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 […]
September 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment Structuring Your Novel5 Misconceptions About Your Story’s Normal World
Today, I’m guest posting on Kristen Lamb’s blog, with a post on “5 Misconceptions About Your Story’s Normal World.” Here’s an excerpt: Writers sometime balk at the idea of beginning with the story’s Normal World. Isn’t that kind of starting before the story? Won’t readers be bored if they have to wade through all that […]
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 26, 2013 by 67 Comments CharactersWhat if Your Antagonist Isn’t Human? 7 Types of Non-Human Antagonists
Good fiction is overflowing with excellent antagonists. In some instances, those antagonists end up being just as memorable, if not more so, than the protagonists they oppose. Hannibal Lector. Darth Vader. Agent Smith. But what if your story needs to feature non-human antagonists? I like to refer to the story’s opposing faction as the “antagonistic force,” […]
May 10, 2013 by 15 Comments CharactersWhat House-Sitting Teaches You About Writing
This post is by Jessica Baverstock. When it comes to describing our characters’ houses, belongings, and preferences, it’s easy to cut corners. We may write in our personal preference or just the first thing we think of. These descriptions provide insights into your character’s mind. Done well, they can be an excellent opportunity to show instead of tell. I came to […]
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 […]
February 6, 2013 by 30 Comments Story SettingsHow Much Setting Description Is Right for Your Story?
Sometimes certain writing directions can make setting description sound like a bad thing, to the point that writers don’t dare include more than a skimpy paragraph of setting description lest readers cry foul and claim the book is boring. However, the far side of this slippery slope is also a pretty boring place. Setting is […]
March 11, 2012 by 50 Comments Structuring Your NovelThe Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 3: The First Act
Once you’ve hooked the reader, your next task is to put your early chapters to work introducing your characters, settings, and stakes. The first 20-25% of the book comprises your setup. At first glance, this can seem like a tremendous chunk of story to devote to introductions, but if you expect readers to stick with you throughout the story, […]
February 5, 2012 by 55 Comments Most Common Writing MistakesMost Common Writing Mistakes: Vanishing Setting Syndrome
As authors, we usually consider ourselves the masters of the crimes committed in our stories—not the victims. But as Sherlock, Poirot, and Castle will tell you, the sneakiest crimes are always those in which the victim doesn’t even realize he’s been ripped off. Such is the Case of the Vanishing Setting. This is one of […]
September 18, 2011 by 42 Comments Beginning Your Book5 Elements of a Riveting Opening Line
The opening line of your book is your first (and possibly last) opportunity to grab your reader’s attention and give them a reason to read your story. That’s a gargantuan job for a single sentence. But if we break down excellent opening lines, we discover a number of interesting things. One of the most surprising […]
