Developing our characters is what we do as writers, but they can also be trouble. Maybe you created a particular character to be so annoying that you never want to see them again. Perhaps they’re so crucial to your story that you can’t even think about killing them. But, what is the best way to […]
Today’s blog goes hand in hand with last week’s post. One of my goals with these guides is to think about different ways to look at story development. You put your characters through the wringer in every way! Despite what some writers may claim, there is no such thing as a “right way” to approach […]
Every writer has a style, a personality that influences the way they write. Some may be fast and crude, others reserved and timid, and some may be witty. Some may even be all of the above! I took my pursuit of knowledge further and sat for my Masters of Fine Arts in Writing. It’s a […]
Self-editing is an integral part of any writer’s craft. Looking back over your work, writing specific paragraphs or sections over again can often be the only way to evaluate whether or not your writing is strong enough for publication. The problem is that self-editing can be tedious and time-consuming. Editing can be tough to look […]
As someone whose job is to write things, it may seem odd that I’m offering this list. However, I’m not the type of person who looks for the negative in everything. Negativity always seems to find me, though. When you first start out, you have to carefully consider your goals with the story. What are […]
“Light” is an important word to describe. Light is often an integral part of what you are describing; this is particularly true when describing colors or lighting effects. So, when writing about light, it is vital to use the word accurately. There is an infographic floating around, and I’ve included it in text form because […]
As a writer, I spend a lot of time describing things, as I’m sure that you do. I’m always looking for new and exciting ways to do it. Through my research and experimentation, I have found that narrating sounds can be a powerful tool to describe a scene or set the tone of a work. […]
Adding – or deleting – a paragraph to a manuscript is an important question to ask. Some passages are deemed more important than others and some argue that removing a paragraph could change the entire tone of a novel, while a short story can be a single paragraph. One of the most significant mistakes writers […]
The hero’s journey, as a theme, is a well-known trope in literature and film, typically dealing with a protagonist’s struggle with a given goal. The story typically starts with a call to adventure, or a call to save a fellow being from a dire situation. The hero chooses to go on the quest, and after […]
You don’t want to reveal too much about your character in the first chapter. However, I’m of the firm belief that if you write an excellent first chapter, the rest of the story will fall into place. Then, when you get into chapter two, you can delve into a character’s background and give little hints […]