Successful stories are driven by authentic and interesting characters, so it's important to craft them carefully. But characters don't usually exist in a vacuum; throughout the course of your story, they'll live, work, play, and fight with other cast members. Some of those relationships are positive … [Read more...] about Relationship Thesaurus Entry: Godparent and Child
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Writing Process vs. Product: Do You Focus on the Doing or the Having?
Which is more important—the process of writing or the product that results? It's not something we think much about, but as creatives, one of these two things is typically motivating us. And it's good to know what our drivers are. I'm glad David Duhr is talking about this today, because it's … [Read more...] about Writing Process vs. Product: Do You Focus on the Doing or the Having?
Should We Think of Our Setting as a Character?
We’ve probably all heard some variation of the advice to develop story settings that feel like characters. Hogwarts castle in the Harry Potter story world, the Overlook Hotel in The Shining, and East and West Egg in The Great Gatsby are all frequently listed as examples of settings that come alive … [Read more...] about Should We Think of Our Setting as a Character?
How to Show Hidden Emotion and Subtext
Everybody lies. You do.I do.And our characters certainly do, too. It's a defense mechanism, really. When a person is uncomfortable, under pressure, or doesn't feel safe, they hold back. It might be information, that they really want or need, their true opinions, or something else. But under it … [Read more...] about How to Show Hidden Emotion and Subtext
Relationship Thesaurus Entry: Guard and Prisoner
Successful stories are driven by authentic and interesting characters, so it's important to craft them carefully. But characters don't usually exist in a vacuum; throughout the course of your story, they'll live, work, play, and fight with other cast members. Some of those relationships are positive … [Read more...] about Relationship Thesaurus Entry: Guard and Prisoner
11 Techniques for Transforming Clichéd Phrasings
One of the things that pumps me up the most when I’m reading a book is when the author phrases things in a way I’ve never seen before. It could be a familiar concept or image—red hair, an urban street, fear—but when it’s written differently, I’m able to visualize that thing in a new way, as if I’m … [Read more...] about 11 Techniques for Transforming Clichéd Phrasings
Turn Envy into Energy
Years ago there was a commercial for Pepto-Bismol where a nerdy guy in glasses looked straight into the camera and says, "Can we talk about diarrhea?" It was an effective ad because they took the bull by the horns, as it were. They didn't sugar coat the malady; they didn't try to cleverly talk … [Read more...] about Turn Envy into Energy
Relationship Thesaurus Entry: Teacher and Student
Successful stories are driven by authentic and interesting characters, so it's important to craft them carefully. But characters don't usually exist in a vacuum; throughout the course of your story, they'll live, work, play, and fight with other cast members. Some of those relationships are positive … [Read more...] about Relationship Thesaurus Entry: Teacher and Student
Why Should You Join a Writing Community?
Writing is hard, but it can be easier if you're not doing it alone. Eileen Cook is here to share 5 reasons why you should join a group. Writing may be a solo journey, but a writing community can make it a road trip. Writing is a solitary pursuit. You set off, a lone writer on a story … [Read more...] about Why Should You Join a Writing Community?
Critiques 4 U!
CONTEST CLOSED! SEE YOU NEXT MONTH Happy February, everyone! Angela and I are hard at work doing all the things, as I'm sure you all are, too. We're hoping that you're finding time to dedicate to your writing. If so, you might have a first page that could use some extra love, and I'm just the … [Read more...] about Critiques 4 U!
Relationship Thesaurus Entry: Business Partners
Successful stories are driven by authentic and interesting characters, so it's important to craft them carefully. But characters don't usually exist in a vacuum; throughout the course of your story, they'll live, work, play, and fight with other cast members. Some of those relationships are positive … [Read more...] about Relationship Thesaurus Entry: Business Partners
Story Resolutions: Mastering the Happy-Sad Ending
Very often, it's the ending of a story that sticks with us—because it's our last memory of it, our most recent emotional connection. So nailing the ending is important. This is why I was so excited when Gilbert Bassey reached out with a post idea about a satisfying story resolution that isn't … [Read more...] about Story Resolutions: Mastering the Happy-Sad Ending