12 Ways Not to Start a Novel
How do we start a novel? So much needs to go in an opener. But some openers have been done to death. So here are 12 ways not to start a novel| Anne R. Allen's Blog... with Ruth Harris
How do we start a novel? So much needs to go in an opener. But some openers have been done to death. So here are 12 ways not to start a novel| Anne R. Allen's Blog... with Ruth Harris
I began writing for radio drama, so for me, dialogue is everything. Music, sound effects, and silence also contribute to audio plays, but the main ingredient is dialogue. When I read fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, I’m attracted by the dialogue...Read More| Black Fox Literary Magazine
Writing a strong and consistent character voice is one of the best ways to make your story stand out. A unique voice tailored to your character makes them feel real and more memorable to readers. But voice is tricky to get right. Too little attention to this important aspect of storytelling results in all the […] The post Writing 101: How to Find & Write Your Character’s Voice appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.| WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®
Are you afraid of using the weather in your writing? If so, you’re not alone. After all, if not careful, weather description can be a minefield of clichés. The sunny, cloudless afternoon at the beach. The gloomy rainstorm at a funeral. Overdone setting and weather pairings can lie flat on the page. Then there’s the […] The post How to Use Weather to Create Mood, Not Clichés appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.| WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®
Crafting characters that readers will connect to is every writer’s goal and dozens (hundreds?) of methods exist to achieve it: deep backstory planning, character profile sheets, questionnaires, etc. Regardless of the roadmap a writer uses, writing an authentic character boils down to one important action: intentionally drawing from the real world, and specifically, the human […] The post How to Show Your Character’s Repressed Emotions appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.| WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®
AI can’t dig into what situations feel like and what they mean to our characters and their hopes for the future—or what they mean to readers.| WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®
If you’d like to receive my blog in your in-box each week, click here. My husband and I are different types of travelers, in ways that reflect our very different personalities. I am a planner. I like to learn as much as I can about a place we’re planning to visit, what there is to do...| FoxPrint Editorial
I was elated when I received an acceptance for my short story “Casey.” But seeing the critique that followed, I was horrified to learn this story housed an entire menagerie of unwanted editorial pets—words, phrases, and grammatical constructions. | Black Fox Literary Magazine
When it comes to showing our character’s path to healing in the aftermath of a destructive wound, we need to take it slow.| WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®
by Debbie Burke Let’s assume most of us who follow Anne’s and Ruth’s blog are not kidnappers, rapists, or murderers. Since we’re not, it can be difficult for us to imagine the mindset of characters who commit heinous crimes. So how can we write multidimensional, memorable villains who have more depth than the cartoonish […] The post How To Drill Inside Your Villain’s Head appeared first on Anne R. Allen's Blog... with Ruth Harris.| Anne R. Allen's Blog… with Ruth Harris
Don’t be afraid to try things--even things that may seem far, far out of the box. You're not always writing broad stories, but this is advice I've offered many authors in every type of story who may be holding themselves back in the interest of finesse and subtlety and not spoon-feeding readers. Those can be good instincts, and valuable for creating believable and effective stories, but sometimes we're holding ourselves back too much, fearing that if we give ourselves too much rein, our sto...| FoxPrint Editorial
Tapping into our reader’s psyche to pull on their emotions is essential. The secret to achieving it is emotional common ground.| WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®
Advice to authors to create a newsletter is ubiquitous, and the reasons are generally solid. It's a direct line of communication to people who are very interested in your work. It's a platform that's totally within your own control and ownership, and the mailing list is your own,| FoxPrint Editorial
Many writers today present haiku as free verse, covering a myriad of subjects. Although many readers, myself included, enjoy modern haiku verses, I feel there is greater gentleness and artistic challenge when composing haiku using a traditional format. | Black Fox Literary Magazine
For anyone considering cowriting: always communicate more than you think you need to. And remember, it’s not a competition—it’s a duet.| WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®
Publisher Nicola Mason on the opportunities that have shaped Acre and her sensibilities as a reader and editor.| Acre Books
SS: You’re an editor and poet all rolled up into one. How do you manage these roles? Do you have any advice for those who struggle with revision?| Acre Books
Are there books you've always wanted to read but never have? Discover this new story craft podcast that confronts story structure and writing through the lens of its hosts'| A Fuse #8 Production
Looking for fun and engaging winter literacy activities for your students? This How to Build a Snowman Writing Activity is just what you need! Building a snowman is one of the most magical activities of winter, sparking creativity and joy in children of all ages. Imagine capturing that excitement and channeling it into a fun, … The post How to Build a Snowman Writing Activity appeared first on ABCs of Literacy.| ABCs of Literacy
By Caitlin Wahrer When I checked out Master Slave Husband Wife, the biography of an enslaved American couple who emancipated themselves in 1848, I expected a history lesson. I did not expect suspen…| The Brevity Blog
Recently I was watching an interview of a successful television actor who knew from childhood that he wanted to spend his life performing for audiences. Another individual remarked during the conve…| Chronicles of the Scribe
From time to time, people ask me for information on how to outline a plot. “How,” they ask, “do you know what should come first? Then what do you do?” The answer can be hard…| Chronicles of the Scribe
I cannot tell you what a relief it is to announce that my latest novel, A MAN OF HONOR, is now in processing at Amazon for imminent Kindle release. I started this western nearly two years ago, and …| Chronicles of the Scribe
Research is necessary for any successful setting although it can also be a quagmire from which the unwary writer may never emerge. While it’s tempting to use only invented settings or to conf…| Chronicles of the Scribe
If you’re thinking you can plunk your action scene in any old gritty dark alley in Generic City, USA, then you’re shortchanging the dramatic potential of your story. For one thing, ther…| Chronicles of the Scribe
