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Just a few thoughts ...

Does your first pages have these?

8/21/2019

2 Comments

 
1. Do you introduce the theme?
2. Do you have an inciting incident?
3. Do you set the stage for your story?
4. Does your main character cross a threshold?
5. Do you determine your point of view and narrative voice?
6. Do you clearly introduce your protagonist?
7.  Do you have a lot of action?

Also, one of the most important issues and hardest to figure out, when getting your book ready, is having the right title. Authors can take weeks poring over the right title, but you'll know it when you hear or see it. Another concern is having a catchy hook. I remember Oprah once saying during one of her book club sessions that if the FIRST sentence of the book isn't exciting/compelling or intriguing, then more than half the time she would put the book back and choose another. The blurb or back cover summary is also the best chance you have to lure a new reader in, so make it amazing.
Starting with the weather or a dream or back story is not only cliche, but sorry ... boring!
Begin your book in the middle of action and it will hook the reader in.
In the beginning, I knew nothing of writing, except how to spelling well. I wrote my first books with excitement and naivety, only to discover the do's and don'ts of writing. Cliches should be banned from books because it shows the authors lack of imagination.
Here are some examples of cliches
  • in the nick of time
  • only time will tell 
  • a matter of time 
  • at the speed of light 
  • as brave as a lion 
  • as clever as a fox 
  • as old as the hills 
  • as fit as a fiddle 
  • frightened to death 
  • every cloud has a silver lining
Your writing will be some much stronger if you don't use them. Generally, in my first draft, I drop as many cliches into my work in progress as possible, because it leaves me clues when I need to work in my second draft, and also, it doesn't stop my flow of writing. So, yes you can use cliches as long as you delete them all out of the first draft and replace with awesomeness.

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    Lorraine Eljuga

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  • About Me
  • BOOKS
    • Last Descendant of Eve
    • Elementar Series >
      • FlameMaker
      • WaterLover
      • AirWhisperer
      • EarthHealer
      • Gallery
  • Middle Grade Fiction
    • Joey Shoe-Stepper
  • SHOP
  • Writing and editing tips
  • Works In Progress
  • CONTACT
  • BLOG
  • Newsletter