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
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
The Connection Between Beginnings and Endings
Spoiler alert: I’m going to discuss the beginnings and endings of Celeste Ng’s novel Everything I Never Told You, Colson Whitehead’s The Nickel Boys, and the classic 1950 film All About Eve, screenplay by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. I won’t give away the ending of Ng’s novel specifically, in terms of what happens in the story, but … Read More
What Does Your Character Want? And Why Does It Matter?
I once attended a lecture by Rob Roberge, the author of the memoir Liar, novels including The Cost of Living, and the short story collection Working Backwards from the Worst Moment of My Life. Actually, I’ve attended many a lecture by Rob Roberge. The man knows his stuff. But during this particular lecture, Roberge said … Read More