Congratulations, intrepid explorer! You've discovered one of our SECRET Setting Thesaurus entries. This one is from The Rural Setting Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Personal and Natural Places. We hope the sensory information below will add a deeper richness to your story. The … [Read more...] about Secret Setting Thesaurus Entry: House Party
Search Results for: conflict in every scene
Secret Setting Thesaurus Entry: Antiques Shop
Congratulations, intrepid explorer! You've discovered one of our SECRET Setting Thesaurus entries. This one is from The Urban Setting Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to City Spaces. We hope the sensory information below will add a deeper richness to your story. The setting is a … [Read more...] about Secret Setting Thesaurus Entry: Antiques Shop
Secret Setting Thesaurus Entry: Police Car
Congratulations, intrepid explorer! You've discovered one of our SECRET Setting Thesaurus entries. This one is from The Urban Setting Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to City Spaces. You might wonder how accurate this information is...well, Angela went through a false arrest to get it, believe it or … [Read more...] about Secret Setting Thesaurus Entry: Police Car
Friends as Enemies
One thing that Angela and I discovered time and again as we put the Rural and Urban Setting Thesaurus books together is just how influential the setting is on a story. Setting has its collective fingers in a lot of pies: building the mood, characterizing the story's cast, steering the plot, evoking … [Read more...] about Friends as Enemies
Getting the Pacing Right
I’d like to start this post by stating an opinion that I think pretty much everyone shares: Pacing Sucks. When you get it right, no one really notices. I mean, how many times have you read a 5-star review that went on and on about the awesome pacing? On the other hand, when the pacing’s off, it’s … [Read more...] about Getting the Pacing Right
Why Scripts Are Rejected: 10 Screenwriting Errors To Avoid
We're going to throw something different into the mix today: a post about screenwriting mistakes. This is an important post for all writers to read, including novelists, because the same advice can easily be translated to your fiction stories as you set out on the query trail. For those who know us … [Read more...] about Why Scripts Are Rejected: 10 Screenwriting Errors To Avoid
Mastering the Art of the Cliffhanger Chapter Ending
People are always talking about how important it is to keep the reader interested. Retain their interest. Keep them turning pages all the way until the end. One way to do this, I keep hearing, is though the cliffhanger chapter ending. But no one ever tells you HOW to write the cliffhanger … [Read more...] about Mastering the Art of the Cliffhanger Chapter Ending
The Fatal Flaw of Underwriting
Hi everyone--I hope you had a terrific weekend and are in the mood to learn. Today I'm handing over the blog keys to Rachel Starr Thomson, one of the editors who have jointly written 5 Editors Tackle the 12 Fatal Flaws of Fiction Writing. I'm excited about this venture of Rachel's as the … [Read more...] about The Fatal Flaw of Underwriting
The Novelist’s Triage Center: The Place to Get Unstuck and Finish Your Book
There you are, happily pounding out words, the click and rattle of the keyboard creating a musical symphony in your writing space. And then...it happens. Your mind goes blank. At first, you don't understand. You stare at your fingers. Why aren't they moving, directing fictional lives, … [Read more...] about The Novelist’s Triage Center: The Place to Get Unstuck and Finish Your Book
Planning a Novel: Character Arc In A Nutshell
So, you're ready to sit down and plan a new book. Are you excited? I hope so. You're about to create a new reality! Can you imagine it, that fresh page that's full of potential? Your main character is going to...um, do things...in your novel. A great many things! Exciting things. Dangerous … [Read more...] about Planning a Novel: Character Arc In A Nutshell
ONE STOP FOR WRITERS®
Becca and I are pleased to bring you another resource from Writers Helping Writers® One Stop For Writers® is a web app packed with unique tools and resources to save you time as you plan, research, and write. A powerhouse of writing information, One Stop is the permanent home for our … [Read more...] about ONE STOP FOR WRITERS®
Ways to Extract Information From Others
I am, frankly, in love with today's post. In every story, there comes a time when your character needs information that someone else has. So how does he go about getting it? The obvious method is to beat the crap out of the other guy. But what if your hero has a glass jaw or faints at the sight of … [Read more...] about Ways to Extract Information From Others