Tag Archives: jim dempsey

Articles, Blog, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

April 22, 2022 philgiunta@ptd.net

This week, Kathryn Craft offers guidance on adding foreshadowing to your manuscript while Anne R. Allen strongly advises writers to appoint a social media executor.

At the Write Practice, Michelle Renee Miller provides a few time management methods for writing on a busy schedule and Joe Bunting lists ten book writing strategies that, in his opinion, are doomed to fail. I don’t agree with all of them, but his arguments are persuasive.

Kristen Lamb speaks out against the latest trend of reading ebooks in their entirety and returning them for a refund. She also takes to task writers for purple prose, crutch phrases, and other forms of filler.

All that and a little more. Enjoy!

Foreshadowing: A Revision Skill to Love by Kathryn Craft

Exploit Your Hero’s Flaws by Jim Dempsey

10 Book Writing Strategies that End in Failure by Joe Bunting

3 Foolproof Ways to Write With a Busy Schedule by Michelle Renee Miller

What is Rhythmic Writing? by Sue Coletta

Tolkien on the Importance of Fantasy and Science Fiction by Jonny Thomson

Literary Larceny & Why People Should Be Ashamed by Kristen Lamb

Fiction Filler: Bloated Writing Makes Readers Sick by Kristen Lamb

Why Every Writer Needs a Social Media Executor by Anne R. Allen

The Indie Writer Book Launch Guide Part I and Part II by Scott Semegran

Articles, Blog, Craft, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

July 21, 2021 philgiunta@ptd.net

This week, Anne R. Allen urges us to promote our books regionally while Jodie Renner provides a rundown on loglines, taglines, and back cover copy.

Donald Maass and Joslyn Chase pick up the pace while Kathryn Craft helps our scenes become better oriented by asking the three (or five!) W’s. Kelsey Allagood and Mckenzie Cassidy offer tips on self-care for creatives.

Over at Mythcreants, Oren Ashkenanzi shows us how to identify troubled throughlines while Chris Winkle helps us polish our prose.

All that and a little more. Enjoy!

The Inherent Nature of Story Structure by Jim Dempsey

Want to Be a Bigger Fish? Try a Smaller Pond. Regional Fiction Sells! by Anne R. Allen

You Are Doing it Completely Wrong and You Are Doomed to Fail! by Philip Athans

How to *Easily* Publish on Apple Books by Gary Rodgers

Hook Your Readers with a Compelling Storyline, Tagline, and Back Cover Copy by Jodie Renner

The Three W’s of Scene Orientation by Kathryn Craft

On Pacing: Faster Than the Speed of Thought by Donald Maass

Story Pacing: 4 Techniques That Help Manage Your Plot’s Timeline by Joslyn Chase

Writing While Languishing: How to Be Creative When You’re Feeling ‘Blah’ by Kelsey Allagood

Six Signs of a Weak Throughline by Oren Ashkenazi

Five Simple Ways to Make Your Prose Easier to Read by Chris Winkle

Preserving Your Creativity with Self-Care by Mckenzie Cassidy

Articles, Blog, Craft, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

January 16, 2021 philgiunta@ptd.net

This week, Ken Miyamoto provides a regimen for becoming a screenwriter in one year. Chris Winkle offers suggestions for maintaining tension during those in-between scenes (often called sequels) while Donald Maass shows us how to meld the mundane and spectacular in our stories to suspend the reader’s disbelief.

We delve into all things editing with Patti Callhan Henry, PJ Parrish, and Jim Dempsey. Julie Glover reminds us of how real life can be fodder for fiction, and NYT bestselling author Jeffrey Deaver reveals his 13 rules for writing fiction that sells.

All that a little more. Enjoy!

365 Days: How to Become a Screenwriter in One Year by Ken Miyamoto

Self-Editing Secret: Listen Carefully by Patti Callahan Henry

Editing: The Three Levels of Hell by PJ Parrish

What to Expect from an Editor by Jim Dempsey

Five Ways to Restore Tension by Chris Winkle

The Real vs. The Unreal by Donald Maass

How Much of Our Real Life Shows Up in Our Fiction? by Julie Glover

List of Fantasy Magazines and Journals by Richie Billing

10 Things Screenwriters Don’t Need to Worry About by Ken Miyamoto

Jeffrey Deaver: Thirteen Rules for Writing Commercial Fiction by Diana Belchase (video)

Articles, Blog, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

November 16, 2019 philgiunta@ptd.net

This week, Kristen Lamb delves into the traits of a perfect villain and reminds us of the importance of story mastery above all else. Anne R. Allen offers advice on writing that challenging first chapter while Marie Eberle would like to see less of certain hackneyed character types in SF and Fantasy.

It’s a foregone conclusion that conflict is the heart of storytelling, but what about conflict management? L. Deborah Sword discusses.

Over at Writer Unboxed, Jim Dempsey encourages us to delve into our characters’ values to find their ultimate motivation, and speaking of characters, Donald Maass suggests examining psychological archetypes as a means for crafting character arcs.

If you’re struggling to build a readership, there may be a good reason for that. In fact, as Shannon Ashley reveals, there might be at least twelve reasons.

All that and a little more. Enjoy!

On Writing: Why Mastery Should Matter To the Serious Author by Kristen Lamb

The Villain: Crafting Scoundrels, Sinners, and Substance of Legends by Kristen Lamb

Finding and Using Competing Book Titles in Your Book Marketing by Penny Sansevieri

Writing that First Chapter: 10 Dos and Don’ts for Starting a Novel by Anne R. Allen

Avoid these Crutch Words by Dana Isaacson

Story Conflict: It’s Not as Simple as We Think by L. Deborah Sword via Jami Gold

Nine Ways for Your Hero to Earn the Clues They Need by Chris Winkle

The Two Types of Archetype by Donald Maass

What Really Drives Your Characters? by Jim Dempsey

12 Reasons Nobody Wants to Read Your Writing by Shannon Ashley

3 Types of Fantasy and Sci-Fi Characters We’ve Seen Enough Of by Marie Eberle

What is a Vignette & How Do I Write One? by Amanda Patterson

Articles, Blog, Craft, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

September 16, 2019 philgiunta@ptd.net 2 Comments

This week, Ruth Harris lays solid groundwork when it comes to cliffhangers and David Safford reinforces the concept of the hero’s journey.

Mary Anna Evans helps us find our author voice while Nancy Bilyeau provides tips on crafting believable historical fiction. Struggling to avoid those ugly info dumps? Let Kris Kennedy show you how to adroitly divulge all those details you’re dying to share with the reader.

Although writers must develop a thick skin when it comes to receiving criticism, we’re often called upon to give it as well. PJ Parrish and Jim Dempsey discuss constructive methods for offering valuable and relevant critiques.

All that and a little more. Enjoy!

How to Write a Page-Turner: Master the Seven Rules of the Cliffhanger by Ruth Harris

The Hero’s Journey: How to Write the Crossing the Threshold Scene by David Safford

How to Find Your Author Voice by Mary Anna Evans

4 Tips for Writing Historical Fiction by Nancy Bilyeau

How Can We Make Scenes Feel Stronger with Sequels? by Jami Gold

Backstory: Avoid Info Dumping by Making it Essential Part One / Part Two / Part Three by Kris Kennedy via Jami Gold

The Fine Art of Giving Out Criticism by PJ Parrish

How to Give Useful Criticism by Jim Dempey

Seven Tips for a Satisfying Mystery by Oren Ashkenazi

Advice to Writers Who Are In It by Annie Neugebauer