That question makes for the best stories—in fiction and in life. In either genre (yes, let’s call life a genre, and feel free to substitute “You” for “character”), a character finds themself in the middle of a big mess. It … Continue reading →
Most of the advice that’s available online for free is for beginners. That’s not to say that people who’ve been writing for years (decades) won’t find some useful nugget. There’s always something presented that makes a writer of any caliber … Continue reading →
Once again, I’m late to the party. I just finished reading a book from 2005, but it’s only been in my to-be-read pile since the beginning of this year. It’s called The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and was an … Continue reading →
I’ve been listening to advice for writers about why stories aren’t connecting with agents. One big reason: The agent isn’t able to feel anything for the protagonist—no matter how well written the story, how lively the sentences, how wonderful the … Continue reading →
To celebrate summer vacation when my kids were little, we used to go to the local coffee shop on the last day of school. I would ask each of them what they wanted to do with their time off. A … Continue reading →
If you “put yourself out there” in any capacity, you (or is it just me?) compare yourself to what is already out there. I think that’s human nature. Wish it wasn’t. Inevitably, with comparison comes the realization that you are … Continue reading →
Remember when our music choices were limited to vinyl or the radio? If you liked a song or a musician, you bought their whole album. The thing is, then you had to listen to every song on the album. But … Continue reading →
I can’t get an image out of my mind of a young woman, a teenager, who was on the morning news recently. She, along with three young men, also teenagers, were being interviewed because they did something heroic on their … Continue reading →
Don’t you love the sound of that word? It sounds like the name of a much-loved animal friend or something like a scone you’d have slathered in cream and jam. Anyway…. Quick answer: a MacGuffin is a trope that authors … Continue reading →
A few weeks ago, I wrote about emotion versus knowledge in storytelling, noting that writers can look up any facts they need. But how do you get the facts besides using Google? Personal Experience: If what you’re writing is based … Continue reading →
