
One of the busiest times of year is upon us—the holiday season—which comes with whole stockingfuls of stressors and things to do. Add writing to the…
One of the busiest times of year is upon us—the holiday season—which comes with whole stockingfuls of stressors and things to do. Add writing to the…
You did it! Ooooooor…maybe you didn’t. Either way, National Novel Writing Month (NaNo) is over and it’s time to regroup. Maybe this time you were a…
Ahhh, the “middle child”—overlooked, underappreciated, less exciting… at least, according to the Brady Bunch. Still, Jan Brady’s “Marsha, Marsha, Marsha…” struck a chord of truth with…
No matter how incredible of a plot a story might have, without equally stellar characters, the book isn’t likely to be too compelling. While there are…
If you’ve ever studied any form of visual art, such as photography, you know that light and shadow are equally important to making a well-balanced image.…
What are some of the most classic story openers of all time? “It was a dark and stormy night.” –Edward Buwler-Lytton “It was the best of…
Often when we think of story, we have a tendency to focus on plot. When people ask us what our books are about, the plot will…
Though I’ve been writing for over a couple decades, this is the first year I’ve decided I’m going to participate in National Novel Writing Month (NaNo…
Have you ever been to a fabulous restaurant and ordered something because you know, like, and recognize it? I’m sure most of us share that experience.…
What’s the one goal every writer has for their novel? To hook the reader. Sure, there may be other goals. To entertain. To inspire. Some might…