JanetRussek: Dear fellow writers,
Reviewing your work is like receiving precious pearls. It has given me a tiny peek into your souls, changed some of my views and opinions, and taken me places I've never been. You've made me laugh and made me cry. I am grateful for your amazing talent.
Warm Regards
    pipersfancy: Thank you for sharing such a lovely sentiment! -
    Dawn Munro: Likewise. I'm glad to have stumbled over your work! -
    A.A.A.EXHILARATING RIDE: What a lovely comment! And, same from me to all to you Janet, and all FanStorians! And comments and replies can oft even more, bring another soul towards me, so both are enhanced and unfold anew from that moment. A moment that becomes a unique blossom in the canvas of my life, or a precious pearl in a string! Blessings, now to read your poem on suicide! Maureen*&* -


JanetRussek: To each of you,

I appreciate very much the interest and the advice you kindly shared. I'm taking it all to heart and will put it to good use. Thank you very much.
Warm Regards


JanetRussek: Something troubles me when I'm writing a novel. I'd like your thoughts. Those Inevitable chapters that are descript; set the scene or series of thoughts. Sometimes they can be boring because there's not much action going on. I'm tempted to hurry through to get to the nuts and bolts. Yet without those chapters I could tell the story in 20,000 words or less. Do you have any suggestions or advice?
Warm Regards,
Janet
    nor84: Some people rip the story out all the way and then go back and write in more dialogue, more scenes, etc. That doesn't work for me, although the first draft of a manuscript is always S--t, as Hemingway said. You'll have to go back anyway to clean it up. If you think you're dumping in too much description, you're probably putting doing so in big chunks of backstory or description. Break up the big chunks. Cut the urge to bring in the story of what happened to characters before the time of THIS story, unless it's important to the reader. (It's always important to the writer, but the reader wants to keep moving forward to see if the character is going to get whatever it is he wants.) Dialogue is a good way to insert needed backstory. Have the character tell someone else what it is that happened before this story, but keep the dialogue exchanges short.

    I hope this helps. -
    Kingsland: When writing a novel or a storyline. First you write with your heart, then you go back and rewrite with your head... -
    vapros: 'Boring' is a terrifying word, to a writer. Personally, I won't read very many boring pages - I'm here to be entertained. Whether you can stretch a 20,000 word story to novel length depends on how good you are. If you, as the author, suspect your material is boring, imagine how the reader sees it.

    Could it be that you have only a novelette? -
    michaelcahill: Hi Janet. You sound exactly like me a year ago. :) All of the above is good advice. What you are telling yourself is good advice too. That feeling of wanting to jump ahead to the "good stuff" is something I know well. You should do just that, jump ahead to the good stuff. Do like Nor says, let the back story in through dialogue and let it in gently without slowing things down. Posting here is a little strange because we're trying to have a mini cliffhanger every thousand words or so. However, in one sense, it's a good way to keep your reader on the hook. You'll have to fix that when you turn it into a real book, but it is good practice. When you read your reviews, ignore the praise and look for the critique and real help. It's fine if someone likes your story or style, but that won't improve your writing. In spite of the bruises to my ego, I LOVE the people who gave me real advice and told me the TRUTH about what I was offering. -
    Sankey: AMEN Mikey (Michael Cahill) no expert this way but I like your advice long time buddy and friend. -
    Sankey: AMEN Mikey (Michael Cahill) no expert this way but I like your advice long time buddy and friend. -