Setting – The Versatile Tool for the Fiction Writer
Settings in fiction are often in the background—literally. Characters are talking and doing things, but readers get merely a glimpse…
The Important Role Secondary Characters Play
Every character in a fictional story needs to play a role, whether a strong antagonist standing in the way of…
How to Determine the Age of Your Target Reader
I wrote this post many years ago, but I continue to see a lot of problems with manuscripts that appear…
Story Structure and the Essential Outline
I do a lot of scene outlines for writers. And I’ve written a lot of blog posts on the topic….
How Writers Can Deal with Unsupportive Family and Friends
Today’s guest post is by Lisa Fellinger. I often hear writers frustrated with the lack of support some receive from…
How to Create a Scene Outline
One of the biggest problems I see as a copyeditor and writing coach is weak scenes. Scenes with no point…
Why Cinematic Technique in Fiction Is Important
Cinematic technique is rarely, if ever, discussed or taught at writing workshops or by writing instructors, and that’s a problem….
How to Add a “Secret” Ingredient to Your Story Premise
Your story premise needs to be compelling if you want to entice readers and keep them reading your book. Premise…
Choosing the Right Scenes to Go in the Right Places
My guess is that few novel writers spend time thinking about scene choice or type and the placement of specific…