by DianneSalerni | Jul 15, 2011 | writing
Whether it’s a matter of consciously choosing them, or visualizing my characters and letting them naturally develop, I try to give each of my characters specific mannerisms that belong to them alone. I usually give them more than one, because most of us have more than...
by DianneSalerni | Jul 13, 2011 | writing
It takes months for most of us to write an entire manuscript, and unless you recursively read all your chapters as you go, there might be quite a gap between the writing of Chapter 1 and the writing of Chapter 30. I find that when I go back and read the entire thing...
by DianneSalerni | Jul 11, 2011 | Pocono Mountains
That’s a picture of the Salerni crew whitewater rafting on the Lehigh River in the Pennsylvania Pocono Mountains a couple weeks ago. Yes, we’re all having a great time, except possibly for Gabbey, who is clearly wondering, “WTH were my parents thinking???” This...
by DianneSalerni | Jul 8, 2011 | First Impressions
Our final critique for First Impressions in July is Hot Flashes and Cold Lemonade, a novel by Susan Swiderski. Pearl Bryzinski emerged from her house, sniffed the air, and stretched. Dark clouds bulged overhead, poised to dump yet another load of wintry...
by DianneSalerni | Jul 6, 2011 | First Impressions
Today’s post is our second First Impressions critique for July. This is the opening page of a YA dystopian novel called MASQUE, by Sarah Keith. I knew what was wrong even before my mother started weeping. There was only one reason for someone to ring at our house at...
