about the idea along with any other suggestions. Thanks! :) Possessed - Chapter One If this isn't a dream, then I really am mad. Gabriel lo...

stephmcgee wrote:You might consider, too, self-publishing. I have a good friend, Michelle Davidson Argyle, who self-pubbed her novella. Now she has a deal with a small press for her debut novel.

Nice!! Good for her. But self publishing is not an option for me right now. Someday I might consider it though.

I know people say the Big Houses don't like literary or novellas, but #2 treated me quite well. And that is pretty encouraging! As a matter of fact, Penguin is open to unagented submissions right now...or at least they were recently. I wasn't paying attention, but you might check out their website,...