“WE SEE”

Some people hate it, including me, and some people could care less. BUT NOBODY LIKES IT. “We see” is weak because it’s a given. Of course we see it. What’s our other choice? “We see Kate on her knees in the flowerbed.” is ten times less interesting to read than “Kate yanks weeds like an…

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A Cautionary Tale: 3 Writing Rules that Can Derail Your Story

A Cautionary Tale: 3 Writing Rules that Can Derail Your Story kent-dufault: Last year I had occasion to read a batch of ten page manuscript submissions in a hurry, one right after the other. What I noticed was startling in its consistency. All of the writers had clearly sp… This is well worth your reading…

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HOW LONG SHOULD A SPEC BE?

Ideal competition length is no more than 99 pages. If your story starts fast and reads fast and you NEED them, 115 is fine. How can you tell if you need 115 pages? I’ll give you $1,000 for every word you can cut by tomorrow.  

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IS YOUR PROTAG A DOUCHE?

Shit hot protags are unsympathetic and very boring. You may have idealized your protag if: He has a quippy comeback for everything. He comes out on top in every confrontation. His game is solid gold. He has First World Problems. But cocky doucheness is very popular in heroes! Women go crazy for them. Men want…

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