Happy New Year! Do you make New Year’s resolutions?

Happy New Year! Do you make New Year’s resolutions? I have some problems with the concept of “resolutions” (mainly in the way it’s almost as...

How to Write Vivid Scenes

Last week I shared a guest essay on keeping suspense in your writing. One of the basic building blocks of fiction is the scene, and a well-w...

Open Strong: First Chapter Exercises

I’ve been talking about the promise a first chapter makes and how to open strong. Now try these exercises to explore how the first chapter m...

Characterization through Point of View

My last couple of posts have looked at the challenges of viewpoint. But point of view is also a great tool, and one that can be fun. You can...

Not All Grandmothers Have White Hair (Making Minor Characters Fresh)

In my Friday posts, I’ve been talking about building strong characters. Of course, your main character needs to be the best developed. Your ...

Plot/Character Exercises

We've been talking about how conflict comes from the interaction between character and plot. Let's look more closely at character. S...

Write a Strong Plot: Be Cruel to Your Characters

For a strong plot, you need plenty of dramatic action. (This doesn't necessarily mean fights and car chases. The drama can come from int...