Style That Sizzles & Pacing for Power: An Editor's Guide to Writing Compelling Fiction

by Jodie Renner

This book won a Silver Medal in the 2013 Florida Authors & Publishers President's Book Awards.

Fiction writers – if you’re looking to hone your style, bring your scenes to life, tighten up your writing, add tension, pick up the pace, and develop a more authentic, appealing voice, this guide to the indispensable style elements of writing a popular novel is for you. This e-book is chock-full of excellent tips to help you learn to write like the pros and create a compelling novel that sells. Not only that, but if you apply these tips to your manuscript, you'll save a lot of money on editing costs.

Topics include: hooking readers in on your first pages, writing compelling action scenes, style blunders to avoid, showing instead of telling, streamlining cluttery sentence structures, avoiding repetitions, choosing words that nail it, pacing for power, avoiding info dumps and awkward structures, writing natural-sounding dialogue, expressing thoughts, showing character reactions, avoiding melodrama, finding your authentic voice, and more.

“This book is packed with good advice on how to spot and fix weaknesses in your fiction writing. It summarizes the combined wisdom of the last century or so of fiction teachers into one handy volume.”

- Randy Ingermanson, bestselling author of WRITING FICTION FOR DUMMIES

“A handy checklist and self-editing guide that will get any fiction writer to a stronger, well-told tale.”

– James Scott Bell, bestselling author of Revision & Self-Editing, Plot & Structure, and The Art of War for Writers

As of July 29, 2013, STYLE THAT SIZZLES has 35 reviews, of which 31 are 5-star and 3 are 4-star, for an average of 4.9 out of 5 stars.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Crafts, Reference

169 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 15, 2012

About the author

Jodie Renner is a sought-after freelance fiction editor and award-winning author of three craft-of-writing guides: the multi-award-winning CAPTIVATE YOUR READERS, FIRE UP YOUR FICTION, and WRITING A KILLER THRILLER. She has also published two handy, clickable writers' e-resources, QUICK CLICKS: WORD USAGE - Style and Usage Tips for Busy Writers and Editors, and QUICK CLICKS: SPELLING LIST - Commonly Misspelled Words at Your Fingertips. Jodie has also organized, edited, and published two anthologies for charity to date: VOICES FROM THE VALLEYS - Stories & Poems about Life in BC's Interior, published on Nov. 24, 2015; and CHILDHOOD REGAINED - Stories of Hope for Asian Child Workers, to be released on May 10, 2016.

Jodie also presents writing workshops and her craft-of-writing posts appear on various blogs.

As a freelance fiction manuscript editor, Jodie specializes in thrillers, romantic suspense, mysteries, and other fast-paced, suspenseful fiction.

Jodie is a member of International Thriller Writers (ITW), the Federation of BC Writers (FBCW), and Penticton Writers & Publishers (PWAP).

Jodie's favorite authors include Robert Crais, Sandra Brown, Lee Child, Karin Slaughter, Michael Connelly, Nora Roberts, Harlan Coben, Janet Evanovich, Dean Koontz, Lisa Scottoline, John Grisham, Lisa Gardner, and many more.

Jodie has had a lifelong passion for reading, especially fiction. She is a former English and French teacher and school librarian, with a master's degree.

When she's not editing, writing, or reading novels or books on writing compelling fiction, Jodie loves to pursue her two other passions, photography and traveling. She has traveled extensively throughout North America, Europe and the Middle East, and continues to sneak away whenever she gets the chance.
www.JodieRennerEditing.com, www.JodieRenner.com

Reviews

[Merb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fire up Your Fiction is a small, good little resource for the technicalities of writing well. By writing well, this encapsulates writing in an engaging, entertaining, and personal way that is specific to genre and intended audience. This would be a great book for people who are already writing and have established their voice, as this works well to help spice up writing that has already been established. It is also a great resource for people starting out, as it is handy to have nearby to flick back through whilst writing. It's set out with headers and short chapters, enabling this book to be easy to navigate and use as a reference. Definitely feel my writing will improve after reading this little gem.

[Peg Brantley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jodie Renner is a top-notch editor who's passionate about what she does. Anything you can get your hands on (and read) by Ms. Renner will improve your writing--whether you're muddling through your first manuscript or your fifty-first.

I highly recommend this book!

[Preethi V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fire up your fiction by Jodie Renner is one of the best books on editing I've read in my life. Jodie advises to show, not tell and she demonstrates this admirably by showing authors how to correct common mistakes. The book was an eye-opening experience for me.

Sometimes, even when you know you're wrong, you don't know how to correct it. Jodie guides the reader through the elusive process of polishing a book. If you're looking to improve your writing style or tighten your plot, get this book. If you've been told to show, not tell, get this book.

Jodie's experience as an editor shines through in her work. This insight helps new authors who want to self-edit.

On a side note, I find the book works better for thrillers, mysteries and suspense than say, literary fiction or descriptive genres. I would especially recommend it to thriller writers.

Overall, Fire up your fiction is an excellent resources for writers of all ages and genres. Must-have.

[Jonas Saul · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous resource. Great for all writers at any level.

[John W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Style that Sizzles & Pacing for Power (An Editor's Guide to Writing Compelling Fiction) (Kindle Edition)
When I pick a book to read either from an author I truly enjoy or a new book someone suggested I read, I never approach the book from the point of view of writing a review. If I enjoy the book and feel compelled to write a review, I read the book again and if I use my Kindle I can high-lite key areas I feel I might want to mention. When writing a review on a fiction novel, I never put in spoilers but for Renner's Style That Sizzles I don't think Jodie Renner would mind me telling you if you have question about how to write or make your editor happy her books deliver those answers.

I am an avid reader of novels of all genres for many reasons and have many favorite authors. In early November, I realized there were times I would start a new book and just lost interest in finishing the book. It didn't matter if the book was a hard copy or an e-book, I just put the book on the shelf or sent the book to the archive. I had no interest in exploring the plot or how the book ended. After having this happen several times, I decided I needed to find why the books didn't keep my interest.

I started my research using Google and Jodie Renner's name kept coming up, describing her books Style That Sizzles & Pacing for Power and Writing a Killer Thriller. Renner's name was familiar to me as she edits some of my favorite authors, L.J. Sellers' work. Most recently Sellers' new Mystery- Thriller - Crime - "The Trigger."

The Style That Sizzles provides the reader with a road map of how to enjoy reading any book. Renner put together several lists for authors to deliver a better book for readers. Those same lists helped me choose a new book or try a new author. As I read more books than my favorite authors are writing, I am always looking for new authors and particularly enjoy independent authors as they don't seem to be into a rut. Indie authors seem to be willing to consider new topics or new adventures.

After reading Renner's Style That Sizzles, it made it more enjoyable when I picked up a previous read book. In her book she detailed how to find the scenes in each chapter and how strengthen the point of view of the character. Even though I had read the books before and knew how the book ends, I found I was reading each book as if it were a new book. found scenes in the chapters of the authors books even though I was not reading the book for the first time. I had no trouble giving this book 5 stars and strong recommendation I have this book on my Kindle and I found the need to have a hard copy to put my post it notes on key pages.

[Allan Leverone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Self-editing is one of the most important aspects of writing for any author, and yet remains one of the most difficult to apply. Whether you are self-publishing, seeking an agent, or prepping your manuscript to work with a professional editor (or some combination of the above), making your book as tight as it can possibly be is critical.

This is where STYLE THAT SIZZLES AND PACING FOR POWER comes in. Inside this powerhouse manual are the secrets which, if properly applied, can and will set your book apart from the rest. I work with Jodie Renner routinely - her concise and spot-on editing skills helped deliver a thriller, THE LONELY MILE, which reached Amazon's Top 25 overall paid bestseller list in February, 2012 - and reading STYLE THAT SIZZLES is like working through an editing session with Jodie.

At just $3.49, STYLE THAT SIZZLES AND PACING FOR POWER is a must-have for any author's library, especially any thriller author. If you're serious about crafting compelling fiction, you will not find a better guide, and for less than the price of a large coffee...

[Stacy Buck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Style that Sizzles & Pacing for Power is a how to every author should read. Jodie provides excellent instruction on the craft from beginning to end. Fantastic work! I will be recommending this book to my friends.

[L.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jodie Renner is an excellent editor and terrific writing coach. Her advice is clear, concise, and spot on. All of her writing/editing books are more than worth the money.

[Rosemary Rigsby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a useful book. The information is presented within bold type headings, so easy to find and review topics. The style is accessible, friendly, and often witty - perfect for soothing and helping new writers, yet the crisp organization of the material is a practical resource for those more experienced. A worthy addition to my reference shelf.

[Pat Stanford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great beginners book

This would have been gold for me 2-3 years ago, but I've read so many other books like this, it seems basic to me now. Still, a few nuggets that I wrote down to keep. This is a good one for your arsenal, for sure.

[Chris Rhatigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful guide for writers and editors. I think the best part is all the illustrative examples she uses. This gets down to the nuts and bolts of popular fiction. Highly recommended.

[Serah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really clear, concise, to the point, good information. Read it before, and currently reading it again.

[Steven Kolbe · Rating 5 out of 5]

An editor recommended this for my first novel and I can already see huge mistakes I've been making. I'm excited to go through the entire manuscript.

[Donna Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a book that helps writers edit.

[P. Wish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fire up your fiction by Jodie Renner is one of the best books on editing I've read in my life. Jodie advises to show, not tell and she demonstrates this admirably by showing authors how to correct common mistakes. The book was an eye-opening experience for me.

Sometimes, even when you know you're wrong, you don't know how to correct it. Jodie guides the reader through the elusive process of polishing a book. If you're looking to improve your writing style or tighten your plot, get this book. If you've been told to show, not tell, get this book.

Jodie's experience as an editor shines through in her work. This insight helps new authors who want to self-edit.

On a side note, I find the book works better for thrillers, mysteries and suspense than say, literary fiction or descriptive genres. I would especially recommend it to thriller writers.

Overall, Fire up your fiction is an excellent resources for writers of all ages and genres. Must-have.

[Sharon Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book for very beginning writers who maybe failed English in high school

Show don't tell. Don't use passive voice.
This is a very basic book.

I've done quite a bit of beta reading so I understand why this book is needed. Renner explains the very basics of writing using examples from authors she's worked with. Authors who don't seem to have much grasp on the basics of storytelling.

She clearly explains some of the more common beginning writer mistakes.

The book could use a good structural edit, though. It is repetitive and doesn't follow any logical order. Renner might consider following her own advice in getting rid of 'filler' words like, 'just' for example.

That being said, if you are very new to writing, and you have a finished rough draft, it might be worth I picking this up to use as a basic editing checklist of sorts. That being said, there are many better books on writing out there.

[Silvia Altamirano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Jodie's Guide to Writing Compelling Fiction is an indispensable asset for anybody that, like me, wants to capture their readership. The book shows how a simple change in the approach to particular issues can take any piece of writing from boring to engaging. As an experienced editor, Jodie is aware of the mistakes writers have the tendency to make and teaches how to "address and fix". Extremely useful.

[Chris Norbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent advice for self-editing. Thorough, well laid out, and explained clearly. I appreciated the fact that the author finally explained the proper use of gerunds to me. I'd read it in other places, but it never stuck in my brain until this book.

Her best advice is to use this book to get your manuscript improved to the point where you can submit a quality manuscript to a professional editor--either one you hire for independent publishing or the editor assigned by your publisher.

[Suzie Quint · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a bit basic for me at this stage of the learning curve, but I so wish this had been available when I started writing seriously. So much of what I've learned is here, and not just as "rules" but with thoughtful explanations about the logic behind "the rules." A truly excellent resource for "younger" writers.

See full review at http://suziequint.blogspot.com/2014/0...

[R.l. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sure, most of what is in here has been said before, but hey, there's not much new under the sun, and, the author brings her own expertise and style to the mix; so I think it's a book writers should have on their desk, especially when they are going through the revision process.
Time richly spent.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. The opinions in this review are my own.

[Eddie Jong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book while I was writing my debut novel, and it has really helped me produce a better product.

Jodie's advice is sound and to the point and encompasses many aspects of writing.

I would recommend this to anyone who wants to hone their writing craft, irrespective of whether they are just starting, or have a few books out there already.

[Sydney Katt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid 4 stars, maybe 4.5 stars.

While the book doesn't necessarily introduce never-before-read concepts if you read regularly about editing and writing, it does do an excellent job of reinforcing concepts and helping to solidify them in the brain.

Worth having as a reference in your library to review before your first revision pass on a novel. Highly recommend.

[Sharon Hughson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid reference for writers of fiction and non-fiction. This well-organized book makes honing in on a specific problem area a snap.
I scanned the whole thing early on which is why I didn't "finish" it sooner. In fact, I hardly realized I hadn't finished it because I had gained so much insightful help for three short stories and a novel I revised while this guide sat "un-read" on my shelf.

[Mark Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Self-editing made easier with this editor's guide. An incredible handbook for igniting writers' average fiction manuscripts. I will use "Fire Up Your Fiction" before submitting my manuscripts to professional editors and publishers.

[Anita Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great guide and reminder.

Great guide for writers. It gives clear advice and great examples. Although I. Already knew most of what is the book, it was a good reminder. I went back and re-edited my first chapter with what I read in this book. It is much better.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic source for revision because Renner provides before and after examples for everything so that you can really see the power of revision. The title doesn't really suggest that this a guide to both macro and micro revision. My new go-to reference for revision.

[Vicki Tyley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a bit disappointed, but only because I didn't learn anything new. However, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to any writer at the beginning of his/her career.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic resource. I'd read the book and go edit a chapter of my work in progress. Then I'd read something else and go back and fix something else. Excellent!

[Steven Atwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight

Unlike other editing books I read, this one demonstrates techniques in an easy to understand format. Josie did a great job.

[Emily Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had some decent advice. While reading this book I would make a checklist on all the pointers. This is especially helpful when editing a rough draft.