Tag Archives: novel

A Letter to My Protagonist

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Laura Stanfill

Dear Henri, If you belonged to someone else, you would be at the end of your journey, standing in a glass aviary in Rhode Island, surveying where you have been during drafts one and two. If you belonged to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Revision, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 15 Comments

Author Interview: Bestseller Selden Edwards on The Lost Prince, Using Historical Details in Fiction and Handling Rejections

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Laura Stanfill

I’m so excited to welcome Selden Edwards in celebration of today’s release of his second novel, The Lost Prince. The Little Book, Selden’s dazzling 2008 debut, changed my perception of historical fiction—and the direction of my work-in-progress—when I happened upon … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Fiction, Revision, Seven Questions, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 25 Comments

Reminder: Book Giveaway Ends Tomorrow

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Laura Stanfill

If you haven’t participated in Rejection Week yet, go comment soon for a chance to win a free book. The giveaway closes tomorrow at 5 p.m. West Coast time. I’m giving away two books–a flipback and a copy of A … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Contest, Flipback, Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

It’s Rejection Week!

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Laura Stanfill

Next week might just be the biggest, most exciting week on my blog. Ever. On Monday, I’ll feature a conversation with Yuvi Zalkow, whose debut novel A Brilliant Novel in the Works will be released on Tuesday. You may know him as … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Fiction, Revision, Seven Questions, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 28 Comments

Get the Details Right

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Laura Stanfill

There’s nothing so jarring as to bump up against an ill-placed detail in a story. Especially in historical fiction. One phrase or out-of-place image can make the reader lose faith in the writer. And good writing on some level, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Writing | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

Writing Challenge #17: Cutting Back on Minor Characters

Posted on July 18, 2012 by Laura Stanfill

Writing Challenge #16 focused on using organic metaphors to lend your minor characters more personality. This one is about the opposite–dealing with too many minor characters. Is your novel-in-progress full of bit players who are sitting around doing very little … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Plot, Writing, Writing Challenge | Tagged , , , , | 22 Comments

Writing Challenge #16: Organic Metaphors

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Laura Stanfill

When I was younger, I used similes and metaphors whenever they occurred to me. I’d prop up the story with elaborate, supposedly literary comparisons. Then I learned the importance of such language being organic. A metaphor has to grow out … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Writing, Writing Challenge | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

Line of the Week

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Laura Stanfill

It’s time for another Line of the Week! Please share a line (or paragraph) you’ve worked on in the past week. Leave your selection in the comments, or if you respond with your own blog post, come back and share … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Fiction, Writing | Tagged , , , | 24 Comments

Editing and the Chicago Manual of Style

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Laura Stanfill

I recently finished line editing a novel for a writer friend of mine. It was so exciting to work on her story in a professional capacity. And it gave me a reason to do something that was long overdue: buy … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Fiction, Journalism, Style Talk, Writing | Tagged , , | 22 Comments

A Page of Body Copy–Literary/Women’s Fiction

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Laura Stanfill

After my post about being a product writer versus a process writer, several people suggested I dust my finished literary novel off and get it out in the world. I spent seven years writing and revising BODY COPY, and it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Writing | Tagged , , , | 23 Comments