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What’s Your Character Hiding?

Being able to write realistic, consistent, multi-dimensional characters is vital to gaining reader interest. Doing so first requires we know a lot about who our characters are—you know, the obvious stuff: positive and negative traits, behavioral habits, desires, goals, and the like. But it’s not … [Read more...] about What’s Your Character Hiding?

Fear Thesaurus Entry: Putting Yourself Out There

Debilitating fears are a problem for everyone, an unfortunate part of the human experience. Whether they're a result of learned behavior as a child, are related to a mental illness, or stem from a past wounding event, these fears influence a character's behaviors, habits, beliefs, and personality … [Read more...] about Fear Thesaurus Entry: Putting Yourself Out There

How Writers Can Turn the Page This Spring

We may write different things, but I'm betting we have something in common - a set-up process. We sit down, favorite writing tools at the ready. Maybe we light a candle, put on a soundtrack, read an inspirational message taped to the monitor or some other ritual, all because we know that certain … [Read more...] about How Writers Can Turn the Page This Spring

One Quick Reason Readers Cheer For Unlikable Characters

By Lisa Hall Wilson How do we get readers to cheer for unlikable characters? We cheer for anti-heroes and characters who are surly, have anger issues, and even questionable morals. Why? They all have one thing in common but it means we have go right back to the basics. I came across this post … [Read more...] about One Quick Reason Readers Cheer For Unlikable Characters

Fear Thesaurus Entry: Abandonment

Six Tips for How to Write a Compelling Action Scene

By Emily Young Did you know that when you read a novel, your brain thinks you're experiencing the events? “The brain, it seems, does not make much of a distinction between reading about an experience and encountering it in real life,” according to this article in The New York Times. No wonder we … [Read more...] about Six Tips for How to Write a Compelling Action Scene

What is Rhythmic Writing?

By Sue Coletta Rhythm is one of the most underrated aspects of writing, but readers sense the rhythm in our words, whether they realize it or not. Rhythm attracts readers to certain authors. Life itself has a rhythm. Whether it’s our heartbeat or the motion of the sun, moon, and planets, … [Read more...] about What is Rhythmic Writing?

Fear Thesaurus Entry: Government

Fears can be a struggle for everyone, an unfortunate part of the human experience. Whether they're a result of learned behavior as a child, are related to a mental condition, or stem from a past wounding event, some fears can be debilitating, influencing a character's behaviors, habits, beliefs, and … [Read more...] about Fear Thesaurus Entry: Government

The One Popular Myth Writers Believe About Writer’s Block

By Colleen M. Story “There’s no such thing as writer’s block!” No doubt you’ve heard this myth before. Worse, you may have believed it. And that’s rarely a good thing, as it tends to keep you where you are—in that stuck place you dare not call writer’s block. Myth: There’s No Such … [Read more...] about The One Popular Myth Writers Believe About Writer’s Block

Phenomenal First Pages Contest

Hey, wonderful writerly people! It’s time for our monthly first-page critique contest 🙂 This contest is closed. Please try again next month. If you’d like to be notified when the next one goes live, consider subscribing to the blog (in the sidebar). If you’re working on a first page (in … [Read more...] about Phenomenal First Pages Contest

Fear Thesaurus Entry: Growing Old

Using Vocal Cues to Show Hidden Emotion

By Becca Puglisi Any Tolkien fans in the house? I remember, as a teen, reading The Hobbit by the fire on a rare cold evening in Florida. It became a favorite that I would re-read until my copy literally fell to pieces. One of my favorite scenes comes right at the beginning: the … [Read more...] about Using Vocal Cues to Show Hidden Emotion