Linda K Sienkiewicz

Writing life, line by line

Switchback Time: How to Play with Structure in Your Novel

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Time, Tension, and the Art of Story Structure Think of time in a story as an escalator. Where does your character step on—and where do they get off? On each floor, the world will look a little different. In fiction, switchback time happens when a character is blocked by something in the past they must confront. To get a clear image of your novel’s structure, it can help to first write a … [Read more...]

Is your Novel Plot or Character Driven?

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When I was querying agents and publishers, I found this distinction incredibly helpful, if only because deciding what to highlight in a query letter can feel impossible. Understanding whether your novel is plot driven or character driven makes the job much easier. Here’s why: Plot-Driven Novels: If your novel is plot driven, a query that spends too much time describing your characters’ … [Read more...]

Why Readers Quit Books—and What Writers Can Learn

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What's the craziest reason you stopped reading a book? Three pages in and the female narrator is getting hot and sweaty in a dingy bathroom stall with a random guy while saying she's never done this kind of thing before. I didn't believe it. Credibility gone. It was a DNF (did not finish) for me. Have you ever quit a book for a crazy, or not-so-crazy reason? You’re not alone. I asked a group … [Read more...]

Blackout Poetry: Where Writing Meets Visual Art

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Blackout poetry is a creative blend of writing and visual art—and all you need to begin is imagination and a willingness to let go of logic. This art form welcomes everyone, including my engineer-minded husband and children. A friend once asked me if there are any guidelines. The best part is there aren’t any. There Are No Rules (Really) The words you choose don’t have to make logical … [Read more...]

The Great Medical Questionnaire Loop: Modern Healthcare Frustrations

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Why did I pre-register? My trip to the hospital for a bone density test started out badly. My irritation might have been instigated by the fact that I had to arrive twenty minutes prior to the test, despite the hospital's insistence via email and several text messages that I pre-register online at home. But why did I have to arrive so early if I've preregistered? Anyway, the bridge at … [Read more...]