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In Bird by Bird, author Anne Lamott writes that story writing is like a joke: first there’s a set-up, then there’s a build-up and last comes the punch line or payoff. I reread her advice again and again as I seek to improve my craft. Writing Tip for Today: The set-up of a story gives […]
So you want to be an author? Writing is in your blood, you say? You’d write even if hell froze over. And though you might not say it out loud, you want your writing published for all the world (or at least a bunch of readers) to see. How do you get there? Writing Tip […]
The past week in America has been eye-opening, if nothing else. The reactions of some made me think of writers I’ve worked with who are intent on educating their readers. Writing Tip for Today: Fiction can be a powerful tool—but is educating readers or changing their minds by twisting arms the best path? When Education […]
For the past few weeks I’ve been setting new goals and dealing with high stakes. Thanks to all of you who have been understanding and patient with me as I’ve taken a few weeks’ off to deal with my husband’s recent stroke. I’ve learned all sorts of interesting stuff about how strokes impact people and […]
Every writer knows that when life intervenes, writing usually takes a hit. That’s what happened to me this week. My dearly beloved ex-Marine husband suffered a stroke on Sunday. He’s extremely lucky in that we were able to get help fast and the hospital used the clot-buster drugs to dissolve a life-threatening clot in his […]
Some write; others wish only to have written. So many of us will say we have wanted to write since childhood. I too scribbled stories and plays and poems as a kid. Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate the love/hate of the writing process. Writing Tip for Today: What are some ways to make […]
Writing a novel in thirty days is quite an accomplishment. If you’re racing toward the 50,000-word count or have sat back with a “Whew! I did it!” you might be wondering where your draft should go from here. Writing Tip for Today: When you finish your NaNoWriMo draft, what are some next steps? Let It […]
Writing unforgettable dialogue should be on every writer’s bucket list. Iconic passages such as, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities come to mind. Do you wish you could write […]
Any writer who watches movies understands how important dialogue is to the story. Yet in too many instances, we’re writing dialogue that could use a tune up. Instead of asking what the character might say, a better question might be to ask what a character must say. Writing Tip for Today: How can we write […]
An inspiring post over at thewritepractice.com has me thinking about ways to keep fiction stories moving. We all hear, “Every scene must move the story forward.” For me, that command conjures up visions of the kid’s board game Candy Land. Writing Tip for Today: How do your story’s scene goals relate to a game of […]
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…]
