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This month, Steven H. Wilson discusses some of the elements that comprise a gripping novel while Joe Bunting schools us on the use of rising action in storytelling.

Secrets are revealed over at Career Authors as Tiffany Yates Martin explains the four habits of successful authors, Tracy Clark shares five tips on pacing, and Sharon Short offers strategies for writing from first person POV.

Speaking of POV, third-person omniscient is still alive and well and  that sagacious “mythcreant” Chris Winkle shows us how to use it effectively.  She also shows us ways in which exposition can be used to evoke emotion.

All that and a little more. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

What Makes a Good Story? by Steven H. Wilson

What Third-Person Omniscient POV is and How to Master It by Chris Winkle

What is Didactic Literature? Have we Outgrown it? by Robert Harrell

4 Survival Skills of Highly Successful Authors by Tiffany Yates Martin

Wait for it! Five Secrets to Perfect Pacing by Tracy Clark via Hank Phillippi Ryan

Six Secrets to Writing from the First Person Point of View by Sharon Short

Nine Things to Consider Before Giving Up on Your Book by Penny C. Sansevieri

Rising Action: Definition and Examples of This Dramatic Structure Element by Joe Bunting

What If You’re Writing Novellas? Now What? by Tara Deal via Jane Friedman

How to Use Exposition to Evoke Emotion by Chris Winkle

 

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, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

This month, book consultant and developmental editor Mary Kole encourages writers to diversify their skills in the age of AI. Now that self-publishing is no longer a “new thing,” Anne R. Allen advises indie writers on how to keep expectations grounded.

Kristen Lamb reviews the Johari Window and how it can be used as a tool for character and story development. Over at the Write Practice, Joe Bunting gives us a detailed lesson on first and third person points of view.

Fantasy writer Philip Athans defends the adverb—with some caveats—and, along with PJ Parrish, provides guidance on the skillful use of description in narrative.

All that and much more. Enjoy!

The Irrelevance of the Modern Writer by Mary Kole & Good Story Company

The Über Skill for Writers by Tiffany Yates Martin

How to Write the Beginning of a Novel by Rhiannon Richardson

How to Tighten Your Midpoint Twist by Ley Taylor Johnson

Is an Unpublishable Book Worth Writing? by Lory Widmer Hess

Is Self-Publishing a Good Choice for Authors in 2024? by Anne R. Allen

Adverbs Are Fine! by Philip Athans

Describe Characters as You Go Along by Philip Athans

How Much Description Does Your Book Need? by PJ Parrish

The Johari Window & Character Blind Spots by Kristen Lamb

How to Get Your Plot Arcs Working Together by Chris Winkle

Ninety-Nine Words to Seek and Destroy by Chris Winkle

Fresh Perspective Sells by Kathryn Craft

Types of Point of View: The Ultimate Guide to First Person & Third Person POV by Joe Bunting

 

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

This week, Kathryn Craft provides strategies for managing POV in your story while James Scott Bell discusses the three types of “mirror moments” in fiction.

Chris Winkle encourages writers to simplify their stories for improved reader experience. Looking for better ways to build suspense? Tracy Clark has a few tips for you.

With language AI gaining attention, Erma Clare examines ChatGPT as a story development tool for writers and Joe Bunting reviews the ten types of stories and their underlying values.

All that and a bit more. Enjoy!

A Copy-Editing Checklist for Novelists by Dana Isaacson

Writing for Theater and Film by Carina Jaramillo*

How to Write an Optimized and High-Converting Book Description by Rob Kosberg

4 Ways to Organize Your Third-Person POVs by Kathryn Craft

5 Strategies I Use to Launch New Books on Kindle Unlimited by Nicholas Harvey

6 Tips for Building Suspense by Tracy Clark via Hank Phillippi Ryan

How Promo Stacking Helps Authors Hit Bestseller Lists by Diana Urban

Put a Funhouse Mirror in the Middle of Your Mystery by James Scott Bell

Managing Exposition Starts With Simplifying the Story by Chris Winkle

Friend or Foe: ChatGPT Has Pushed Language AI into the Spotlight by Erma Clare

An Anxiety Episode Changed My (Dis)Belief in Writer’s Block by Kathryn Magendie

How to Use Scars to Deepen Characterization by Sue Weems

The Ten Types of Stories and How to Master Them by Joe Bunting

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*Special thanks to youth services librarian and educator Chloe Pederson and her student, Anna, for alerting me to this one. Who would have thought a home theater furniture store would offer such a helpful blog?

 

Articles, Blog, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

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