Writing Excuses Writing Excuses Season 2 Episode 25: The Seven Deadly Sins of Slush Stories
17 snips
Mar 30, 2009 Nancy Fulda, assistant editor for Jim Baen's Universe, shares insights on common submission mistakes and the 'seven deadly sins' of storytelling. The episode delves into avoiding cliches, crafting engaging hooks, embracing originality, and the importance of revising while staying passionate about writing.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Colorful Manuscripts Get Rejected Early
- Nancy shares a colorful slush submission with multiple fonts and colors that was rejected without much reading.
- Such amateurish presentation leads to dismissed stories almost instantly.
Avoid Early Info Dumping
- Avoid info dumping on page one; if needed, introduce background info after readers care about the story.
- Do not use 'staff meeting' style dialogue to dump info disguised as conversation.
Start Stories With Clear Action
- Start your story with motion or where something changes, not the climax or incomprehensible action.
- Build reader rooting interest before intense scenes to avoid confusion.