What’s one of the first things a person does to set the mood at home for a romantic evening? She turns down the lights. This simple adjustment is a big step toward creating a calm, receptive atmosphere. Just as the amount and quality of lighting will influence the way people feel in real life, we … [Read more...] about Creating Mood In A Scene Using Light and Shadow
Search Results for: conflict in every scene
Writing Patterns Into Fiction: Scene and Sequel
Hi everyone! We are diving right into the thick of writing technique with a guest post by author Raven Oak, who is joining us to talk about the successful pattern of Scene and Sequel. This is a must read, especially for those who do not know about this technique. Trust me, your writing will thank … [Read more...] about Writing Patterns Into Fiction: Scene and Sequel
Conflict vs. Tension
One of my favorite Aha moments as a writer came in the form of feedback from a critiquer. (Shout out to all the critique partners!) She kept writing notes in my manuscript, like Where’s the tension? and This would be a good spot to add some tension. No tension? What’s she … [Read more...] about Conflict vs. Tension
Compassion Fatigue: Is it Relevant for Your Characters?
We know the importance of making our characters authentic, believable, and memorable for readers. But relevance is important, too, because it makes them relatable. Readers see characters who are facing the same issues they’re facing or dealing with the same struggles they’re dealing with, and a bond … [Read more...] about Compassion Fatigue: Is it Relevant for Your Characters?
Three Easy Steps to Generate a Goal Using Fear as Motivation
There’s so much emphasis on making sure that we give our character a goal that’s clear starting from their very first scene. Win the game. Find someone to marry. Land the job. Solve the crime. We tend to think about goal in terms of the character obtaining the thing they don’t have when the story … [Read more...] about Three Easy Steps to Generate a Goal Using Fear as Motivation
The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus (May 2024 Release)
We're adding to our Thesaurus family! It's been a while since our last book as we needed to recalibrate our release schedule from fall to spring (resulting in a year gap), but now we're back in the thesaurus-making saddle. May 13th is coming fast, so it's time to dish some details about our … [Read more...] about The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus (May 2024 Release)
Breathing Life into Characters
Picture a protagonist who stumbles upon a mysterious artifact but shows no curiosity, or a group of friends who sit down separately at the summit of a hike under a breathtaking sunset, without a moment of communal awe. Keeping your characters engaged with the story keeps readers engaged with it, … [Read more...] about Breathing Life into Characters
The Pirate’s Guide to Writing Fantasy
Remember the scene in Pirates of the Caribbean when Captain Barbossa explains the pirate’s code? “The code is more what you’d call guidelines than actual rules.” Writing fantasy is a bit like the pirate’s code. There aren’t any rules, exactly, which is what makes it so fun to write. You can allow … [Read more...] about The Pirate’s Guide to Writing Fantasy
Tension and the Power of Unanswered Questions
Have you ever been a bit hazy on the difference between conflict and tension? If so, you aren’t alone. It’s common to confuse the two because they’re often used together to deliver a one-two dramatic punch. The difference between them is subtle, but important: Conflict is a force that stands … [Read more...] about Tension and the Power of Unanswered Questions
Failure in Fiction
Writers need to have a sadistic streak to inflict pain—emotional or physical—on our beloved characters repeatedly, but failure is important in fiction. Without it, the story drags. Why to Include Failure Without failure, we decrease the stakes, consequences, and slow the pace. And, most … [Read more...] about Failure in Fiction
Happy Holidays – Some Gifts for You
Angela, Becca and I hope you’re having an amazing holiday season full of family, friends, good food and special memories. We are so grateful for your visits, kind words of support, and trust in us. We love serving the writing community through this blog, One Stop for Writers, books, and … [Read more...] about Happy Holidays – Some Gifts for You
Stocking Stuffers for Writers: 4 Free Gifts
The first week of December is behind us, but these stocking stuffers are yours to enjoy, so if you haven't collected all four, now's your chance. Stocking Stuffer #1: A brainstorming list of everyday 'emotional situations' that will draw readers in closer to your characters. Use these to … [Read more...] about Stocking Stuffers for Writers: 4 Free Gifts