Let’s say you’re writing a book set in the 14th Century. Naturally, as a diligent and conscientious writer, you want to do your research and write with an authentic historical voice. In fact, you’re so good and so authentic that what you end up with is something like this: Whilom, as olde stories tellen us, ther […]
February 20, 2017 by 73 Comments NarrativeLearn How to Pace Your Story (and Mind-Control Your Readers) in Just 8 Steps
Writing is really all about mind control. Seriously, think about it. You put words on paper, and if you do it right, you suddenly have the ability to control how people respond to what you’ve written. Of course, “doing it right” is the whole challenge of writing, and when it comes to this mind-control gig, […]
October 19, 2016 by 89 Comments Narrative3 Ways Writers Can Instantly Spot Telling
Show, don’t tell is a broad concept, which is why one rule doesn’t cover it all. It’s subjective, and each telling instance found in your writing must be evaluated in context. Does this sentence sound like telling? Is this scene explaining too much? But if you look at only the text, you risk missing “told […]
January 27, 2016 by 70 Comments NarrativeHow to Write Realistic Fight Scenes
Writing realistic fight scenes can feel like being in one. Then again, being in a fight involves reaction, quick thinking, and intuition. A lot of times writing the scene takes the opposite: careful choreography, thinking, and re-thinking–and more. When I started writing fight scenes, I did it by feel. I had an advantage: I’m a […]
November 9, 2015 by 40 Comments Narrative6 Steps to Create a Fantastic Narrative Voice (What I Learned Writing Storming)
You hear it all the time: readers’ time is precious, and they’re not going to waste it on books that aren’t da bomb. I certainly feel that way about my own reading choices. What’s my main criterion for instantly recognizing when a book isn’t going to be worth my time as a reader? Voice. It all comes […]
July 22, 2015 by 9 Comments NarrativeThe Key to Writing Good Action Scenes (Hint: It’s Not Just the Action)
This week’s video shows you how you can mimic Jurassic Park in streamlining your narrative and keeping your action scenes tight. Video Transcript: Two admissions to start off with today. First, I admit the title is slightly misleading. The key to writing good action scenes isn’t action? What’s up with that? Because if action is the […]
July 1, 2015 by 43 Comments NarrativeWant to Level Up Your Fiction? Take the “Dramatic Irony” Challenge!
There’s good fiction and there’s good fiction. There are stories that get the job done and entertain readers. And then there are stories that take everything to a new level. Naturally, we’d all like our own stories to be part of that second category! And how do we do that? One of the subtlest ways […]
October 17, 2014 by 40 Comments Narrative5 Keys to Writing Epic Battle Scenes
If epic battle scenes make such exciting climaxes, then a whole book full of them would be like the most exciting story ever, right?! … Right? Well, I don’t know about you, but I’ve skimmed pages of pointless fighting in order to get back to the plot. Writing a book about a war promises excitement, […]
August 21, 2014 by 3 Comments NarrativeWeather—It’s What Stories Are Really All About
Today, I’m guest posting over on The Writer’s Alley, with the post “Weather–It’s What Stories Are Really All About.” Here’s an excerpt: When I think of weather in stories, I inevitably think of the Peanuts comic strip with Snoopy chugging along at his typewriter, wringing out his famous opening line, “It was a dark and stormy […]
July 30, 2014 by Leave a Comment NarrativeYour Scene’s Not Working? Maybe the Lighting Is Wrong
Today, I’m guest posting over on The Write Conversation, with the post “Your Scene’s Not Working? Maybe the Lighting Is Wrong?.” Here’s an excerpt: Of all the many story aspects authors have to keep track of, why in heaven’s name should lighting be up there at the top of our list? That’s something movie directors have […]
