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PROSE
Gina L. Mulligan - Historical Fiction Continued
§ §
FROM THE PRES After finishing a work, put 4. Watch out for first
it aside for a few weeks, person – Many agents &
GCW has had excellent and then read it again to editors don’t like it.
speakers in the past. But our see if it’s complete. 5. Don’t get bogged down
speaker for March, Gina Editors work in layers. with backstory. Pick out
Mulligan, was excellent. She Foreign words should be just what’s necessary to
was inspiring, informative and in italics. move your story along.
funny. Thank you, Margie Yee End paragraphs and 6. Anticipate a long
Webb, our chairperson in chapters with lines that process. Her first book
charge of speakers, for draw the reader to the next took 8 years to write.
bringing her to GCW. line. 7. Edit out the history – not
Try moving your last line necessary for the story.
Many members are divided up to the first line of the 8. Watch for Language.
between self-publishing their next section. Especially watch the
book and using an agent and If using real people in your dialogue. Different terms
traditional publishing. The story, be careful to should be explained in
speaker for the month of April maintain authenticity in context.
is Jennifer Chen Tran. She is a character. 9. Pacing, Pacing, Pacing
literary associate agent for If you use real places, still Hold backstory down.
Fuse Literary, located in the around be extra accurate. Keep the story moving by
Silicon Valley. Hopefully she When in doubt about ending chapters with a
will shed some light on how places or persons, leading sentence.
literary agents and traditional fictionalize them. 10. Enjoy Whatever you do,
publishers work, and what The “Why” is often enjoy your writing.
services they have to offer unknown, but it is what
those who want to go the makes or breaks your Drop-In Resource
traditional publishing route. story. People
Jstor.org – good historical
The thoughts of spring:
Internet site. Starting on April 12, and
Spring has sprung upon us, Mulligan’s 10 Hist. Fict. Rules continuing each Drop-In
bringing all the flowers, bees Critique day we will have club
and birds, and sometimes 1. Sweat the small stuff. members set up at a secluded
humans, in full pursuit to It’s good for general spot for members to receive help
promulgate the species. But knowledge. on specific topics. April 12th
Susan
be
Korn
will
on
let’s not forget the greenish 2. Keep your conscience Mentoring. April 26 will be
th
yellow pollen, which torments clean. when in doubt, Skip Michael on Computer
most of us. Happy fictionalize Formatting. May 10 will be
th
Spring….Achoo. Don’t forget 3. Resist judging your Michael O’Haver on Computer
to take your allergy medicine. characters. Research the Graphics. If you are willing to
moral standards of the era. volunteer, see a club officer.
Skip Michael
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