1) Read, read, read.
Reading
within your genre as well as within other genres will make you a better
writer. See what works for you as a reader and what doesn’t.
Incorporate the good traits and resolve to eliminate any bad habits you
observe.
2) Study writing blogs, books, and sites.
You might feel like you’re an expert once you’ve gotten your book published, but there’s always more that you can learn. Writer’s Digest,
other authors’ websites, genre-specific magazines, and writing
newsletters can help you understand what mistakes other authors are
making and how to avoid those mistakes. For instance, one writing ezine
often discusses disreputable publishers and agents, warning other
writers to say away.
3) Watch TV and movies.
Yep,
you read that right. Watching television and movies helps you to
understand what’s popular and can help you to see issues in ways you
might never have considered. Let’s say you watch a detective program. It
could give you insight into why your villain behaves as she does.
Granted, your villain might not be a murderer, but her long history of
abuse could explain her actions.
4) Subscribe to agents’ and editors’ blogs.
They
know the industry like no one else. If you want to know what’s going on
in the publishing world, this is an excellent place to start.
5) Follow Publisher’s Weekly on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pubweekly) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/PublishersWkly).
6) Learn to proofread.
In
order to properly proofread your own work, you might have to read the
story backward or in some other order to truly see the words. When we’re
proofing our stories, we tend to see what we believe is there. If our
intention was to write, “We took the dog to the groomer,” then we’ll see
that even if we’ve actually typed, “We too the dog to the groomer.” The
eye skims right over that missing k, and the mistake isn’t highlighted as such by my word processing software.
7) Learn to self-edit.
Self-editing
differs somewhat from proofreading because it is more involved than
correcting typos. Self-editing includes fixing flaws. Did your character
say something that doesn’t ring true? Have you used the word jump ten
times on the same page? Does your character behave in a way that isn’t
faithful to her personality for no apparent reason? Once you’ve had your
work edited by a professional, you’ll be more aware of what to look
for. In the meantime, do a search for some helpful articles.
8) Listen to how people actually speak.
To
do dialogue well, you need to truly listen to people talking. This is
another good thing about watching movies. The first time I picked up an
Elmore Leonard novel, I thought, “Huh? This guy doesn’t follow the
rules.” But his dialogue rings so true! He uses dialogue to create
characters that are realistic.
9) Experiment.
Write
outside your comfort zone. If you don’t write poetry, try a poem to see
what you can come up with. I took a creative writing class where
students had to read a short story in a particular genre and then write a
story in that genre. We had to write western, science fiction, romance,
horror, mystery, and even how-to instructions. Stretch your limits—you
might be surprised at what you can do.
10) Write.
All the study in the world won’t make you a better writer if you don’t simply put your butt in the chair and write.
Embroidery shop owner Marcy Singer is about to have the rug pulled out from under her….
Marcy can’t wait to see the new exhibit at the Tallulah Falls museum on antique tapestries and textiles, including beautiful kilim rugs. But her enthusiasm quickly turns to terror when, the day after the exhibition opens, she discovers a dead body behind her store, the Seven-Year Stitch, wrapped up in a most unusual fashion.
The victim appears to be a visiting art professor in town for the exhibit. Did someone decide to teach the professor a lesson, then attempt to sweep the evidence under the rug? Along with her boyfriend, Detective Ted Nash, Marcy must unravel an intricate tapestry of deception to find a desperate killer.
Marcy can’t wait to see the new exhibit at the Tallulah Falls museum on antique tapestries and textiles, including beautiful kilim rugs. But her enthusiasm quickly turns to terror when, the day after the exhibition opens, she discovers a dead body behind her store, the Seven-Year Stitch, wrapped up in a most unusual fashion.
The victim appears to be a visiting art professor in town for the exhibit. Did someone decide to teach the professor a lesson, then attempt to sweep the evidence under the rug? Along with her boyfriend, Detective Ted Nash, Marcy must unravel an intricate tapestry of deception to find a desperate killer.
Buy Now @ Amazon
Genre – Cozy Mystery
Rating – PG
More details about the author
Connect with Amanda Lee on Facebook
Website http://www.gayletrent.com
