Right about now, most of us are thinking of one thing — summer vacation! School books are put away, jeans and hoodies are exchanged for swim suits and flip-flops, and the list of all the fun things we want to do feels like a shiny, wrapped up package, waiting to be opened and enjoyed. But […]
Writing Lesson 2.34 – Advice on Becoming a Better Writer Over the Summer
May 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Writing Lesson 2.31 – Putting the Bow on the Package
April 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment
There’s something tremendously fulfilling in the moment you finish writing your story. You sigh with pleasure or scream with joy because somehow you know it’s the best one you’ve written. And through the sweat and sorting, you finished! But sooner or later you drift down off the bubble of wonder you’re floating on because, just […]
Writing Lesson 2.28 – Are Your Scenes Boring?
April 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment
In my last tutorial, I talked about heroes who are too perfect. In that same line, writing scenes that are too nice will lose your readers’ attention. Scenes that just meander on in Niceness, exuding lovely scenery, quiet dinners, bits of dialogue that mean nothing are boring. Something has to happen, even subtly, or the […]
Writing Lesson 2.25 – Why Your Hero Can’t Be So Darn Perfect
March 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Some writers make the mistake of thinking that heroes must be perfect, but a too-perfect hero becomes a piece of cardboard to readers.
Writing Lesson 2.22 – Banning those Floating Body Parts
February 18, 2011 By 3 Comments
Duck! Before one hits you! Okay, I’m just being funny, but that’s because I’m going to talk to you about Floating Body Parts or FBPs. I shall explain, but before I start, I have to admit that I am not entirely against FBPs in every single writing instance. However, most editors are, and it’s tricky […]