We writers like think of ourselves as metaphoric magicians—sitting at our desks, spinning worlds out of nothing but words and imagination. Pour a little research into the recipe, and our alchemy is complete. Yet an ongoing question among writers is the evergreen quandary about whether or not we must “write what we know.” In short, […]
April 27, 2020 by 69 Comments Writing Life15 Productive Tasks You Can Still Do Even When You Don’t Feel Like Writing
Don’t feel like writing right now? Or maybe you don’t have the time? Or maybe you’re just blocked as all get out at the moment? Whatever the case, there’s no reason you can’t still use what time and motivation you do have to feel productive about your writing—because “writing” is really about a whole lot […]
October 21, 2019 by 65 Comments CharactersA Writer’s Guide to Understanding People
“Write three-dimensional characters.” “Bring your characters to life.” “Create realistic human experiences.” These ditties of writing advice are so common they’re almost clichés. But how can you fulfill these dictums to write “real characters” without first mastering the even more foundational principle of understanding people? Recently, I received an email from a reader, which raised […]
June 23, 2017 by 39 Comments Story Settings4 Reasons You Should Outline Your Settings
When you think of all the important story elements you need to outline, setting may not be at the top of your list. It might not even be on your list. But it should be. Setting provides the foundation for every other important element in your story—starting with plot, character, and theme, and progressing right on down […]
April 10, 2016 by 130 Comments Researching Your NovelNovel Research: 12 Ways to Ace Your Book
I’m starting to get paranoid. It happens with every book I write. I reach the end of the first draft, start tying off loose ends on the first round of edits, and prepare to send the book to my first round of beta readers. That’s when I inevitably start asking myself panicked questions about the accuracy of of […]
November 27, 2013 by 20 Comments Researching Your NovelHow to Research Your Book Without Even Trying
Learning how to research your book doesn’t have to mean diving into dusty archives the moment you start outlining. In fact, some of the best research happens long before you officially begin writing. Whether you’re working on historical fiction, fantasy inspired by real-world events, or even contemporary stories that require specific details, gathering material early […]
September 13, 2013 by 16 Comments Writing Life7 Tips for Shaping Your Writing Career
Seven tips that have helped shape my writing career—and may help you with yours too! 1. Engaging passion To be an author you must have something to say, a story you believe in, passionately. Nothing less than passionate belief in your subject will carry you through periods of self-doubt and dejection. Once you have decided […]
June 21, 2013 by 14 Comments Structuring Your NovelWriting Scenes You Haven’t Seen
Compelling fiction is driven by scene. We can feel omnipotent when writing a fictional scene, wielding complete control over every detail, every action, every sensory experience. But there are limits to that power; what we include must seem real to the readers. Creating a sense of the “real” is a particular challenge for writers of historical fiction, who must stay […]
May 1, 2013 by 32 Comments Writing LifeThe Setting in Your Historical Novel Should Be More Than JUST a Setting
Today, I want to take a minute away from talking about general fiction techniques and focus on a specific genre—that of historical fiction. This is a hugely popular milieu that, in a sense, is really more of a setting or backdrop than it is an actual genre. Here’s what I mean: you can write a […]
March 6, 2013 by 27 Comments ProseThe Surprising Effect of Too Much Clarity in a Story
Did you know there’s such a thing as an author being too clear? Most of the time, we worry our heads off to ensure our stories are clear enough. (One of my first questions to beta readers and critique partners is always, “Were you ever confused?”) After all, a story that doesn’t make sense will […]
