Writing Excuses Transcripts

Writing Excuses 6.19: Pitching

From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2011/10/09/writing-excuses-6-19-pitching/

Key points: three pitches, one line, three paragraph, deep conversation. Adding more words to a pitch that's failing will sink it faster -- stop. What's it about? Not a plot synopsis -- what kind of book is it, who would like it. Make them say, "Tell me more." Three paragraph -- one concept, something interesting, something cool. Make them say, "I want to read this book." Deep conversation -- let the other person talk about what they find exciting, what they find interesting. Practice your pitches with friends and family.
( Batter up? Three strikes... )
[Brandon] All right. Howard, you've got a...
[Howard] I've got a writing prompt. Take three of your favorite books. Go ahead and look at the back cover copy if you want to. Take three of your favorite books. Write one of each pitch for each of those books, so you're writing nine things. You're learning to pitch somebody else's stuff. Then, and here's the hard part, you need to make one of your friends read one of those books by using those pitches.
[Brandon] All right. This has been Writing Excuses. You're out of excuses, now go pitch.
[Howard] To actual other people.

Writing Excuses Episode 35: Voice, Tone, and Style

From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/10/06/writing-excuses-episode-35-voice-tone-and-style/

Key points: how do you write so that it is distinctive to you? This is NOT something that a starting writer should worry about too much -- they need to focus on characters, plot, and setting. One stylistic thing for starting writers is to pay attention to using said and asked instead of said-bookisms. Another point (lost in the transcription) was to watch for overuse of very, adjectives, and favorite words. And the main suggestion for developing a style - practice, practice, practice. Find what you're good at and emphasize that, avoid what you're not good at.
( hiding details to save friend's pages )
[Brandon] Writing prompt: take a scene -- just a quick scene -- then write it as Dan would write it, then write it as Brandon would write it, and then write it as Howard would write it.
[Dan] should we give them a scene? Maybe the "Luke, I'm your father" scene from Star Wars?
[Howard] no, make it the romantic confession scene from Star Wars Episode Two