Free e-book for friends of FtQ
In appreciation for all of the readers who visit and contribute to this blog, I'm making a free PDF copy of my book available until April 1, 2009. In return, I ask you to sign up for "NewsNotes," a sporadic email notice about workshops, appearances, and new books. I also hope you'll post a review on Amazon.com, and spread the word to friends and fellow writers. To sign up, go to my Friends of FtQ page on the website .
The final proof is ordered, and, all being correct, the print order will go out by the end of this week. I hope you'll visit the website and read the reactions of publishing pros. Meanwhile, here's my press release copy:
Flogging the Quill is a one-book remedy for a host of beginner-novelist ailments, and a tune-up for published novelists.
Rich with advice and coaching from editor/author Ray Rhamey, Flogging the Quill, Crafting a Novel that Sells, ranges wide but with a single focus: lifting a novel manuscript to a publishable, professional level.
The first section, covering the craft of storytelling, includes lessons on creating tension, creating the character “care factor,” what drives a plot, the six vital story ingredients, and tools for spotting shortcomings in a narrative.
In Description, writers learn how experiential description can
characterize, plus how to handle the tricky character-description
hurdle, staging, and overwriting.
The Dialogue section helps writers avoid leaden overuse of dialogue tags, enliven a dialogue scene with action beats, and deliver the sound of dialogue.
The vital “when to tell, how to show” lesson in the Technique section has been praised by literary agents and college teachers. The section also coaches on point of view, including the problems “head-hopping” can cause with readers.
With the Words section, Rhamey reveals unique insights to the good and bad of using adverbs in a fiction narrative, and guides writers in weeding out weak, wasted, and wrong words.
Computer tips that make writing more productive are included, plus a “workout” section where writers apply lessons learned to real efforts by beginning novelists.
This all-in-one volume draws on the deep understanding of an editor and writer who brings to the task experience in advertising, screenwriting, editing novels, and writing them. Rhamey is the author of the internationally known “litblog,” Flogging the Quill.
As top New York publisher and editor, Lou Aronica, says, “Rhamey offers the kind of advice that could make a huge difference in a writer's prospects.” Bestseller Tess Gerritsen adds, “...it’s a must-have for any novelist.”
For what it’s worth.
Ray
Public floggings available. If I can post it here,
- send 1st chapter or prologue plus 1st chapter as an attachment (cutting and pasting and reformatting from an email is a time-consuming pain) and I'll critique the first couple of pages.
- Please format your submission as specified at the front of this post.
- Please include in your email permission to post it on FtQ.
- And, optionally, permission to use it as an example in a book if that's okay.
- If you’re in a hurry, I’ve done “private floggings,” $50 for a first chapter.
- If you rewrite while you wait you turn, it’s okay with me to update the submission.
© 2009 Ray Rhamey
Fantastic, really looking forward to this, Ray. I would take you up on the offer of the PDF, but I'd rather wait and purchase my own copy :)
Posted by: Hayley E. Lavik | February 23, 2009 at 04:09 PM
Congratulations! That's terrific!
Posted by: Jessica | February 24, 2009 at 04:22 PM
Congratulations, Ray! I ordered the book today. I'm really looking forward to its arrival!
Posted by: mai | March 06, 2009 at 06:08 PM