Okay. You've picked the perfect setting for your story. You can describe it so clearly and compellingly that your readers will want to move there. Is that all there is to it? You might as well ask if I'd like plain vanilla ice cream or Ben & Jerry's Everything But The… It's a no-brainer, people. … [Read more...] about Creating Unforgettable Settings, Part 3: Maximizing the Setting
Search Results for: conflict in every scene
Setting Description…Writing More Than What You See
Today's Question: What is the best way to describe a place in a really special way, without sounding too visual? I like this question, because it's what the Setting Thesaurus is all about. As writers, our first reaction is to transcribe everything we see in our head onto the page for the … [Read more...] about Setting Description…Writing More Than What You See
Seven Deadly Sins for Novel Writing: Sin #VII
Sin #7: TMI (Too much information) We're all guilty of this sin at some point during the writing process. The trick is finding the correct balance by the time we reach the final draft. Nothing will turn off the reader faster than long passages of hand-fed information and back story. The reader … [Read more...] about Seven Deadly Sins for Novel Writing: Sin #VII
The Seven Deadly Sins for Novel Writing Part IV
Sin# 4: Plot Snafus Your plot is the meat and direction of the novel. Even the most compelling characters lie flat on the page without something to do. For some, plotting comes as natural as breathing, and for others it seems like a mountainous task. Either way, plotting correctly is easier said … [Read more...] about The Seven Deadly Sins for Novel Writing Part IV
Seven Deadly Sins of Novel Writing, Part II
Sin # 2: Counterfeit Characters The most brilliant plot is nothing without the right characters. The writer's job is to create unique, emotionally charged characters that are strong enough to drive the story. The characters we choose can make or break a novel, and a single misstep can turn a … [Read more...] about Seven Deadly Sins of Novel Writing, Part II
Setting Thesarus Entry: Church
Sight Wooden pews, arranged into rows, a shelf on the back of each pew holding a bible and song book, an altar, pulpit, crucifixes, crosses, rosaries, decorative banners with key scenes depicted from the bible or symbols of a specific religion, flowers, clean, polished surfaces, high windows, … [Read more...] about Setting Thesarus Entry: Church
Grammbo Speaks: The Manuscripts Editors Don’t Want to See
Angela and Becca have asked me to comment on the most common “mistakes” I see in the manuscripts I assess and edit. I’ve tried to used more of a big picture view here, rather than a list of nags about missing or excessive apostrophes or dangling participles or misplaced modifiers (very common, by … [Read more...] about Grammbo Speaks: The Manuscripts Editors Don’t Want to See
Pacing Potholes: Common Hazards that Slow Forward Motion
Pacing is a difficult thing to master. Like driving a car, there are many things we need to be on top of to keep our story on the road. Are we glancing out the window enough to be aware of the setting around us? Do we have a destination in mind, or is our plot taking the scenic route? Did we … [Read more...] about Pacing Potholes: Common Hazards that Slow Forward Motion
Techniques For Atmosphere and Mood Building In Fiction
I thought today I'd take a quick look at how setting description can transcend to convey atmosphere through the deft manipulation of the five senses. First off, what is Atmosphere? Atmosphere is the mood created through the deliberate description of setting. Depending on the emotion you wish … [Read more...] about Techniques For Atmosphere and Mood Building In Fiction