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How about reading a contemporary novel, published during the time you are interested in? Then again, remember that regional dialects were more distinctly different in the age before mass media. In talks about this subject with my writers' group, we've come to the consensus that you should...

Okay, I'll take some of that back. I went and read the acceptance letter from PA for Atlanta Nights and they didn't want up-front money, just an agreement for buying a set no. of copies of the book, which is another way of charging for publishing. Here's the link for "the sting." Critters...

Darien, Didn't mean to imply you're lazy, just to let you know that the info is out there and that getting published can be a lot of work. Self-publishing (such as Lulu) still carries a stigma. Those firms are in it for the money they get from the author, so they'll publish anything...

Darien, I've been around the block a couple of times and I'll try to give you some quick advice, since it seems you haven't been googling to find out all this info, which is readily available. Agents? Try AuthorAdvance | The Writers' Community It'll tell you what agents are looking for new...

Good idea. Maybe a set of brass balls to go with them. But you reminded me. My second novel published, The Prisoners of Gender, was a spoof about a princess and a captain changing personalities and having to deal with living as a different gender. I never considered how trans-gender people...

I know the most important thing about writing is to write well and promote interest once you've got the reader on that first page, but how do you get him to look at that first page? My first novel (sci/fi suspense 2006) was published by a new, small publisher and was only available on two...

IMO, conflict is the most important, although it can also be termed suspense. Will the girl get the guy? Will the murderer get caught? The writer must give the reader enough mystery/interest to keep him/her reading. JohnB

Judah, I liked it. A lot of character to your nameless MC. If this is the opening, you need to name her and somehow describe her, one of the trickier aspects of first-person. But it's good, and it's humorous. From what I could glean from your website, it's also erotic, which is good...

This is intriguing and definitely foreshadows a lot. I had a bit of trouble digesting the journal, however, since Jillian doesn't seem the writer type. Could you have her explain that her teacher has told her to keep a journal to improve her spelling and grammar, perhaps? Also, I have a problem...

Yes, I'd read on. A potentially violent protest is a good way to inform the reader that the book is going to be about an emotionally charged issue. You pull the reader into the middle of the story without revealing the entirety of the story. JohnB

It is in the right part of the forum, but I had to click on a link to read it. You should post (paste) it right below where you wrote: What do you think? For one thing, I can't go back and look at your manuscript to check my memory. Notice that you can go down and read all of the prior thread...

You should post your work directly on the forum. Most people won't go to an unknown site that might be a set-up with a virus or something. But, seeing as it's your first post, I took a look. The writing is okay, no obvious problems with spelling, sentence structure, etc., which is better than I...

Oh, sorry. I didn't realize you were one of those who post on a feedback site and don't want feedback unless it's positive. I just went back and read the forum rules and the guidelines for writers' showcase. There is nothing about not critiquing spelling and grammar. There is this in the...

Just wanted to get the word out. My new historical novel, "...and Remember that I Am a Man." is up on my site, Home, along with the young/adult companion novel, Slave Boy, A True Story of the Great Dismal Swamp. The novel has made the quarterfinals of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award...

It's got a good premise, the blindness, but it missed the mark because you're in the MC's point of view. He can't obliterate the planet and still know they are blind. Also, sentences run together and make it difficult to read. I'd work on this more and get into the character's head, lead up...

This is impossible to read. The spelling is attrocious and the sentences poorly constructed at best. Especially the last. From what I can tell you haven't met your daughter yet. Huh? Sorry, JohnB

I may be "doing something right," but it's awfully hard to break into the public's awareness. Established agents and publishers can make plenty of money off "cash cow" writers and celebrity writers like Madonna and Ted Kennedy, Hilary Clinton, etc. who write childeren's books or sleazeball...

Here's how I set up my manuscripts. (I'm assuming you're using ms word.) Use Courier (non-proportional font) 1 inch margins Go to format, paragraph, indents and spacing and set line spacing at exactly 25 Also in format, paragraph, go to line and page breaks and turn off widows and orphan...

I enjoyed your website. Don't apologize for being "self-serving." Who else should you be serving? No one will know about you as a writer unless you put it out there. Good luck with publication. JohnB

Um, I don't think this needs a lawyer. A disclaimer is something used to distance a person, corporation, or other entity from an opinion or comments of someone else. Such as: The information given on this program (or by this announcer, etc) is not necessarily shared by National Public Radio or...