What do you do when a minor character is so much fun you can’t let her go? You plot a novel just for her. That story became The Arranger, a futuristic thriller involving two wildly different concepts: a software technician who devolves into a killer and a national endurance competition called the Gauntlet. This unusual story developed from several ideas that came together for me: Read more →
So many great names were entered! Interestingly, I’ve already used several of the names in the story, such as the first name Jason and the last name Morton. And I liked the Melinda Becker suggestion, but I used Bekker as a major character in my last Jackson story. I almost picked Jodi Hansen because it’s a great name, but I know two lovely women named Jodie, one of whom is my editor, so I just couldn’t kill someone named Jodi. Read more →
I edit a lot of fiction, and I see a pattern of common problems in manuscripts from novice writers. The most important involve the bond between story and character. If you want an agent or editor to get past the first page, here’s 10 things to keep in mind.
1. Make your main character want something. Read more →
