Let’s try something new

I think this is a great idea. As much as I like to type to hear myself think…it’s always nice to know what people might want to know. I suspect Joe means you can direct specific questions to specific contributors, as well…but that’s just a guess. If there is anything specific you’d like ME to mention, just let me know.

DNW

Me, too. All you have to do is ask. Thank you, Joe, for the innovation. Again, Happy, Healthy New Year to all.

–Janet

I recently read a novel written in first person. It is the author’s second novel . I liked the story a great deal but felt that it suffered somewhat in it’s execution because of it’s point of view.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of writing in the first person? What are the pitfalls and common traps one may end up in? How does one balance the need to relate general history/ political/social background events when only one limited perspective is in play? What are the ear marks of a successful first person novel? What should I be looking for as a reviewer when I review first person writing?

Happy New Year to one and all!

Terry

Are there any “dead” classic horror subjects? Should ghosts, vampires, werewolves, mad scientists and chainsaw-wielding maniacs be retired? Do we face inventing all new terrors, or is there redemption in reimagining?

-Julia Sevin

Teresa asked a question I was going to…so here goes the Basic Writing 101 question I’m hoping all the established writers on this site can answer in their sleep - Can anyone provide examples of a great query letter to an agent, or at the very worst explan the do’s and dont’s? The novel I’m working on is a stand alone, BUT is also the 2nd part of a 3 part (cliched, I know) trilogy - there is a prequel and a sequel I want to write. Should I mention that when pitching my current novel to agents? Should I do the old Hollywood pitch by saying my novel is X meets Y with a dash of Z?
THANKS!!!

Can you get to sleep when there is a story idea buzzing away in your head, and if so - HOW!

I wonder if we should all pick something here and stake out the territory, or just hope the questions get answered?

Janet would be a great person to address the agent question, since she founded an agency…

I could handle almost any of the others…and might try giving my version of an answer to all of them in my next essay. Mine for this month (January) is already written…but…

DNW

I’d like some clarification on submission do’s and don’ts. Should I always include a cover letter even if not one’s not requested in the market guidelines? If so, should I include a bio (again, even if it’s not requested) and should that bio be in the third person? Is there any etiquette for follow ups if I haven’t heard anything well past the published response times? For electronic submissions, when they are to be posted in the body of the email, I lose the formatting. Should I double space the story again?

Thanks,
Sam

I asked Brian Keene this, but it might be fun for someone who’s stuck with a column deadline… How did your family/in-laws/co-workers recieve your interest in writing horror fiction? For my husband and his in-laws (my family), admitting homosexual tendencies might (possibly) have been easier for them to take. Maybe. (Poor man.)

So, are there any good ‘coming out’ stories? or were you all lucky and didn’t need to ‘come out’?

well hello there.About time we readers get to ask things…i wanted to ask you guys this thing since i first saw this great site two months ago.Here goes:i’m a wannabe fantasy writer,because i can’t publish in my own country,because most people here never heard of such literature as f/sf/h.So my question is…can a foreign author make it in the us/uk or whatever country that actually publishes fantasy? I’m scared a little.I want to submit, even short stories would be fine, but i don’t know what to expect.I’ve never published before(except a few articles),let alone in english.Let alone fantasy stories.So, how can i try?How can i start?Please, need your help.Thann you in advance.You could use my email to answer, if you please:vlad_fratila at ceainyk dot ro. Thanks and keep up all this great work!

Bailey Hunter recently posted at the Horror Library blog about happy endings in dark books. I’d like to see the themes of happy ending versus tragic ending, resolution versus non resolution explored in an essay, as well as whether a hero’s death or an antagonist’s survival necessarily make an ending downbeat.

I know I’m being like the annoying kid in class who keeps interrogating the teacher. (Who am I kidding — I WAS that kid!) But I have another good question, and I’m genuinely interested.

Is there a surefire way to come up with a good title for a work? Furthermore, what constitutes a good title? Something intriguing, or something direct? A commentary on the text itself? How long should it be? Should it be original or traditional in its style?

Thanks, and I’ll try to restrain myself in the future,
Julia

I have a question regarding story setting. If you set your piece in a location that you don’t have firsthand knowledge of (say the Arizona desert, while you live on the East Coast), how do you go about creating a believable backdrop? I realize that research is required, but what are good, reliable sources (aside from actually travelling to, say, Mozambique)? And how much detail do you need? I have read stories where the author will decribe a character driving and get into “He turned left and headed East on Lambert Street for three-tenths of a mile…” While I personally don’t feel that this specificity really makes or breaks a story, I can relate to why it is done. I find this to be the most daunting task to creating a story, and it is probably the thing that scares me the most. I don’t want to make something up and have someone from that neck of the woods be pulled out of the story by something like this. BTW, I read Mr. Moore’s December 12, 2005 bloig on believable scenes, and this was helpful, but I suppose my quandry is somewhat more specific. Any insight(s) that your bloggers could give would be very much appreciated. Thank you for your time.
Todd Cauley