Writing requires clear communication and good management. Readers must know what to remember as they follow your character from Start to Finish. But when you repeat or overemphasize details, your story begins to go off the rails. Writing Tip for Today: What are some common ways to spot and remedy Captain Obvious mistakes? Micromanaging If […]
Author Archives: Linda S. Clare
Writing Memoir: True Lies
Writing memoir takes skill and introspection. And lies, lots of true lies. Writing Tip for Today: Memoir is supposed to be true. Tips on staying true but using lies to tell your story: Truth in Detail My students are often aghast when I say they’ll probably need to lie a little to tell their memoir’s […]
Writing Dramatic Tension
You craft your story or novel, paying special attention to developing your character. While this is great, the bottom line in fiction and memoir is that character does not drive a story. Conflict drives a story. Writing tip for Today: Let’s take a look at dramatic tension in fiction or memoir: What is Dramatic Tension? […]
Writing Conflict in Fiction
Unforgettable stories and characters must be more than some quirky or autobiographical details. If you give your lead character the right kind of conflict, readers will stay glued to the page. Writing Tip for Today: Not all fictional conflict is created equal. Here are some tips for writing effective conflict: So What? In fiction we […]
Come Together: When Family Members Are Not On Board
It’s late, of course, almost midnight. Our two live-in adult sons are arguing, way past the point of name calling and then slouching off to bed. They keep getting louder, lizard-braining their way to a fistfight. Youngest, whose drug of choice is alcohol, accuses Middle (drug of choice meth) of thievery and poor taste in […]
Writing Fight Scenes Part III
I don’t write many actual fight scenes, but those who write fantasy, adventure, mystery or thriller often do. Make those fights irresistible to readers with these tips. Writing Tip for Today: A few more tips for effective fight scenes: Change It Up Whether you write actual fights or verbal/emotional scraps, your readers will want variety. […]
Writing Fight Scenes, Part II
Fight scenes in a story or novel need purpose, rising tension and differing camera angles. But wait! There’s more. Writing Tip for Today: Let’s look at some more features of effective fight scenes. Use Powerful Verbs & Words Fight scenes (literal or figurative) shine when you reach into your word bank for the most powerful […]
Writing Fight Scenes
One of the lessons I learned while writing my first novel was how to stage and execute fight scenes. Whether the fight is physical, verbal or emotional, you can make your fight scene come alive. Writing Tip for Today: Here are some tips for writing effective fight scenes: Purpose Counts One of the basic yet […]
Back in the Scene Writing Chair
Hi everyone! Thanks for your patience while I helped out as care giver. Now, as August slips out the door, I’m back and thinking about good scene writing. Writing Tip for Today: Let’s take a look at some common scene problems: Once Isn’t Enough A common scene problem I see is repetition. Repeating either the […]
A Chrysalis
I’m driving home when I spot him. On a busy street corner, a man stands astride his bike. He looks a lot like my grown son. The uncanny resemblance cuts a path across my broken heart, carving fresh tracks where I’d tried to forget. I’m hurting and there’s no end in sight. My son’s meth-use […]
