Character Descriptions
One of writing’s many challenges is creating character descriptions that convey what they should without going overboard. Character description works best when it incorporates something beyond...
View ArticleWoodpecker Alarm Clock
Most people have alarm clocks. We have Woodpeckers. And they are pretty good at making sure no one really sleeps in over the weekend. Last year, the two breeding Red-Bellied Woodpeckers (a misleading...
View ArticleFirst-Person or Third-Person Point-of-View
Point of view isn’t up for much debate in Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Romance. Upwards of 95% or more is written in first-person. As for why – partly it comes down to word-count and pacing, partly to...
View ArticleWrite What You Can Imagine
I have a guest blog post on why the usual advice to “write what you know” can be a little too simplistic: http://lisalgreer.wordpress.com/reviews-and-interviews/write-what-you-can-imagine/ Lisa L....
View ArticleGuest Topic – Lisa Greer talks about Cover Art
Today I want to welcome author Lisa Greer who I asked to do a topic of her choice. Lisa is a very well-read author whose area of specialty is gothic romances. She has an M.A. in 18th century British...
View ArticleStory and Synesthesia
I’ve talked about character descriptions before. I also did a recent guest post about writing what you can imagine. I was thinking today about Synesthesia, which is where some people associate...
View ArticleTension Makes The Story Go ‘Round
When people talk about page-turners of stories, they’re talking about tension. Tension in a story is a great thing. It is anticipatory rather than the negative connotation that many associate with the...
View ArticleHow Long to Write a Novel?
The answer is: it depends on the writer and the story. I generally have spent about 4 months writing each novel. I’ve never written every day on a particular story. I may do several days in a row...
View ArticleThe Importance of Understanding Character Motivations
Character motivations don’t receive enough attention sometimes, so I thought I’d talk about that today. Think of any story – whether short story or novel – as a spoked wheel. Virtually all the major...
View ArticleTabula Rasa
Tabula Rasa – blank slate Every writer is confronted with the challenge of how to fill the space in a meaningful way. Every story presents an opportunity to begin anew – even in the continuation of a...
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