Tag Archives: joslyn chase

Articles, Blog, Craft, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

This month, Emily Inkpen explains why context is as important as motive and conflict and why the consequences of trauma must be addressed in character-driven narratives.

Crystal King serves up a lesson on the importance of food and drink in world building, Ellen Buikema shows us how to develop well-rounded characters by including their hobbies and interests, and Kathryn Craft reminds us that even bad novels have something to teach us.

Looking for a writing prompt? Sarah Gribble encourages us to try pictures (personal note: I’ve done this twice and one of the stories was nominated for a Pushcart Prize) while Kelley J. P. Lindberg coaches us through writing those torturous loglines.

All that and a lot more writerly knowledge. Enjoy!

Why Context is Key in Character-Driven Narratives by Emily Inkpen

Why Trauma MUST be Recognised in Character-Driven Narratives by Emily Inkpen

Food and Drink as Essential Elements in Fiction by Crystal King

4 Questions to Strengthen Lean Manuscripts by Lisa Fellinger via Jane Friedman

5 Reasons to Use Pictures as Writing Prompts by Sarah Gribble

6 Ways Reading Bad Novels Can Make Good Writers by Kathryn Craft

7 Important Things I Wish Every Writer Knew by Rachel Toalson

Words of Wisdom on Writer’s Block by Dale Ivan Smith

How Characters’ Hobbies and Interests Affect the Narrative by Ellen Buikema

Pacing in Writing: 10 Ways to Master Pace and Keep Your Readers Riveted by Joslyn Chase

Loglines—One-Sentence Torture Devices for Writers by Kelley J.P. Lindberg

Draft2Digital 2024 AI Training Survey Results by Kris Austin

 

 

Articles, Blog, Craft, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

This month, writer pal Kathryn Craft shows us how to use weddings and funerals in our stories to explore characters and heighten emotions. Over at Mythcreants, Oren Ashkenazi examines the ever-popular literary device known as unreliable narrator.

Kristen Overman offers advice on self-editing and developing strong characters while Meredith Lyons talks about keepin’ it real in paranormal fiction. Do you feel pressured to sacrifice your social time for your writing? John Gilstrap reminds us not to feel guilty for living our lives.

Kelsey McConnell discusses the need for trigger warnings in horror novels. This is a timely topic given that I just released the second edition of Testing the Prisoner, my first paranormal mystery novel from 2009 that deals with child abuse and domestic violence.

All that and a lot more. Enjoy!

Writing Believable Characters by Michal Leah

There’s Always a Choice: Revision Techniques to Make Your Writing Stronger by Kristen Overman

How Subplots and Plot Filaments Lend Texture and Depth to Any Novel by Michael Craft

Why Is Strong Character Development Important? by Kristen Overman

Marry ’em and Bury ’em: Weddings, Funerals, and Your Novel by Kathryn Craft

Is There a Place For Trigger Warnings in Horror Books? by Kelsey Christine McConnell

How to Write a Realistic Paranormal by Meredith R. Lyons

How to Point Readers’ Attention in the Right Direction by Jami Gold

How to Increase Your Productivity When You Don’t Feel Productive by James Scott Bell

Writer’s Guilt by John Gilstrap

Unreliable Narration: A Useful Tool or Just Hype? by Oren Ashkenazi

Atmosphere Literary Definition: Genre Examples that Evoke Emotion by Joslyn Chase

If you’re a LibraryThing member, I’m running a giveaway for Testing the Prisoner! Six winners will receive a signed copy. Check it out here. Ends October 25th.

Testing the Prisoner is available now in ebook ($2.99) and paperback ($18.99)!

Testing the Prisoner print promo

Articles, Blog, Craft, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

After a two-month hiatus, About This Writing Stuff is back. What was once a bi-weekly blog post became monthly and now it happens whenever I can get to it. As I’m working on a new novel, blogging has fallen off the radar… mostly. Onward!

This week, the folks at MasterClass provide tips and examples for writing an effective novel synopsis while over at Screencraft, Ken Miyamoto warns against embellishing your screenwriting creds until you have legitimate screenwriting creds.

Speaking of creds, Liza Nash Taylor and Patricia Bradley offer advice on getting your work out there whether submitting or promoting. Hank Phillippi Ryan discusses proper etiquette when requesting a book blurb, Chris Winkle teaches best practices when using foreshadowing, and Joslyn Chase reviews writing techniques in the mystery, suspense, and thriller genres.

All that and a little more. Happy Holidays!

What is a Novel Synopsis? Here are Two Examples by MasterClass Staff

3 Most Common Screenwriter Exaggerations, White Lies, and Embellishments by Ken Miyamoto

How to Tell a Story: The Rule of Three by Anne R. Allen

How to Handle the Blurb Thing by Hank Phillippi Ryan

Getting Your Book Noticed by Patricia Bradley

Foreshadowing Reveals is Easier Than You Think by Chris Winkle

Street Cred: Getting Your Work Noticed by Liza Taylor Nash

Uses for Scrivener Beyond Your Manuscript by Gwen Hernandez

Genre Conventions: How to Satisfy Suspense Readers by Meeting Expectations by Joslyn Chase

How to Use Vivid Verbs to Bring Your Scenes to Life  by J.D. Edwin

Articles, Blog, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

This week, Shanee Edwards offers advice on creating a powerful antagonist while James Scott Bell teaches us practical thaumaturgy for conjuring short stories.

Brian Andrews explains the importance of self-editing and developmental editing, while mythcreant Chris Winkle delves into crafting effective descriptions.

Joslyn Chase steps us through ten  ways to add foreshadowing, and Porter Anderson discusses the dangers of self-censorship.

All that and little more. Enjoy!

 

5 Tips for Negotiating Your Author Agreements by Joseph Perry via Anne R. Allen

Writing Rising Action by Linda S. Clare

A Love of Mystery is Woven into Our Biology, and Edgar Allan Poe was the First to Find the Formula for a Very Specific Dopamine Hit by Jonah Lehrer

7 Tips for Writing Bad Ass Antagonists by Shanee Edwards

The 3 Pass Rough Draft—Embracing Editing (Part I) by Brian Andrews

Developmental Editing —Embracing Editing (Part II) by Brian Andrews

Dialog and POV by Philip Athans

Creating and Resolving Conflict in Your Novel by Clare Langley-Hawthorne

The Alchemy and the Craft by James Scott Bell

What Do Writers Need to Describe? by Chris Winkle

Flights of Self-Censorship by Porter Anderson

Foreshadowing: 10 Clever Methods to Write an Engaging Plot Twist by Joslyn Chase

 

Articles, Blog, Craft, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

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…

This week, learn how to deal with writer burnout from Tom Meitner, and let attorney Joseph Perry explain the critical components of a publishing contract.

At Career Authors, Erin Celello urges us to take our story idea on a date while Hank Phillippi Ryan offers advice on self-editing.

Kelly Jensen reminds us of the value of mood to both writer and reader while over at the The Write Practice, Joslyn Chase and Ruthanne Reid discuss the proper use of cause and effect and the elements of plot, respectively.

Janice Hardy give us some strong opening lines and Anthony Ehlers shows us how to be visual storytellers.

All that and a little more. Enjoy!

Stretched to Your Limits? How to Avoid—and Cure—Writing Burnout by Tom Meitner

Know Your Rights: Key Provisions in a Publishing Contract by Joseph Perry via Anne R. Allen

How to Cut 20,000 Words by Hank Phillippi Ryan

4 Questions to Ask Before You Start Writing that Book by Erin Celello

How Much Really Needs to Be in Your Novel’s Opening Sentence by Janice Hardy

5 Tips on How to Fit Your Book’s Hook into a Super Short Amazon Ad by Bryan Cohen

10 Powerful Visual Storytelling Techniques for Writers by Anthony Ehlers

How to Maximize the Power of Cause and Effect in Your Stories by Joslyn Chase

What is Plot? The 6 Elements of Plot and How to Use Them by Ruthanne Reid

Mood is the Most Underrated Literary Device—and the Most Valuable by Kelly Jensen

Wattpad to Be Acquired for $600 Million by Korean Internet Conglomerate Naver by Todd Spangler for Variety

Class Action Suit: Amazon and Publishers Face Price Collusion by Personanondata