Interview with Nancy Fulda, Asst Editor at Baen's Universe
Writing Excuses posted their new episode today with special guest Nancy Fulda, Assistant Editor at Jim Baen's Universe. She was a great guest to hear.
Two of my favorite quotes address the issue of story beginnings:
Nancy: “Some of the best advice I’ve heard is you start the story where something changes.” (thanks for the transcript Mike!)
Beginnings are tough, and that seems the best advice I’ve heard. Start with movement, start late (but not so late that the action isn't understandable), and start where things change.
I also liked Nancy's corollary: “If you hook too hard, your hook is so interesting that the rest of the story is a complete letdown. So you actually have to be careful about that too.”
She also gave some nice insights into the type of things Baen's likes to publish, and comments on the wide variance in personal preferences from editor to editor.
Thanks to mbarker for his transcript of the episode.
Two of my favorite quotes address the issue of story beginnings:
Nancy: “Some of the best advice I’ve heard is you start the story where something changes.” (thanks for the transcript Mike!)
Beginnings are tough, and that seems the best advice I’ve heard. Start with movement, start late (but not so late that the action isn't understandable), and start where things change.
I also liked Nancy's corollary: “If you hook too hard, your hook is so interesting that the rest of the story is a complete letdown. So you actually have to be careful about that too.”
She also gave some nice insights into the type of things Baen's likes to publish, and comments on the wide variance in personal preferences from editor to editor.
Thanks to mbarker for his transcript of the episode.