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Midpoint reversal: a mushy-middle solution
June 29, 2020
A successful midpoint reversal will take the mush out of the middle of your novel and keep your readers up late wanting to find out what happens next.
- On the craft
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We are dream-weavers: on the writer's maxim of "show, don't tell"
June 21, 2020
We are dream-weavers, and the one thing we don’t want is for our dreamers (readers) to wake up. We want them to be so caught up in the dream of our fictional world, it’s as though they’re living it themselves.
- On the craft
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Querying strategically
May 24, 2020
Remember, always, that this is a long road.
- Agent interviews
- On the craft
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Out of the gates: how to avoid overused openings in your manuscript
May 20, 2020
It makes sense that many authors endlessly revise their opening pages. Finding the right entry point is no small task.
- On the craft
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Slushpile Standouts: episode two
May 19, 2020
In our second YouTube video, two Darling Axe editors read the first pages of several manuscripts and pose the question: would you turn the page?
- On the craft
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Literary representation: by the numbers
May 17, 2020
It's critical to keep honing your craft, keep reading, and keep writing. There is no way around it: success as a novelist comes only after a tremendous amount of dedication and hard work.
- Agent interviews
- On the craft
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Literary agents on revision
May 09, 2020
You only get one chance with an agent, so don't blow it by submitting your manuscript before it's truly ready.
- Agent interviews
- On the craft
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Query Quest: the journey toward literary representation
April 19, 2020
No one is going to take a chance on your writing—you must prove that you deserve it.
- Agent interviews
- On the craft
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What do lit agents do?
April 17, 2020
Agents can also be coaches and champions. They've got your back in terms of the legal and business side of publishing, and they will ideally be an encouraging ally who will stick with you throughout a long career.
- On the craft
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Slushpile Standouts: episode one
April 06, 2020
In our debut YouTube video, two Darling Axe editors read the first pages of several manuscripts and pose the question: would you turn the page?
- On the craft
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Who's on mic? A primer on VOICE
April 04, 2020
Some may tell you that writers either have a strong voice or they don't. Perhaps it's true that some people have a natural grasp on poetics, but every aspect of the craft—voice included—can be studied, and in studying we all stand to sharpen our art.
- On the craft
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Probably not your mother: on beta readers and critique partners
March 31, 2020
As a fledgling writer, it’s easy to hide in your room and convince yourself your work is brilliant. But if you want to sell it, you must come out of hiding and seek the opinion of others. It’s hard; it might hurt a little at first; but ultimately it’s worth it.
- On the craft
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