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The reader needs to know where they are in every chapter and scene you write. Writing Tip for Today: It isn’t enough to tell about the location at the beginning of the story/chapter. Ground your reader at intervals so you maintain a clear vivid picture for the reader at all times. Movies give you a […]
Writers of fiction must create a believable character, no matter the genre. Yet some interesting dilemmas arise when the character is constrained by history, by the future or even by contemporary standards. Writing Tip for Today: How can writers create believable characters, yet still appeal to present-day and future readers? Let’s look at some ideas: […]
First novels often have a common problem: the protagonist is on stage alone, traveling to a destination, sitting and thinking. While successful novels may contain some of these same elements, the combination often ends up stalling a story. Writing Tip for Today: Let’s take a look at each of these problems and offer some fixes. […]
In the last post, we discussed the process of hiring a pro editor to “clean up” your manuscript before you begin the submission process. But what about the manuscript you hand off to that editor?Writing Tip for Today: Before you hire an editor to help you, try to increase your self-editing skills. The better the […]
Your story opens. Here comes your heroine, in all her glory. Then she proceeds to wander around, telling us all about how she got here–for several long pages, until you’re tempted to nod off. But wait! How can you keep your story alive long enough to get it started?Writing Tip for Today: One of the […]
The protagonist in your story means a lot to you. You, as author, created a person whose needs, obstacles and fortitude infuse you with writing energy. But the most difficult part of telling a great story is to get your reader to understand and experience the same world, problem and character that you’ve imagined. Writing […]