From looking at thousands of manuscripts over the last decade, Belea Keeney has identified the five most common mistakes writers make. 1. Problems with point of view (POV). The writer must establish with the reader which character's head the writer is in. The omniscient narrator is out of fashion with … Read More
“Write what you know,” Fiordalisi said. Accurate details of the business or industry in which your book is set will increase your book’s credibility. You may think your work experience unworthy of a story, but others will disagree. Secretaries, for example, have a wealth of knowledge they can base a … Read More
Rebecca Heflin, Gainesville author of contemporary romance, revealed many secrets of writing for fun and profit in her March 12 PowerPoint presentation. Too bad we cannot include all of them here. She stressed the importance of voice, saying that "a bad editor can take away the author's voice; don't let … Read More
Kassandra Lamb, retired psychotherapist turned mystery writer, presented seven lessons she has learned about including social issues in fiction: show, don’t tell; do your research; make readers care about the character; don’t stereotype; keep it balanced; expect some push back; and be open to learning from your characters. “Authors must show readers … Read More
Professor Emeritus Ronald W. Haase, who taught architecture for twenty years at the University of Florida, shared his experience of transitioning from the college teaching environment to creating fiction, while incorporating his respect for and knowledge of architecture. In his presentation, Haase explored with good humor the good, the bad, … Read More
At WAG's June general meeting, Advantage Publishing Editor Jackie Smith gave aspiring writers tips from the editor’s side of the desk. Freelancing allows writers a flexible schedule and the potential for earnings “on the side.” Editors like to use freelancers because it allows for more diversity in content. On the … Read More
Terry Martin-Back enthusiastically told of using his background in construction and real estate to write and sell non-fiction books useful for homeowners at the July 9 WAG meeting at Millhopper Library. He emphasized that writing is a business, whether you want to sell your work or not. At minimum, both … Read More
