My novel doesn't start at the beginning.
Is this an inside writing joke?
What I mean is the narrative in my story isn't ordered chronologically. It wasn't always that way, but when it … Continue reading >>
After reading “Outline your Novel in Thirty Minutes” by Alicia Rasley in the Article of the Month blog, I realized my current outline was basically useless. No wonder my writing had been stalled! … Continue reading >>
The beginning as a place mark:
We sit in front of the keyboard, poised, with an idea for a book spinning in our head, and find ourselves afraid to start. After all, we are aware we have one paragraph, … Continue reading >>
The world needs an illustrated grammar lesson concerning aw and awe.
Aw is a noise
Aw is the word for a noise you make when you see something that's freaking adorable, like a baby hedgehog or Betty … Continue reading >>
What Makes a Writer, and Am I One?
Are you a real writer?
It’s a loaded question to ask a room full of writers. Some will be offended that you even asked. “I write, therefore I’m a writer,” … Continue reading >>
Contrast emotion with setting in fiction
This is a simple trick that can maximize any scene's emotional impact.
A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton offers a great contrast between … Continue reading >>
