wlkoenig

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It's a Wrap

Just as the beginning starts where things change, the ending should end where things return to normal, or near enough. In stand-alone novels, all loose strings are tied in a nice bow. The ending reminds us of what happened at the beginning. Things that were important there need to be important at the end too. Unresolved endings are usually for series, wherein the main plot appears to be mostly…

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Middle Mayhem

Most novice writers give up when they get to the middle. They just don’t know what to do. It bores them with all the tedium of the journey. Nothing much happens. Maybe. Or maybe not. Like in the beginning, each chapter, each page, each paragraph has to lead the reader to the next. Unlike the beginning, the middle isn’t in a straight path at all. It meanders and wanders into unpredicted places.…

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Beginning with the Beginning

It sounds funny to say this, but the beginning needs to be in the beginning. By that, I mean the story starts either when things deviate from the normal, or just before. Personally, I like to find the deviation moment and take two steps back from that. This puts the deviation moment roughly right at the end of my first chapter. A good hook. An encouragement to keep reading. Some writers will…

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What's an Act?

We’re talking writing here, but the terminology is based on movies. An act is actually what’s written between the beats. A group of scenes that make up the story. Like beats, the number of acts is pretty much determined by genre. Romance, for example, has a basic 3 acts: Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl. Simple. Mysteries have between five and nine acts. Fantasy and drama have a…

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On Beats

Back in the day, there was no such thing as ‘Beats’. This is a name that has come to us from the script writing industry. They come with all kinds of names that change according to who you’re reading. Nothing wrong with it, but it’s a bit confusing until you realize what they are: plot twists. No more than that. Acts are also from the script writing industry, but are the meat between beats.…

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What's after that?

In my last post, I talked about the next steps after finishing a rough draft. In this post, I’m discussing the steps following that. Once I get done making an outline of what I’ve already written, I start making changes based on my notes. I call it red-lettering because I use red in my outline for anything I need to work on. Red-Lettering usually doesn’t take long. It’s just basic additions of…

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What's next?

I get asked all the time, “I wrote a book. What do I do next?” The very first thing I ask is, “Is the story finished? Have you written The End yet? Or are you still writing?” I usually get the answer that they’re still writing. So my first bit of ‘What’s next’ advice is to finish the book. If it’s a done book, then I ask if it’s all in the order they want. If they’re happy with it. And to…

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Recharging

For a few weeks now, I’ve been stalled at the same place in my writing. I’m only 4 or 5 scenes away from being finished with the rough draft. I know what’s next. I know what I want to write. I even know how I’m going to write it. I just can’t seem to pull the trigger on it though. So yesterday, I ran away. Threw myself into nature and sightseeing. Blew the cobwebs out of my brain. Yes, the…

[wlkoenig]

Review

Sly as a Fox by Wendy L. Koenig is the second novel in the Sylvia Wilson Mystery series. The first novel, On the Sly, was reviewed about a year ago by another person who write for the blog, Curt Remarks, and he provided Ms. Koenig with great praise. I did not get to that book, but I just got my hands on Sly as a Fox and I didn’t put it down until it was finished. As a mystery/thriller, this…

[wlkoenig]

Review

Author Wendy Koenig has done it again with this next mystery book in the Sylvia Wilson series. I was fortunate to have read the first book, On the Sly, which was an entertaining read as is this one. The journey continues for Sylvia and her family as a new mystery takes her and her brother on a dangerous mission to bring down bank robbers and find the mole. Its crazy to see how much trouble…

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Review

If there’s one thing that Sylvia Wilson can count on, it’s that when her police officer brother makes a promise, he never breaks it.That’s why when he fails to check in after several days, his bartender sister starts investigating, even if it puts her at odds with the FBI.Author Wendy Koenig serves up the second installment of the Sylvia Wilson mystery series with Sly as a Fox. Sylvia starts…

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Review

In this next instalment, we find Sylvia procrastinating over the remodel of her bar, Smugglers, which was completely trashed during the events of book one.Still coming to terms with what happened in September – denial, much? – Sylvia has been suffering nightmares but refuses to get counselling, when her brother’s FBI handler, Duante Dawes, informs her that, while he was working deep undercover,…

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Review

“SLY AS A FOX (The Sylvia Wilson Mysteries Book #2) by Wendy Koenig is a fast-paced, action-adventure mystery/thriller with a wise beyond her years, Krav Maga fighting, female protagonist who is a bartender/bar owner. While this is the second book in the series, it can be read as a standalone, but to get more character background and action try out the first book, On the Sly, which I also…

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Character Inspiration

Discovering new characters begins with many different sources. On a recent trip to Finland to visit a friend, we had occassion to eat at a high end restaurant. Okay, so we MADE lots of occasions to do that. Anyway, our sommelier was charming, obviously smart, and a bit shy. He also was very well educated. He spoke with his hands and rounded his words. My friend and I were rapt watching him…

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What's Next?

As many of you know, I’ve started working on the third book already, titled Thrice Sly. Again, Sylvia will be reluctantly dragged into an investigation. It seems Aaron’s best buddy from high school will be arrested for rape, and possibly murder. Aaron leans on Sylvia to help him figure out the truth. But of course, she has to do things her way. Along with this, she returns to her fight…

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The Idea Behind Sly As A Fox

I’m trying to write this without giving any spoilers, so if I get wordy, I’m sorry. I know you understand. Those of you who have read the first book, On The Sly, know the kind of person Sylvia is. You also know she’s very reluctant to involve herself in any traumatic event. Especially with her own difficult past and recent trauma. I had to find something that would make her overlook her PTSD…

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Reader Comments

People are starting to send me comments: “I enjoyed this book just as much as I did the first one and am looking forward to the sequel.” “I loved Sylvia’s attitude: willing to do whatever it took to save her brother and not taking while doing it.” “I like the book a lot. Hope you’re going to write another one from that series!”