This morning I met with writers for manuscript critiques. The most common problem?

Too much detail and explanation in the opening
That means too much telling and showing. (Do we really need to watch your character move slowly from one place to another, each movement, each gesture, each breath? That's not building momentum. That's usually called boring.) Carefully consider if each detail or action needs to be specifically conveyed. (Is it OK if it is only implied?) Here's a challenge I presented to three different writers: Can you take your first five pages, and condense into 1 page? 1 paragraph? What happens? What stays, what goes? Is it stronger?

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Midwest Writers Workshop
Bill Fitzhugh delivered the lunch keynote. Highlights of his talk:

• There are still dry counties in Mississippi.
• Remember to do the research.
• It's mostly hard work, but sometimes 10,000 butterflies come in through the window, then they leave. And you work to make that happen again.

In the afternoon, I once again delivered my session on crafting a saleable nonfiction book concept that will attract the attention of agents and editors. (You can go here to download the PowerPoint presentation as PDF file.) If you attended the MWW session and still need the handouts (three pages total), then e-mail me at wdbooks@fwpubs.com, and I'll send them to you as PDF files.