June 11-22 2012
MASTER CLASS: Editor-Proof That First Chapter
by Don McNair
Prerequisite: Must have written the first
chapter of a finished manuscript on a Work In Progress.
Why did that editor reject your novel? The sad truth? Editors reject most manuscripts after only simply glancing at their first chapters. It's as if their problems were lit with neon. This course will help you spot your own manuscript's problems and-better-yet, help you fix them. Use that rejected "first chapter" as your practice field for identifying and resolving your craft mistakes, then apply your new knowledge to the total manuscript. It will become much more compelling, and hopefully-published! You'll learn how to:
Use strong "hooks" that draw attention
Turn "info dumps" into sparkling, vital prose
Strengthen verbs and correct passive voice
Strip away author intrusions and eliminate foggy phrases
Identify any crippling character filters
Solve numerous other writing bugaboos
Don McNair spent his working life editing magazines, producing public relations materials for an international PR firm, and heading his own firm, McNair Marketing Communications. His creativity has won awards including the Emmy and Oscar equivalent from the Public Relations Society of America. Having published hundreds of trade magazine articles, five novels and three non-fiction "how-to" books, Don now concentrates on editing novels (see McNairEdits.com) and teaching online editing classes.
To register for the Master Class: "Editor-Proof That First Chapter," click HERE.