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You’ve set up your scene and built tension as it progresses. But as you write, it dawns on you that you aren’t sure where to end the scene. Sound familiar? Writing Tip for Today: Here are some things to consider when a scene’s ending isn’t clear: Scenes as Micro-stories Scene ending trouble often crops up […]
Last week, driving to pick up some plants and gardening supplies, my three sons were all sober at the same time. The. Same. Time. The late Spring sun was out and like a lot of us Pacific Northwesters, we were itching to get growing. I couldn’t wait to get my hands dirty. Oldest was excited […]
When I start a novel, I’m nearly always tempted to go into a narrative about the story. Then, later, upon revision, I almost always rewrite the narrative to get characters in a scene, sooner. Writing Tip for Today: When should you write scene and when should you use narrative? It’s all about PACE. Set-Ups for […]
Overwriting can plague the writer who is trying too hard to make readers know, feel or think a certain way. Writers do tend to be passionate about getting their points across—as they should be. But when writing goes beyond ultraviolet into purple prose, readers wind up frustrated and confused. Writing Tip for Today: Why does […]
It’s my pleasure to introduce today’s guest blogger, Dena Yohe. Dena’s website, Hope for Hurting Parents, is a great resource for those of us who walk this path. “I can’t sleep! I’m a nervous wreck and I had another argument with my husband over what we should do next. This can’t be happening. How much […]
When I was a noob at writing for publication, I used to wonder what inciting incident meant. Didn’t we jump into the story on page one? Well, yes and no. Writing Tip for Today: Let’s discuss how and where to place a story’s inciting incident. Normal Not Boring A story’s inciting incident is the same […]
Writers describe what is happening on stage through action, dialogue and inner thoughts/emotions. Many times, these descriptions emerge through use of prepositional phrases, showing readers directions and enriching the experience. But overusing prepositional phrases can lead to trouble. Writing Tip for Today: Clean, tight writing often depends on a good command of how and when […]
A zillion days ago, before life became quarantined due to the COVID-19 pandemic, my thirtysomething middle son talked about getting his act together. He was going to finish that GED, at long last, as well as get his driver’s license. He’d spoken to a former employer who’d give him a job. His cheeks had plumped […]
We’ve all heard the advice: You need to tighten up your writing. But what does that really mean? Writing Tip for Today: Tight writing doesn’t always mean terse or brief prose. Here are some easy ways to avoid overwriting and learn to write tighter. The Risky Rs Repetition can help readers understand that something in […]
Avoid Laughable Gestures Last post we discussed the need for originality and character-depth when writing a character’s physical gestures. With all the bad news and anxiety, I thought it would be fun to examine some of fiction’s most laughable (and troublesome) gestures. Writing Tip for Today: While we all want our readers to experience a […]
Linda has always been a daydreamer, artist and storyteller. In addition to doting on grandbabies, collecting too many cats, gardening and walking on the beach, she loves to write and to help writers develop their skills. [READ MORE…]
