Writing Tips
Adverbs Can Kill Your Writing… Literally
In addition to my own writing, I have had the privilege and pleasure of editing several works in the past few years. Editing provides me the opportunity to educate new writers who aspire to publish quality work. It also allows me to stay sharp in my own writing. Many of my clients have excellent stories. They lack, however, the proper techniques to make their words, plots and ideas leap of the page. I see many areas where improvement is possible. In past blog posts, we have discussed dialogue, plotting and telegraphing versus foreshadowing to enhance your plots. Today, I write about one more discipline. Continue reading
Writers Pay Themselves First
Time is the rarest of commodities for all of us, writers or insurance agents or jewelers or stay-at-home moms. Each day has exactly the same amount of time whether it’s measured in 24 hours or 1,440 minutes or 86,400 seconds. There is no rewind button on the remote that will take us back in time. You can’t grow or manufacture more of it. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. Continue reading
Write Dialogue That Grabs Your Reader
Deep, thought-provoking characters are one of the keys to grabbing your reader by the eyeballs causing them to postpone putting that book down. Flawed characters with life-like problems capture a reader’s empathy. Great characters make for great stories. The way they speak and communicate is the portal to their past and their soul. Continue reading
Telegraphing vs. Foreshadowing
One of the most common mistakes inexperienced writers make when they write is telegraphing. Telegraphing occurs when the author reveals what is going to happen before it actually happens. It kills the suspense you have worked so hard to create.
You have spent countless hours crafting your plot, creating hazards and traps for your protagonist and putting them in seemingly inescapable situations. Don’t let telegraphing happen to you. Continue reading
Transform Your Heroes for a Stronger Plot
Our heroes are the lifeblood of our stories. They are the engine that makes our plots run. We all rely on dependable transportation. And for that reason, most of us take care to make sure our cars and their engines are diligently cared for and free from flaws. Continue reading