The Role of Mystery in Fiction An editor's take on the value of mystery in all genres of fiction
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The Role of Mystery in Fiction An editor's take on the value of mystery in all genres of fiction

PG, The Writer’s Craft

The Role of Mystery in Fiction An editor's take on the value of mystery in all genres of fiction

Unlike nonfiction, fiction’s motor doesn’t run on information, but on its opposite: mystery.

I’m not talking about mystery as a genre, but as the essential quality in all fiction that cultivates curiosity, stimulates the imagination, invites participation, and generally keeps readers reading. Every step of the reader’s journey should be fraught with questions, not only about how the story turns out, but about character, motive, backstory, and—perhaps most importantly—what he or she would do in the hero’s or villain’s […]

By Peter Gelfan| 2018-05-21T19:44:48+00:00 |PG, The Writer’s Craft|Comments Off

Plot vs. Plot Event An editor's thoughts inspired by Robert Ludlum, Matt Damon, and Jason Bourne
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Plot vs. Plot Event An editor's thoughts inspired by Robert Ludlum, Matt Damon, and Jason Bourne

RSB, The Writer’s Craft

Plot vs. Plot Event An editor's thoughts inspired by Robert Ludlum, Matt Damon, and Jason Bourne

by Ross Browne

It wasn’t all that long ago that the news hit Hollywood that Matt Damon was considering bowing out of his leading role as Jason Bourne. The untitled film he considered passing on would have been the fifth in a series based on a trilogy that we have Robert Ludlum to thank for. (Or blame for, depending on your perspective.) Ludlum stopped writing the series after book number 3, and it wasn’t until his death […]

By Editorial Department| 2018-05-21T21:30:24+00:00 |RSB, The Writer’s Craft|Comments Off

Everyone Needs an Editor: A Final Lesson from the Harry Potter Series Principle Five: All good writing needs good editing
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Everyone Needs an Editor: A Final Lesson from the Harry Potter Series Principle Five: All good writing needs good editing

The Writer’s Craft, Trends

Everyone Needs an Editor: A Final Lesson from the Harry Potter Series Principle Five: All good writing needs good editing

By Jane Ryder with Beth Jusino.

“So why couldn’t Malfoy have brought that necklace into the school?”

“Oh, Harry, not that again…”

Many readers, myself included, echoed Hermione Grangers’ frustration at that point in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

For the past few weeks we have been looking at JK Rowling’s best-selling Harry Potter books, and the lessons that aspiring authors can learn from them. We talked about when to hold back detail, how to drop hints, and the […]

By Editorial Department| 2018-05-03T19:10:38+00:00 |The Writer’s Craft, Trends|1 Comment

A World to Remember: More Lessons from the Harry Potter Series Principle Four: Create a world the reader will remember
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A World to Remember: More Lessons from the Harry Potter Series Principle Four: Create a world the reader will remember

The Writer’s Craft, Trends

A World to Remember: More Lessons from the Harry Potter Series Principle Four: Create a world the reader will remember

This blog is part of the Storytelling lessons from Harry Potter series. For part one, click here. For part two, click here. For part three, click here.

Diagon Alley. The Quidditch World Cup.The Chamber of Secrets. The Cupboard Under the Stairs. Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.

These were not places that existed in our imaginations before we met Harry Potter, but for many readers they are now as real as Times Square.

If we, as writers, look to […]

By Editorial Department| 2018-05-03T19:10:55+00:00 |The Writer’s Craft, Trends|Comments Off

Heroes Have Hormones: More Lessons from the Harry Potter Series Principle Three: perfect heroes are uninteresting ones
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Heroes Have Hormones: More Lessons from the Harry Potter Series Principle Three: perfect heroes are uninteresting ones

The Writer’s Craft, Trends

Heroes Have Hormones: More Lessons from the Harry Potter Series Principle Three: perfect heroes are uninteresting ones

This blog is part of the Storytelling lessons from Harry Potter series. For part one, click here. For part two, click here.

It’s Harry Potter time here at The Editorial Department, and in honor of the release of the newest addition to the series, Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, we’re looking at what we can learn from J.K. Rowling that will help us in our own writing endeavors. We’ve talked about two different aspects of plotting […]

By Editorial Department| 2018-05-03T19:11:12+00:00 |The Writer’s Craft, Trends|Comments Off

Chekov’s Gun: More Lessons from the Harry Potter Series Principle Two: Chekov had a gun; Trelawney had a prophecy
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Chekov’s Gun: More Lessons from the Harry Potter Series Principle Two: Chekov had a gun; Trelawney had a prophecy

The Writer’s Craft, Trends

Chekov’s Gun: More Lessons from the Harry Potter Series Principle Two: Chekov had a gun; Trelawney had a prophecy

This blog is part of a series. For part one, click here.

This week we’re talking about Harry Potter. No, not the much-anticipated book that’s releasing next week (although I, for one, already preordered it.) We’re talking about the books that started it all, and the lessons that authors can apply in their own Works In Progress.

Principle Two: Chekov had a gun; Trelawney had a prophecy.

Being patient and letting a story unfold does not mean that a writer should hold back major […]

By Editorial Department| 2018-05-03T19:11:24+00:00 |The Writer’s Craft, Trends|Comments Off

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Author of Daemon Seer & other titles

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Washington, DC

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Author of Weepers

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Author of Crazy for the Storm (a New York Times bestseller) and other titles

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Author of Have You Seen Her?

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Oak View, CA

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Mystic, CT

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Dartmouth, Devon, UK

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New York, NY

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Author of Where the Monster Weights

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mammoth rtouble trouble by D. Robert Pease

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Mesa, AZ

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Anchorage, AK

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Portland, OR

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Temple Terrace, FL

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Lansing, MI

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Green Bay, WI

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Thousand Oaks, CA

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I’m so glad I’m not alone in all this.”

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Shizuoka, Japan

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Author of Footloose in America

“I basically learned how to write a novel from Peter Gelfan. Peter has helped me with all facets of editing, including plot development, on 4 novels over the last ten years. Three have been published.”

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Author of Almost Mortal and other titles

“Renni Browne has an hysterical sense of humor and she gets it. She gets the pain of a writer trying to find the words, changes everything for the better with one red line and though tough in her critique sometimes, does so with a true desire to develop something good into something great.”

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Ft Lauderdale, FL

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College Station, TX

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Sebring, FL

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Author of Black & Orange

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San Luis Obispo, CA

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While Peter Gelfan guided me down the path to write more like a professional and introduced me to the world of solid plots, Renni Browne and Shannon Roberts’ annotated editing turned me into an honest recorder of my characters’ voices and behaviors. That’s way better than just being a clever writer. I think that any writer who doesn’t use an intelligent editor(s) won’t ever know how good their work might be.”

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Torreon, NM

“Excellent input, great communication. Felt personally connected to each person I spoke with. I especially enjoyed the honest feedback and the way the criticisms were given. I have become a better writer as a result of my interaction with Betsy White and the rest of the Editorial Department.”

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Midway, GA

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New Brunswick, Canada

“Beth Jusino is amazing. She really “got” what I was trying to do with the story and her ideas are fantastic. She made great suggestions and I can see my story growing stronger when I implement her ideas.”

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Author of Beneath the Surface and other titles

“I was pleased with the prompt responses, professionalism, knowledge of craft, and caring I experienced. It really did feel like you guys were allies. Working with Shannon Roberts has been wonderful. She gets it. She can be tough and I don’t always want to hear what she has to say, but as it sinks in I realize she’s usually right. What’s been missing in my writing career is a professional editor. Thanks so much.”

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Seattle, WA

“I think most of Peter Gelfan’s input was spot on and will greatly assist me in improving the manuscript. It will, I now realize, be more of a deconstruct/reconstruct effort than a polish, but based on Peter’s insights I think I have a good handle on how to proceed. Money well spent.”

R.E. McDermott
Author of Deadly Straits and other titles

“I have worked with The Editorial Department for many years, which has included everything from plot development, character development, line editing and even interior and cover design. TED was not the first group I worked with for these services, but they will be the last. Great, highly qualified and collaborative people who have made a positive difference in my writing.”

John H. Cunningham
Author of the Buck Reilly series

Red Light Return

“Several years ago Ross Browne critiqued my manuscript, Poison Pen, which was the first really helpful input I’d had. Ross’ comments helped me understand and implement important changes that needed to be made throughout the book. Bottom line, Poison Pen soon received a starred review in Publishers Weekly. As a result, Penguin has purchased the first two books in the series from Capital Crime Press, the small publisher who took it on.”

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Author of Poison Pen and other titles

“I feel lucky. I feel humbled. But most of all, I feel grateful. I’m grateful to everyone at the Editorial Department, and especially grateful to Renni Browne. Without them, my dream would not have come true.”

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Author of An Innocent Client and other titles

an innocent client by scott pratt

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Alpharetta, GA

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Author of Jem: Lessons in Living

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Iowa City, IA

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Author of All The Dancing Birds

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Author of The Discovery of Socket Greeny

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Author of The Stolen and other titles

the stolen by bishop oconnell

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Copperas Cove, TX

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Superior, CO

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Kingsport, TN

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Geneva, IL

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Delray Beach, FL

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New York, NY

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Atlanta, GA

“Your level of service exceeded my expectations. Ross Browne patiently answered my questions, concerns and made this experience pleasant and fulfilling. My editor’s evaluation was honest, hopeful and her direction brought my writing to a whole new level. I appreciate everything TED has done for me and I’m grateful for all your help!”

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Author of Memoirs Aren’t Fairytales: A Story of Addiction

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Sherman Oaks, CA

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New York, NY

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Boulder, CO

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Huntersville, NC

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Willow Spring, NC

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Author of Friend Me

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Author of the Abby Westminster Series

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Oregon, Ohio

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Hampton, Australia

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Tucson, AZ

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Mesa, Arizona

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Albuquerque, NM

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Author of River Talk

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Scottsdale, AZ

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Author of Blood Hunt and other titles

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Author of The Prometheus Man

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Imperial Beach, CA

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Author of Concierge Medicine

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Westfield, NJ

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Author or Water War and other titles

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Columbus, OH

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Holden, MA

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Lakewood Ranch, FL

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Washington, IA

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Author of Waterfall Dance

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Ben Matthews
Author of Pursuit of Justice

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Los Angeles, CA

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San Francisco, CA

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Chevy Stevens
Best-selling Author of Still Missing and other titles

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Newmarket, ONT

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Author of The Darkness of Shadows

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National Bestselling Author of Veil of Roses and other titles

veil of roses by laura fitzgerald