I’ve just returned from teaching at a wonderful writing conference located in the redwoods of Northern California. There, for six days I taught classes, read manuscripts and met with writers about their work. One bit of advice I gave again and again was to learn to write deeper and truer. Writing Tip for Today: Here […]
Writing to Know Oneself
Forgive me for deviating from my usual practical tips, but once in a while it’s good to ask what it all means. Writing Tip for Today: How does a writing practice illuminate our understanding of ourselves and others? Learn What You Know “I write to discover what I know.” –Flannery O’Connor. What was true for […]
Writing Character Motivation Circles
In fiction, we all want our characters to be as alive to readers as they are to us. Yet, who hasn’t struggled with writing a character who is fully developed and three-dimensional? Writing Tip for Today: Here’s a simple method for increasing character depth and stakes in your story using motivational circles: The Cheese Stands […]
Fixing Your Ailing Storyboard
Today’s post will show you how to remedy a storyboard (and by extension, plot) with problems.Writing Tip for Today: So you’ve laid out your novel’s scenes and taken a more holistic and objective look at your story. The nice thing about storyboarding is that you can add, rearrange or cut scenes without messing around in […]
Three Ways to Outline Fiction
Three Ways to Outline FictionWhether you’re a plotter or a pantster, the more you write the more likely you are to outline at some point. Outlining before, during or after your draft is finished can show you your story’s strengths and spot flaws.Writing Tip for Today: Here are three ways to use outlining in your […]
Three More Tips on Show, Don’t Tell
Most writing teachers talk about show, don’t tell in terms of avoiding explanations and increasing concrete sensory details. These techniques are vital. But to master show, don’t tell, here are some lesser-known writing tips. Writing Tip for Today: Let’s take a look at some other ways to attain “show, don’t tell”in your fiction. Manage Readers […]
Writing Characters, Inside and Out
Writing fictional characters that are also unforgettable takes a delicate combination of inner and outer knowledge, motivation, actions and decisions. Writing Tip for Today: Let’s take a look at some simple ways to deepen your fictional characters: Where the Stakes Are Before your story can take off for readers, the lead character must need/want/be desperate […]
Writing Through Rejection
Writing through rejection is so hard! Almost every writer experiences rejection. Some write for years before they gain an acceptance. Others find recognition but can show you a folder of “nos.” We’re all supposed to keep writing with thick skins to weather the rejections. Writing Tip for Today: Most writers know about the “thick skin” […]
Writing by the Numbers
Calculating Story Lengths When you draft a novel, you just write, right? Sure, but at some point, you’ll need to adjust for overall and chapter length. A writer asks, “How long should my novel be and how do I write it to match a word count?” Writing Tip for Today: Many different methods exist, but […]
Writing Macro and Micro Tension
Last evening, my class on Show Don’t Tell Scenes asked how to write micro-tension into scenes. While I didn’t invent this concept (thanks, Donald Maass!), I’d like to offer a few tips for creating micro-tension in your fictional scenes. Writing Tip for Today: What is micro-tension and how do you use in in fiction scenes? […]
