The parallels between a stage and a book are compelling. You, like all authors, create 'characters' in a 'setting' who speak 'dialogue' encased in 'scenes.' Most importantly, you - like the playwright - have an 'audience.' Nancy Kress audienceauthorbook share on social
Questions that require answers are what keep readers going - and the place to start raising those questions is with your very first sentence. Nancy Kress answerplacequestion Change image and share on social
Even if your novel occurs in an unfamiliar setting in which all the customs and surroundings will seem strange to your reader, it's still better to start with action. The reason for this is simple. If the reader wanted an explanation of milieu, he would read nonfiction. He doesn't want information. He wants a story. Nancy Kress actioncustomexplanation share on social
Readers want to see, hear, feel, smell the action of your story, even if that action is just two people having a quiet conversation. Nancy Kress actionconversationfeel Change image and share on social
Without coffee, nothing gets written. Period. Nancy Kress coffeeperiodwrite Change image and share on social
In one sense, every character you create will be yourself. You've never murdered, but your murderer's rage will be drawn from memories of your own extreme anger. Your love scenes will contain hints of your own past kisses and sweet moments. Nancy Kress angercharactercreate share on social
For the professional writer, stories must be presented as a series of individual scenes, each one dramatized with dialogue and telling descriptions of who is present and what they're all doing. Nancy Kress descriptiondialoguedramatize Change image and share on social
Every story makes a promise to the reader. Actually, two promises, one emotional and one intellectual, since the function of stories is to make us both feel and think. Nancy Kress emotionalfeelfunction Change image and share on social
The truth is, you have about three paragraphs in a short story, three pages in a novel, to capture that editor's attention enough for her to finish your story. Nancy Kress attentioncaptureeditor Change image and share on social
The most-asked question when someone describes a novel, movie or short story to a friend probably is, 'How does it end?' Endings carry tremendous weight with readers; if they don't like the ending, chances are they'll say they didn't like the work. Failed endings are also the most common problems editors have with submitted works. Nancy Kress askcarrychance share on social