For Purveyors of the Soup Sandwich

Hi Folks, Note: This post was originally scheduled for 8/20/2013. It didn’t post to MailChimp, so I’m posting it again now. I’ve revised the original post so it’s up to date. I started to call this “Dueling Respondents” but that wouldn’t have been quite accurate. After all, as far as I know, the two writers who served as the catalyst for this post don’t even know each other. One of those writers, upon reading my “Top … Read more

Deep POV?

Hi Folks, Note: This post was originally scheduled for 7/30/2013. It didn’t post to MailChimp, so I’m posting it again now. I’ve revised the original post so it’s up to date. There’s been a great deal of talk in the past few months (when I wrote this) about a “new” technique called “deep point of view.” The truth is, deep POV is nothing new. Most sources define it as a way to enable the reader to … Read more

The Saga of the Adverb-Finder Thingy

Hey Folks, Note: This post was originally scheduled for 5/20/2013. It didn’t post to MailChimp, so I’m posting it again now. I’ve revised the original post so it’s up to date. A correspondent on a ListServ I used to attend regularly wrote that she was searching for the name of “a bit of editing software that would highlight all adverbs if you typed search adverbs or all verbs if you typed search verbs.” Hackles rose on … Read more

Creating Characters: Resources

Hi Folks, Note: This post was originally scheduled for 5/12/2013. It didn’t post to MailChimp, so I’m posting it again now. I’ve revised the original post so it’s up to date. Odd… I think I’ve never written a post on Creating Realistic Characters. I taught a seminar on the subject [in May 2013] in Bisbee, and I taught the same seminar in Tucson in February. Attendance was low on that one—meaning the market’s saturated—so I probably … Read more

Leaving a Jagged Edge

Hi Folks, I first heard the term “jagged edge” (as applicable to writing) used by SF author CJ Cherryh at Eastern NMU in Portales NM. She was talking about writers’ block and how to conquer it. (This technique works well when writing any genre of fiction, not only SF.) If you’re still at the stage where the blank page is intimidating, or if you “get stuck” when you come back to your WIP after time away … Read more

Chapter 7 — Writing the Ending

Many writers believe the ending of the story is the big, massive climax. The former Texas Ranger transports the body of his friend and colleague from Wyoming back to the southern tip of Texas because he gave his word, and his word actually means something. A magic ring is returned inadvertently to its rightful owner, who had agonized for years over its loss, as both he and the ring plunge into the fires of Mordor, effectively … Read more

Chapter 6—Writing Setting, and Notes on Writing the Scene: Part II

Just a quick announcement—I’m restarting my business as a copyeditor, ebook formatter and cover designer. I’ll take on only a few clients. If you’re interested in any of the above, even if not right at the moment, please let me know that via email. Details to come soon on my website under Writer Services. Now to continue with Chapter Six. If you missed the previous post or would like a refresher, you can find Chapter Six, … Read more

Chapter 6 — Writing Setting, and Notes on Writing the Scene: Part I

As I mentioned in the Introduction, the setting is the location in which the scene takes place. Simple, right? Not really. The inability to write the setting is where a lot of writers lose readers, and even the readers don’t know why. If nothing in the first few hundred words pulls them down into the story, they simply drift away. Readers must be grounded in the setting. The more firmly they are grounded in the setting, … Read more

Of Importance to Writers

Hi Folks, Tomorrow the Story of the Week will post. And then on Wednesday, Feb 24, Appendix A of Writing the Character-Driven Story will post. Today I thought I’d sneak in a few notes from my latest Daily Journal blog that are of interest to all writers, or certainly should be. I urge you to check out these links. Doing so will be to your benefit. If you’re a writer and you want to read something … Read more

Chapter 4 — Writing the Opening

Note: Not sure why this post didn’t send through MailChimp yesterday morning, but it should go out this morning at 8 a.m. Also, for anyone who would like a copy NOW, I published this full book yesterday (Writing the Character-Driven Story). If you are a subscriber, you already received your copy. You may also catch it here one chapter at a time through March 30. Or you may purchase a copy at your favorite ebook retailer … Read more