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Why “But” is a Powerful Writing Tool

October 24, 2023

Why “But” is a Powerful Writing Tool

October 24, 2023

Boredom is a common reason why a reader DNFs a book. Genre is irrelevant. If the reader isn’t engaged with the storyline, they will set aside your book for another…

Three Ways to Make Readers Care About Secondary Characters

October 17, 2023

Three Ways to Make Readers Care About Secondary Characters

October 17, 2023

A common mistake I see in client manuscripts is a cast of secondary characters that simply exist to help or to outright block the protagonist. They’re either ready, willing, and…

Writing Flawed Characters Who Don’t Turn Readers Off

October 10, 2023

Writing Flawed Characters Who Don’t Turn Readers Off

October 10, 2023

No one in the real world is perfect, and so characters shouldn’t be either. To seem as real as you or me, they should have flaws and strengths, and these…

Happy 8th Birthday, One Stop for Writers!

October 3, 2023

Happy 8th Birthday, One Stop for Writers!

October 3, 2023

Let the good times roll…One Stop for Writers‘ BIRTHDAY WEEK is here! It’s hard to believe Becca and I have been helping writers grow into confident storytellers at One Stop…

Meet Our Resident Writing Coaches

September 30, 2023

Meet Our Resident Writing Coaches

September 30, 2023

I love being the Writers Helping Writers Blog Wizard…and am honored to work closely with the Resident Writing Coaches. They’re all talented, generous authors who share their wisdom to help…

How To Write A Psychological Thriller Without Frying Your Own Brain

September 19, 2023

How To Write A Psychological Thriller Without Frying Your Own Brain

September 19, 2023

Writing A Psychological Thriller Whether you’re a fan of the genre or looking to try your hand at writing one, a psychological thriller can be fun to both read AND…

Writing Techniques: Use and Abuse of “Lampshading”

September 12, 2023

Writing Techniques: Use and Abuse of “Lampshading”

September 12, 2023

As storytellers, we usually want to keep readers immersed in our story. However, we’ve probably all written lines that we worry will break readers’ suspension of disbelief, such as with…

Strategies for Smooth Scene Openings

September 5, 2023

Strategies for Smooth Scene Openings

September 5, 2023

If the opening line of a scene is the doorway to the party, what follows is the welcoming handshake and introductions that draw readers into the mix. Effective scene openings…

How Do You Find Your Narrator’s Voice?

August 15, 2023

How Do You Find Your Narrator’s Voice?

August 15, 2023

Voice is one of those elements that can make or break a manuscript. If you get it right, the novel will live in the reader’s mind long after they put…