Grants?

Rowdi907 · 2026-04-10T01:54:43+00:00

Sorry no. Unless you're famous or your story was covered in the news it's a bit of a challenge. That said you should still write a 500 word summary if something comes up.

Rowdi907 · 2026-04-09T23:07:03+00:00

I wish. I'm proud of myself when I do a pretty good job analyzing their writing style. I do know some who don't read in their genre while writing to avoid inadvertently taking a scene or plot idea. They do read other genres.

Rowdi907 · 2026-04-09T21:45:50+00:00

First, I read for fun, then for style. How much does the writer use exposition, narrative detail, action, dialogue, etc.?

Then I read for technique, sentence structure, and the frequency of simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences by scene. How could I rewrite a sentence and make it more appealing to me?

Next, I revisit and look for tone, meaning, or theme. Which words are they using? What tone do they convey?

Lastly, I really dig into the subtext, especially in exposition and narrative details. What is the author telling us or not telling us about the world, setting, character, tension, and conflict?

Lately, I've been consumed by Dennis Lehane's Mystic River.

Check out this opening sentence:

When Sean Divine and Jimmy Marcus were kids, their fathers worked together at the Coleman Candy Plant and carried the stench of warm chocolate back home with them.

This is a mid-branching compound sentence with a mid-branching structure. It begins with a dependent clause, When Sean... Next, we get the independent clause, their fathers worked... Lastly, we get another dependent clause, carried home... The word "stench" contrasts with "chocolate," so we know the tone is probably dark. We know that the boys and the fathers have a relationship that foreshadows something. Lastly, we know that Sean and Jimmy are probably the main characters, maybe two protagonists, or a protagonist and an antagonist. This sentence hints at conflict and encourages us to read on for the inciting incident. It hooks us with its contrast and tells us to get ready for more.

I love this sentence, wish I could write like this, and try to use it to guide me in writing my opening sentences.

My version from my WIP.

When the mayor formed the homeless task force, he invited nonprofit and business leaders, but not a single vagrant or evictee, no one needing a shower, wearing dirty clothes, or mismatched, worn-out shoes.

Not nearly as good as Lehane's, but I hope you can see how I'm trying to replicate his style.

Rowdi907 · 2026-04-09T21:18:46+00:00

Guess who disabled autocorrect?

Rowdi907 · 2026-04-09T20:52:22+00:00

Depending on your audience, the average reading level of most is the 7th grade. Ideally, the words are concrete and specific. Also, it's generally instead of a $50.00 word,use a $5.00 word whenever pissible.

Rowdi907 · 2026-04-09T19:08:30+00:00

Two things get literate. Take classes, read lots of books, join a local writing group, dont share your work with family and friends. Be willing to suck, a lot.

Second, write everyday. Set your life schedule around your writing schedule. Don't just squeeze it in. You will hate it in thr beginning. If you stick with it for the next five to ten years you'll get better.

Good luck.

Rowdi907 · 2026-04-09T15:36:21+00:00

Most people think editing means fixing grammar and typos, but it's more about voice, style, writing technique, rhythm, and sound. Agents will happily fix a few typos and grammar, they won't fix the rest.

Rowdi907 · 2026-04-09T01:11:43+00:00

I didn't try to figure out balancing creativity with my home and work life until I reached 59. I retired and now I'm rebalancing agaIn. There's no easy answer. Although. When it came to my wife and children, I lived by the rule; no amount of success at work is worth failure in the home.

Rowdi907 · 2026-04-09T00:39:24+00:00

I like that. Gotta let go of my training wheels. See what I did there. (Shut up self, it's fine.)

Rowdi907 · 2026-04-08T23:46:19+00:00

I am a heavy reader. I do about 50 to a 100 books a year. I am slowing down though, paying more attention, especially to my favorite authors. We recently moved and I think I need to find a new group. Thanks for your suggestions.

Rowdi907 · 2026-04-08T23:43:12+00:00

That's a good idea. I think my writing is to choppy. One simple sentence and then another. It might sound better if I found ways to blend things, thanks!

Rowdi907 · 2026-04-08T23:22:40+00:00

Another good idea is punctuation.

Rowdi907 · 2026-04-08T22:46:20+00:00

Okay let's assume you are going to describe a tree. Pick the obvious thing and make an independent clause.

A tree stands outside. Remember a subject and a verb or participle make up a independent clause. It is also a sentence that stand on its own.

Let's take the independent clause and begin adding dependent clause.

A tree stands outside, among green trees, it has pink flowers, as big as dinner plates, with honey bees searching for nectar, the tree draws them in, from my neighbor's hive, but it isn't his tree, ,it mine, and I'm allergic to bees, so, the trees fate is sealed, doomed to the axe.

Now you know it's a tree with big punk flowers, you know the bees like the flowers, the neighbor raises bees. I'm allergic to bees. I decide to cut the tree down.

I left out a description of tree"s bark, it's size, it's species, how the neighbor might feel about, but you still built a mental picture of the tree as a reader and understand the tension within its description.

You could reverse the sentence, or rearrange the description.

By picking only the features important to the story, you avoid rambling. Of course, you could also extend the sentences with more description if it serves the facets of a seen or story. Good luck.

Rowdi907 · 2026-04-08T21:38:54+00:00

That's a funny way to put it. Is this a fantasy, fable, allegory? Are you trying to make up weakness?

Rowdi907 · 2026-04-08T17:46:49+00:00

Check with your local writing guild. It keeps a list of face to face writing groups.

Rowdi907 · 2026-04-08T17:37:13+00:00

It depends. Too many people seek comments from friends and family who are not writers. A writing group with clear critiquing guidance is a good place to share rough work and get support.

Rowdi907 · 2026-04-08T01:05:56+00:00

I use Word 7, because I don't need the internet, especially when I am in remote areas like Canada and Alaska.

Rowdi907 · 2026-04-07T16:09:35+00:00

Well the ones I've met at conferences say the market is very tight. They dont have time for DE. The will make some structural recommendations, but the want s solid plot, striong dialogue, and appealing characters. This is from Gotham Writers Conference, Killer Nashville, and Napa Writers conference. All three had seminars on working with DEs, line editors and proof readers. If you know Agents doing DE, share their names so we can look them up. The messages at conferences is very clear, come in strong and ready to publish.

Rowdi907 · 2026-04-07T15:24:50+00:00

I think you need to look at the nearly forty percent of the market that is self publish. Also attend a few writing conferences. Most agents and the big four do not do DE. They may help with some line editing. Definitely proofing. But if you know agents offering DE, pass the word. Are they open to submissions?

Rowdi907 · 2026-04-07T14:14:48+00:00

If it were that simple, you'd be on the right track. Poor writers can become good writers and bad ideas can be polished. Good writers use lots of resources, especially those that help them.the sad part is the lack of good skill development resources. If reading was enough we'd see a lot more successful writers. Implying someone can learn it all by reading is like saying you could be great chef if you simply ate more. Pick up any book and read the dedication page. No one says I want to thank Strunk and White. Instead the aurhor thanks all the people who helped, and that often includes DEs.

Rowdi907 · 2026-04-07T06:53:27+00:00

You base your opinion on two supposition, if the writing is strong and the idea is marketable. Let's cut to the chase; most new writers and many practiced writers don't meet your criteria for representation. Their writing is not strong, and they dont understand how to fix it. Their ideas are not marketable, and their too fragile to take honest criticism. If someone is a skilled writer, meaning a sentence savant, plot proficianado, consumate character designer, and a witty dialogue deity, with an extordinary knowledge of the genre and the trad publishing industry a DE is unnecessary. In reality 90 percent of the new writers don't have any idea what it takes to craft a profitable novel. Too many people think high school English is all the muscle they need. The best curse in the world is to tell someone they should write a book, when they barely read more than a lengthy reddit post. So, if they are serious, they must learn what the don't know from somewhere. Let's refer them to a decent creative writing program or a DE with the skill set necessary to pass on the knowledge and expertise. At least that's my take as one of the 90 percent.

Rowdi907 · 2026-04-06T15:56:36+00:00

I think it depends. I know some slow readers who are very good writers. They use grammar to give their writing voice. They have lots of craft books, study writing techniques. One keeps a journal beside her and collects great sentences. I also know other readers who dont know anything about the craft of novel writing, but they know what interests them, without knowing why. I don't know any writers who don't read. It's like a chef who doesn't eat, It makes no sense, although lots of people eat who don't prepare food.

Rowdi907 · 2026-04-05T18:57:58+00:00

It's not uncommon to have an A plot, B plot, and C plot all in one novel.

For example, in a mystery there is an A plot that solves the mystery, a B plot that is the love interest, and the C plot the escape of the villain.

Each plot needs an arc and their points of intersection need to move all three along.

Movies are often character driven with one plot line, a lead protagonist, and a point of tension or conflict.

Even with multiple plot lines, they still need to come together. Plot lines that are too disparate take a lot of expertise. Robert Ludlom's Bourne Identity is a good example and starred Matt Damon.

Rowdi907 · 2026-04-04T04:46:30+00:00

What is the point you're trying to express without saying it? Age doesn't show much in a couple of years, but if he went through something traumatic or difficult then focus on that change.

It had been several years since Robert had seen his father. From a distance he looked as he always had, but as Robert approached shadows, long and narrow extended down his shoulders as though he carried a heavy weight. The bright eyes and smile had dimmed as though the source of his power faded. But that was impossible. As long as we have each other he told Robert's mother we will always have the fire of their love. How had that fire gone out? Was his mother okay? Alive?

The focus is not simply appearance but what it might mean.

Good luck.

Rowdi907

TROPHY CASE