To all my faithful readers–I’m a bit nerve-wracked today, as tomorrow I’ll go under the knife in shoulder surgery. My circumstances are a tad unusual–I don’t have the use of my nonsurgical arm, so typing will be difficult for a few weeks while I recover. Writing Tip for Today: Instead of my usual tips, today […]
Tag Archives: elmore leonard
Writing Memoir: Omit the Boring Stuff
If you’re writing a memoir, you’ll need a combination of strong writing and strong storytelling. Writing Tip for Today: What are some elements of effective memoir? Who’s It For? So many writers have great life stories to tell. And so many non-writers have great stories too. But as you write your great life story, it’s […]
Scene Writing: Stay in the Moment
One of the most common ways I teach scene writing to writers is by pointing out examples where a scene suddenly jumps off the rails. Readers are experiencing a scene, in a particular place and time, when poof! The particular-ness vanishes. Writing Tip for Today: How can writers know if they are “staying in scene?” […]
SCENE IT! Write in Scenes
I’m in the middle of helping to judge a writing contest. Of the fifteen or so entries, I’m coming away with one suggestion to almost every writer: Scene it. Writing Tip for Today: On a “Big Picture” level, one sure-fire way to improve fiction, nonfiction or memoir is to learn to write a good scene. […]
Writing Fix: Reinvent Your Story
Last post, we talked about ways to get your struggling story off life support. Now that it’s breathing again, let’s look at ways your fiction can re-energize and shine. Writing Tip for Today: How can struggling fiction be re-imagined so that it appeals to readers? Here are some things to consider: Interesting People in Trouble […]
EZ Scene Writing Tips
Anytime I teach fiction writing, I inevitably end up talking about scene writing. Even in my own fiction, I’ve crafted what I thought (at the time) was gorgeous prose. Then as I gave a reading of my story, I found myself skipping the narrative–however beautiful–to read from scenes. Writing Tip for Today: Let’s take a […]
Novel Writing: Keep the Plot Taut
To many writers, their favorite novel’s plot seems to meander like the Mississippi River. But it’s rarely true. In most cases, underneath what appears to be a leisurely or thoughtful story lies a well-crafted series of plot points that not only drive forward but also maintain tension.Writing Tip for Today: Your story must give the reader not only a […]