From KMW: The dictionary tells us the definition of violence is: “Behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something.” By that definition, we can recognize that violence in fiction is a staple. Almost every story features some example, even if it’s “just” verbal aggression. Certain genres, such as mysteries and […]
February 4, 2019 by 122 Comments Point of View10 Advantages of Writing a Single-POV Story (What I Learned Writing Wayfarer)
Multiple-POV story versus single-POV story? Which is the right choice for you? The answer depends on many factors, since every story is different. Knowing which approach to POV to choose isn’t difficult once you know how to choose. My just-released historical-superhero/gaslamp-fantasy novel Wayfarer was the first ever single-POV story I’ve written. For years now, I’ve consistently been minimizing the […]
January 27, 2015 by 32 Comments Beginning Your BookAre You Leaving This Crucial Ingredient Out of Your Book’s First Chapter?
This week’s video shows how you can take a page from Captain America: The Winter Soldier to hook readers with even a small amount of character development in your book’s first chapter. Video Transcript: Your book’s first chapter is hard. There’s so much you have to cram in there in order to get it to […]
December 12, 2014 by 27 Comments Writer's HelpThe Secret to Writing a Protagonist Who’s Both Unique and Universal
All creative writers must strike that terrible balance between the needs of the characters and the needs of the plot. It’s a wretched ping-pong game sometimes, and we can feel as if one will win over the other. But deep down we know it shouldn’t be that way. The elements of character and plot are not in […]
September 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment Structuring Your NovelIs Plot or Character More Important?
Today, I’m guest posting on Mythic Scribes with a post titled “Is Plot or Character More Important?” Here’s an excerpt: “Plot or character”—we hear it all the time, as if the two were mutually exclusive. Either your book is plot-driven or character-driven. Can’t possibly be both, right? And anytime we run afoul of an either/or conundrum, […]
March 20, 2013 by 33 Comments CharactersHow to Figure Out the Worst Thing That Can Happen to Your Character
Writers are always being told to think of the worst thing that could happen to their characters—and then to make it worse. Being something of a literalist, the first time I heard that, my original thought was something like, The worst thing? You mean like kill him? With maybe a few interpretative exceptions, death is pretty […]
July 20, 2011 by 18 Comments Story SettingsHow to Illustrate Characters Through Their Surroundings
One of my favorite parts of watching a movie is the opportunity to spy on the characters’ familiar surroundings. Their homes, their bedrooms, and their offices all present wonderful insights into personality. The visual medium of film allows for all kinds of details to be included, some so minuscule or subtle most viewers probably won’t […]
