"writing a winner" with deborah raney

14
Checklist for Writing a Winner

Upload: bestsellersociety

Post on 01-Nov-2014

283 views

Category:

Education


0 download

DESCRIPTION

DEBORAH RANEY’s first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title and launched her writing career after 20 happy years as a stay-at-home mom. Her books have won numerous awards including the RITA, National Readers Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, the Carol Award, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. Deb’s 23rd novel released from Howard/Simon & Schuster in May 2013. She and her husband, Ken Raney, enjoy their simple life in Kansas, but also love traveling together to teach at conferences, and to visit four children and four small grandchildren who all live much too far away. Visit Deb on the Web at www.deborahraney.com.

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: "Writing a Winner" with Deborah Raney

Checklist forWriting a Winner

Page 2: "Writing a Winner" with Deborah Raney

OpeningIs the reader’s interestcaptured in the first line,first paragraph, firstpage?

Does the novel begin inthe right place?

Page 3: "Writing a Winner" with Deborah Raney

CharactersAre lead characters likable, yet flawed?

Do they feel larger-than-life, yetrealistic?

Do they have clearly drawn desires andfears?

Do they change and grow from openingto end?

Page 4: "Writing a Winner" with Deborah Raney

PacingDoes the reader feelcompelled to keepturning pages?

Are there “hooks” inevery scene?

Page 5: "Writing a Winner" with Deborah Raney

DialogueIs the dialogue natural andrealistic, yet concise?

Does it advance thecharacter arcs and plot?

Is there enough dialogue?

Page 6: "Writing a Winner" with Deborah Raney

SecondaryCharacters

Are the secondarycharacters believable?

Do they have a solidreason for being in thestory?

Page 7: "Writing a Winner" with Deborah Raney

SettingIs the setting well-described and integral tothe story?

Page 8: "Writing a Winner" with Deborah Raney

SettingIs the setting well-described and integral tothe story?

Page 9: "Writing a Winner" with Deborah Raney

SettingIs the setting well-described and integral tothe story?

Page 10: "Writing a Winner" with Deborah Raney

Point of ViewIs the POV for eachscene wisely chosen?

Is it well-distributed?

Does the writer avoidhead-hopping?

Page 11: "Writing a Winner" with Deborah Raney

StyleIs the author’s “voice”unique and appealingwithout being intrusive?

Page 12: "Writing a Winner" with Deborah Raney

ClichésDoes the writer avoidclichés and stereotypes inplot, dialogue, narrativeand characterization?

Is it written in a fresh way?

Page 13: "Writing a Winner" with Deborah Raney

MostImportant:

Would you recommendthis book to your readerfriends?

To your writer friends?

Page 14: "Writing a Winner" with Deborah Raney

Checklist forWriting a Winner