Category Archives: opening scene

Thrill Ride: Nine Questions for Jump-Starting a Novel

Posted on September 11, 2014 by SharonJoss

Here another useful tool I use when I’m dancing around, trying to find my plot. I find that once I’m able to answer the following 9 questions, the story has pretty well coalesced and I’m ready to start outlining and/or … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014, character development, developing plot, extraordinary, Getting Into Character, goals, hook, interesting characters, jump-start, making stuff up, novel, opening scene, Openings, plot threads, Sharon Joss, Starting a novel, story, story concept, structure | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

And So It Begins…

Posted on June 7, 2014 by SharonJoss

Time to start a new novel. Every new novel feels like the beginning of a whole new life, and in some ways, it is. I’ve got new people to discover, new adventures to plot, new risks to take. And while … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014, novel, opening scene, outline, pacing, Perseverance, persistence, plot, Sharon Joss, Thriller, write, write every day, writer, writers write, writing, Writing, writing goals, writing speed | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Joy of Having Written

Posted on October 8, 2013 by SharonJoss

I finished editing the final six chapters on AURUM today.  I’m done.  Finished, Finito. This is my fourth completed novel.  The joy and lightness of spirit that comes with having written is a high I’ve now experienced four times, but … Continue reading →

Posted in 2013, ambition, author, award-winning author, best seller, Best Sellers, butt in chair, celebrate, don't give up, editing, Favorite New Author, Joseph Campell, Larry Brooks, learning the craft, manuscript, more problems than the average bear, novel, novels, opening scene, prosperity, published, query, Research, revising, revisions, Robert McKee, Save the Cat, scene, science fiction, Sharon Joss, short story, speculative fiction, story structure, story worthy problem, write, write every day, writer, writers write, writing business | Leave a comment

Memorable Characters OR, How Feedback On Chapter One Got Me A Better Ending

Posted on August 11, 2012 by SharonJoss

The first three chapters of GLAMOUR have been critiqued by no less than 15 readers.   The feedback I got regarding one of the characters in Chapter One had been both positive and consistent; everybody loved ‘Justin’, and couldn’t wait to … Continue reading →

Posted in bookends, critique, final scene, hook, Justin, memorable character, opening scene, resonance | Leave a comment