Story Works Round Table

conversations about craft

for writers and readers curious about writers

SWRT 277 | Contests with Paula Sheridan

SWRT 277 | Contests with Paula Sheridan

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida has Paula Sheridan of the Page Turner Awards joining me at the Round Table to discuss contests. We talk the reasons for entering contests, what judges look for, and getting your manuscript in shape before placing it in judge’s hands.

I’m especially excited about today’s show, because Paula founded the Page Turner Awards. She and her husband, Ken, are doing something unique—at least I’ve never of heard of it being done before.

They are bridging the traditional and indie worlds, holding an annual contest for writers of all stripes and any genre in one place. Not only that, a trophy is nice and a gold seal on your cover does boost sales, but how about winning a mentorship with a developmental editor? How about winning your book being adapted to audio or a screenplay?

Visit www.storyworkspodcast.com to grab Paula’s gifts to Story Works Round Table listeners and get links to all the great craft episodes you’ll want to get your work in shape for the judges!

Fiction Group Coaching new session begins in May. Schedule a discovery call with Alida today. www.wordessential.com/editing/coach.

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida has Paula Sheridan of the Page Turner Awards joining me at the Round Table to discuss contests. We talk the reasons for entering contests, what judges look for, and getting your manuscript in shape before placing it in judge’s hands.

I’m especially excited about today’s show, because Paula founded the Page Turner Awards. She and her husband, Ken, are doing something unique—at least I’ve never of heard of it being done before.

They are bridging the traditional and indie worlds, holding an annual contest for writers of all stripes and any genre in one place. Not only that, a trophy is nice and a gold seal on your cover does boost sales, but how about winning a mentorship with a developmental editor? How about winning your book being adapted to audio or a screenplay?

Visit www.storyworkspodcast.com to grab Paula’s gifts to Story Works Round Table listeners and get links to all the great craft episodes you’ll want to get your work in shape for the judges!

Fiction Group Coaching new session begins in May. Schedule a discovery call with Alida today. www.wordessential.com/editing/coach.

SWRT 276 | Things We Say

SWRT 276 | Things We Say

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Kathryn turns the table on Alida. We talk “things we say,” all those bits and bobbles of craft speak that get tossed around but not always defined. What does it mean to be tightly plotted? Does every character need a lie or core wound, and are those the same thing?

SWRT 31: Action Scenes!

SWRT 31: Action Scenes!

What is an action scene? And how should you go about building one? Why is it so important to choreograph your action? And how can you use your narrator to bring clarity? Don’t forget about your senses, using anticipation, and making sure that reader feels what you are trying to convey.

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SWRT 30: Dialogue–dialects, gestures, tags, pet peeves

What are some problems that authors encounter with dialogue? Should you give your character an accent or dialect? And how should you represent that on the page? What makes for good dialogue tags and action beats? We talk pet peeves, our own dialogue tics we struggle with and Include some very entertaining examples of what not to do from Robert!

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SWRT 29: Hooks-Premise & Opening

What is a hook? And what are the different functions they can serve in a novel? How do you craft an opening hook, and what things should you keep in mind as you do? And finally, don’t forget about the value that first sentence can have on your whole work.

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SWRT 28: Third Person Point of View

What is the third person point of view and why is it so popular? How do you use multiple points of view in the third person? And what are the pitfalls that authors encounter? How do you know if a character has earned their point of view? And whose point of view should your next scene be written in?

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SWRT 27: First Person Point of View

Continuing our conversations on point of view, we take a look at first person point of view. We delve into common misconceptions about first person point of view, and challenges that writers face with the viewpoint. How can you utilize first person to develop your characters voice? And why does young adult fiction seem to prefer the first person point of view?

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SWRT 26: Introduction to Point of View

What is point of view, how do we use it, and what are the different nuances behind it? What is a narrator and how does the narrative voice effect the story? Did you pick the wrong point of view characters? And how can point of view create nuance and depth in your writing?

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SWRT 25: Trouble

What is trouble? How does it contribute to both character and plot arcs? How do you have to pay off trouble? And do you have to get it into every scene? We enjoy making a character struggle with a speeding ticket, and talk about how it can contribute to hooks both between chapters and books.

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SWRT 24: Soggy Middle Problem

What is a soggy middle? And what kind of writers tend to have problems with it? Are you giving your middle the attention and care it deserves? And what makes a soggy middle after all? After some much needed middle shaming we all agree – do not tolerate a soggy middle!

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