I’ve been in a writing mood recently, which is great from my point of view. Today, I wrote “the end” on my current work in progress. Since my mind is in the groove, I thought I’d give some advice to aspiring authors. 1. Sit down and write every day. Make writing into...
Recently someone told me the hero in my story wasn’t heroic and didn’t behave like a hero. He was unsympathetic. Instead of panicking or becoming defensive, I took another look at my hero and, to my horror, found the criticism was justified. While I still liked my...
Kat Duncan is my special guest today. Kat likes to write and teach. She also likes to write about teaching and teach about writing. Today she's giving us a few hints about finding foster homes for orphan sentences. Have you ever tried the writing technique called...
I'll often pick up a writing craft book at the library. Recently I picked up a copy of Bullies, Bastards And Bitches: How To Write The Bad Guys Of Fiction by Jessica Page Morrell. I've found it fascinating and definitely helpful in writing villains. The author has...
"If a scene just isn't working, and yet it's critical to the storyline, try writing it from the point of view of one of the other characters. You might be surprised at the difference it makes!" Visit Nalini Singh's website Purchase Nalini's latest release, Archangel's...
"GET HOOKED! What does that mean? Simply, we must write stories that grab readers at page one and never let them go. It’s not as easy as it seems. To start with, a stellar beginning/opening is vital these days, especially for aspiring authors if we want that coveted...
What is your best craft tip for aspiring authors wanting to submit to an agent? 90% of writing is rewriting. I don’t know that it ever gets easier, but I know that the more you learn to self-edit and polish, the stronger you’ll be at those skills. Follow this link to...
"Take disco breaks. Get up every hour and get the blood flowing and give your brain a break by punching up something pumpy on your ipod or stereo and rocking out for a few minutes. Great to reset things and bring you back to the computer with new energy, and helpful...
"The editor is there to do two things: to make the book as polished and professional as she can and to help you and the publisher avoid infringement suits. There are no brownie points for refusing reasonable edits. My first editor [Suzanne James] taught me: "An editor...
