Uncle Stevie's Rules for Writing

I'm giving the keynote speech at the Resolutions for Writers Seminar in Anderson, CA, today, and as part of that I'm telling some of the rules for writing that I've learned over the past 35 years.

Yes, I'm once again riding the coattails of Elmore Leonard, whose "rules" you can see at www.elmoreleonard.com. Mine are in addition to his, though there is some overlap, of course. Mostly, it's easier to put the rules here on my blog than it is to screw around with handouts at the conference.

Nothing really new here, but some good reminders:

--Write in scenes, and omit the stuff in between them.
--All drama (and comedy and romance) is conflict.
--Show, don't tell.
--Within scenes and within the overall story timeline: Come in late and get out early.
--Readers love dialogue. Use it lots, but keep it tight.
--Use the five senses and the "five W's and H" in your descriptive writing. Focus on the Telling Detail.
--Don't use two adjectives when one will do.
--Beware the adverb.
--Learn proper punctuation and use it. You're not Cormac McCarthy.
--Don't make the reader figure it out. Make it clear.
--Spend at least as much time on rewrites and polishing as on the first draft.
--Learn your craft and work hard.

If you'd like to hear the speech that goes with that (or any of my other talks), I'm available at reasonable rates for seminars, mystery conferences and bar mitzvahs.

Feel free to add your own rules for writing in the comments.

Writing coach available

Attn: Home Front readers in the Redding area.

Instead of the local writing seminars I've done in the past, I've worked lately with a few writing students, doing one-on-one Coffee Shop Coaching, helping them get fiction or screenplay projects ready for publishers/producers. It's going well, and I'm enjoying it.

I've got time to take on one, maybe two, more students, and still meet my own writing deadlines. It's not cheap -- I charge $50 per session -- but if you've got a manuscript that needs polish, you could benefit from my three decades of publishing experience. Contact me at this e-mail address: abqbrewer@aol.com. Put "Coaching" in the subject line. Thanks!

Seminar recovery

The how-to-write-a-mystery seminar my wife and I staged in Redding, CA, on Saturday went over very well, and we had a great time doing it. The students were smart and engaged, and we covered a lot of ground in six hours.

My only big mistake was standing throughout all of the lectures. By the end, my feet had swollen into two Goodyear blimps. This condition has required me to spend much of today with my feet propped up in front of televised March Madness games. Sigh. The things I suffer to help other writers . . .

Seminar reminder

Those of you in Northern California: A reminder that my day-long seminar on how to write a mystery novel is next Saturday, March 22. It's not too late to sign up, but we need to hear from you as soon as possible.

For more information, click on the link at top left. Or send e-mail to ABQBrewer@aol.com.

Seminar deadline

Just a reminder that the registration fee for my all-day seminar on how to write your mystery novel goes from $90 to $100 on Saturday. The seminar, "Thrillers, Chillers and Killers," is scheduled for March 22 at the Redding, CA, Library. For details, click the link to the left.

Questions? Send an e-mail to ABQBrewer@aol.com, and I'll make up some answers...

See Steve sing and dance!

Readers who live in or near Northern California: Once-in-a-so-far opportunity to spend the day with moi on March 22, also very nicely publicized by my good friends at donigreenberg.com. (Thanks!)

Thrillers, Chillers, Killers: Writing Your Mystery Novel
A seminar with nationally known mystery author Steve Brewer

Saturday, March 22
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Redding Library Community Room

Nuts and bolts

• Outlining
• Pacing
• Plotting
• Colorful settings
• Believable characters
• Telling details
• Structural arcs
• Convincing dialogue
• Narrative voice

Course fee: $100
Earlybirds take a 10% discount!
Only $90 before March 1.

Steve regularly speaks at national mystery conventions, universities and writing workshops. ... His most recent appearances were at the Midwest Writers Workshop and the Tony Hillerman Writers Conference. ... He is the author of 16 books, including the Bubba Mabry private eye series and the recent thriller CUTTHROAT. ... He also writes a nationally syndicated humor column for newspapers. ... LONELY STREET, his first novel, is currently in post-production in Hollywood.

For registration information, leave a comment below, call 530.355.5093 or write to kjbrewer@sbcglobal.net. Checks are payable to Steve Brewer, P.O. Box 992951, Redding, CA 96099-2951.