Caroline Starr Rose

picture book and middle-grade author

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Writing Advice from Author Valerie Geary

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Jump into a scene late and get out early. Cut out anything that sounds like an introduction or summary ending. Explain as little as possible and let the scene speak for itself. Readers are smart; let them fill in some of the blanks.

Raise the stakes. Make it hard for your character to get what they want. Take away the things they love. Let them lose. Let them fight. Just never make it easy. In every stage of the process, I’m always asking myself, What else could happen? What if she made this choice instead of that one? Where would that lead? I’m rarely satisified with the first answer that comes to mind.

I am a huge Gillian Flynn fan. Also, Tana French and Kate Atkinson. All of these writers get my heart pounding and my brain churning. I love the way they balance plot with character with language. All three do really interesting things with their writing that satisfies me as a reader and inspires me as a writer.

Read more at Laura Stanfill’s Seven Question Series.
Val’s interview at the Huffington Post.
Library Journal includes CROOKED RIVER in its Trio of Thrillers: Adult Books 4 Teens.

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