In this six-part series, we’re shooting for the stars by adding some great stuff into our writing. Shoot for the Stars Tip #1: Use Passive Voice … Occasionally Shoot for the Stars Tip #2: Make Dialogue Count Shoot for the Stars Tip #3: Be a Straight Shooter Shoot for the Stars Tip #4: Write for … Read More
Shoot for the Stars Tip #5: Add Some Texture
In this six-part series, we’re shooting for the stars by adding some great stuff into our writing. Shoot for the Stars Tip #1: Use Passive Voice … Occasionally Shoot for the Stars Tip #2: Make Dialogue Count Shoot for the Stars Tip #3: Be a Straight Shooter Shoot for the Stars Tip #4: Write for … Read More
Shoot for the Stars Tip #4: Write for Readers
In this six-part series, we’re shooting for the stars by adding some great stuff into our writing. Shoot for the Stars Tip #1: Use Passive Voice … Occasionally Shoot for the Stars Tip #2: Make Dialogue Count Shoot for the Stars Tip #3: Be a Straight Shooter And now … Shoot for the Stars Tip … Read More
Shoot for the Stars Tip #3: Be a Straight Shooter
In this six-part series, we’re shooting for the stars by adding some great stuff into our writing. Shoot for the Stars Tip #1: Use Passive Voice … Occasionally Shoot for the Stars Tip #2: Make Dialogue Count And now … Shoot for the Stars Tip #3: Be a Straight Shooter When you add tension to … Read More
Shoot for the Stars Tip #2: Make Dialogue Count
We’re shooting for the stars by adding some great stuff into our writing. Shoot for the Stars Tip #1: Use Passive Voice … Occasionally Last week, I wrote about how to use passive voice properly. This week, I’m sharing some tips that will help you write better dialogue. Shoot for the Stars Tip #2: Make … Read More
Shoot for the Stars Tip #1: Use Passive Voice … Occasionally
We’re shooting for the stars by adding some great stuff into our writing. Shoot for the Stars Tip #2: Make Dialogue Count Last week, I shared with you 12 Lazy Writing Habits to Break. Once you’ve subtracted the bad stuff, it’s time to shoot for the stars and start adding some things to your writing. … Read More
12 Lazy Writing Habits to Break
Writing is hard work. It is often exhilirating, but it can be exhausting, too—both physically and mentally. Sometimes we get tired or burned out, and it’s tempting to cut corners. But don’t. That mindset is not going to get you to your best writing. When you feel yourself leaning toward taking the easy way out, … Read More
How John Steinbeck Taught Me to Write about Place
Image credit: Loco Steve. It took me many years of writing to begin to find my voice as a writer. I studied other writers I loved. I sometimes tried to mimick their voices, but that gradually evolved into me writing in my own. And I’m not sure I could even tell you what that means—“my voice.” … Read More
Bridging the Gap Between Aspiration and Talent
My first quarter in UC Riverside’s Palm Desert Low-Residency MFA program, I studied fiction with Mary Yukari Waters. Mary said something once that was mind-blowing to me, a real lightbulb moment. Mary actually said many mind-blowing things over the course of our time working together, but this one in particular has stuck with me. Mary … Read More
The Problem with Know-It-Alls
Omniscient point of view isn’t generally favored in contemporary fiction, and it’s difficult to write well. But that doesn’t stop writers from trying to write it. I can certainly understand the appeal—when you’re writing from an omniscient point of view, it makes things less complicated. You don’t have to worry about how to impart information … Read More