Next Noble Pen Meeting

October 8th, 2015 at 7 pm

Scott’s Family Restaurant

1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids

News

The Marion Public Library is holding a writers’ event on October 24 with several authors discussing topics such as shaping your writing for an audience segment and publishing.  It’s free and a $5 lunch is available.  Advanced registration is needed to assure a seat.

Victories

Laura and Cassie are getting together with the other Avon contest participants to self-publish an anthology of Regency Romances.

Cassie finished the draft of Death Do Us Part.

Erin returned.  She outlined a story with potential as literary fiction and her first long piece of writing.

Ciuin’s article is in the current issue of City Revealed.  She got an A on a school paper.

Education

It’s been said that your first sentence must get the reader interested enough to read the first paragraph, the paragraph must get them to read the first chapter, and the chapter get them to read the book.   Others break it down to the first three paragraphs, or the first five pages, or first fifty pages, but the idea is widespread.

The first-sentence hook is a good tool for generating interest in your story.

This article (partway down) quotes Nancy Kress, in her book Beginnings, Middles, and Ends, which says in order to hook an editor or reader the first three paragraphs of a story (in a novel perhaps more) should accomplish several things: establish a character, at least hint of conflict, anchor the story in a setting, and demonstrate clear writing with good mechanics.  Others echo the general sentiments. While some may not agree these are hard requirements, few would call them bad attributes for an opening.

Anne R. Allen offers a checklist for things the first chapter needs to do.

Here are some tips on getting readers interested in the rest of the book.

Upcoming Schedule

Oct 8
Nick
Benjamin

Oct 15
Ciuin
Laura

Oct 22
Cassie
Erin

Oct 29
Benjamin
Open slot

Nov 5
Open slots

Keep Writing,
Bill