News: The Fifty-Sixth Issue

December 2024

“Time and tide wait for no man.”  

That quote from Geoffrey Chaucer is so appropriate this time of year. The Fall Semester of classes is finally done and dusted. With any luck, that should give me more opportunities to focus on writing.

Writing

Like most writers, I’m an avid reader. It’s not uncommon for me to read a book a week. Some larger ones, like a Stephen King novel, may take twice that time, but that’s never bothered me.  If the story is good, it will keep me going.

I’m always looking for different authors. One of my favorite sources to discover new talent is the local library. Six times a year they coordinate a used book sale. It’s a great fundraising tool and draws a lot of people in.  Paperbacks are priced three for a buck.  If the title and artwork catch my eye, I’ll check out the back cover. Then I’ll read the first paragraph. Should that sound interesting, I’ll give it a try.

Good authors understand the importance of the hook.  That’s where you catch the readers’ attention right away. Some can do that with the first line. Others may take a paragraph or a page.

 Here are two of my examples. 

 This is the first line from “Rules of Desperation.”

Nicholas Burr would never forget the first time he wanted to kill his wife.

What could his wife have possibly done to warrant such a reaction?

Here are the first couple of lines from “Why 319?”

You never really get used to the smell of a dead body.  It’s that thick, ghastly odor that attacks the nasal passages and stubbornly clogs the back of your through and just hangs there.  It lingers, waiting, like some sadistic culinary delight that you really don’t want to sample.

Most people read that and immediately want to know more. And that’s the key.  A good author will craft a line or a paragraph that hooks the reader.  They can’t leave it alone. They must know more.  So, they keep reading. And that’s exactly what the author wants to happen.

Not every book delivers a good hook. Sadly, not everyone can capture my interest and keep me reading.  If I get twenty pages into the story and don’t really care what happens to the characters, or the writing is stiff and boring, I’ll toss the book into the donation pile.  Life is too short to read stories that don’t engage me.  A writer needs to draw me in, to capture my imagination, to keep me turning pages, trying to figure out what’s going to happen next. 

If you can do that, I’ll stick around AND I’m likely to buy another book from you.  If not, it’s ‘hasta la vista, baby’. 

Works in Progress.

New scenes have been added to my crime novella.  I’ve passed 11,000 words in the first draft, which is encouraging. A couple of new characters have been added, which will strengthen the original cast.  With a target of 25,000 words, I’m still on track.  In a perfect scenario, I’ll have that done before the end of the year.

But as we all know, ain’t nobody perfect.

It should come as no surprise to anyone, me included, that ideas for both the Agonasti novel and what will someday become the fourth Chene book have gotten my attention.  Of course, I had to jot those down in their perspective manuscripts to keep it going.  Once you’re in the flow state, everything just clicks.

A Writing Contest

My good friend, Diana Kathryn Penn, is like the Energizer bunny. She just keeps going. Diana provides editing and promotional services to other authors. She also writes her own books and hosts the monthly remote event in February, where a litany of zany authors will play along in trying to solve a mystery.

It didn’t surprise me recently when Diana mentioned she’s created a writing contest.  There will be cash prizes available.  Diana has three elements to the prompt, to help get you started.  Deadline for submissions is March 1, 2025.  More details are available on the website. https://www.pagespromotions.com