Posts by heatherwebb

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WINNERS–Opening Line Contest

Posted by on Feb 24, 2012 in Writing Tips | 1 comment

Thank you to everyone who participated. I had a blast reading your opening lines! This wasn’t easy–many of them intrigued me. So how did I manage to choose? Your entry made the top three if it: 1. Met the 160 character limit. (If your entry ran over, I chopped off the remainder of your sentence and judged from there.) 2. Was Concise, punchy, and attention-grabbing 3. Caught both my attention as well as Shari’s.   PRIZES FIRST PLACE: A critique of your opening chapter up...

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OPENING LINE CONTEST

Posted by on Feb 10, 2012 in Writing Tips | 46 comments

We’ve been discussing trite openings and plotlines the last couple of weeks here at BETWEEN THE SHEETS.  With so much blather about what is good and what isn’t, how to be inspired, and how to avoid falling between the cracks, I’ved decided to run a contest–an opening line contest. And I have some VERY EXCELLENT PRIZES. Trust me. You want to enter. So let’s do it! WHAT Submit the most creative opening line (of a novel) you can come up with in 160 characters or...

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Overdone Plotlines & What to Do About Them (Part Three of Three)

Posted by on Feb 7, 2012 in Writing Tips | 5 comments

We’re continuing our discussion of how to avoid writing trite openings or overused plotlines. We’ve reviewed a list of the most common storylines in PART 1 and how to devise a grabby intro in  PART 2. In part three, let’s take a look at what makes a story original…and how the heck to create one.  MAKING STORIES ORIGINAL SUBPLOTS You’ve probably read somewhere there are only thirty some-odd character archetypes and even fewer journeys for the human psyche. So how...

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Overdone Plotlines & What to do About them (Part Two of Three)

Posted by on Jan 29, 2012 in Writing Tips | 3 comments

So you noticed you made the list of overused plotlines or openings in Part One  HERE. Or maybe you didn’t, but you’d like a little advice on how to flex your creative muscles. You’ve come to the right place. Let’s start with– OPENINGS Everyone will tell you opening scenes are important. Almost more important than any other part of a book…except maybe the climax. If your opening doesn’t ROCK, your book will sink like a stone, out of sight and into the...

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Overdone Plotlines & What to Do About Them (Part One of Three)

Posted by on Jan 19, 2012 in Writing Tips | 13 comments

You’re a creative genius. You’re really going to knock their socks off with this A-M-A-Z-I-N-G storyline. Are you sure you’re original? I asked an agent, who will remain nameless, the most overused, overwrought storylines and openings. Here’s the list– Trite Openings: 1. Bad Weather creates problems for protagonist 2. Protag wakes up from a baaaddd dream, or even a good one 3. Protag is standing on a battlefield or hill overlooking the wreckage 4. Protag wakes up...

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