Category: fiction writing
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NaNoWriMo on the Horizon …
A warning: I’m going to vent a little in the first half of this blog posting, but I’m offering up some NaNoWriMo advice in the second half. First, I want to mention something I’ve noticed about haters of NaNoWriMo. They just don’t get it. NaNoWriMo haters assume it’s about getting published. “Most NaNoWriMo participants never…
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Tension: using dialogue to tighten the cord
“Small disagreements add up to show characters’ differences (of opinion, desire, mood).” –Writing tense dialogue: 5 ways to add arresting tension To me, dialogue is the most fun part of writing fiction, but it is also the hardest part. It is a writer’s tool for creating humor, sub-text, suspense and surprise among many fictional elements.…
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Inject some adrenaline into your writing craft
When I feel stuck in a rut with my writing, I will try one or two actions to inject some adrenaline into my writing craft. I’m still working on my W.I.P. but I’m going to participate in NaNoWriMo throughout November just to give me a break. Here are some other things I do: Read a…
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Friday’s Findings: 09.14.18
I’ve discovered theme does not arrive in the rough draft. You may have an idea of what the theme of your story is, but it will be refined with each revision. When you finally are satisfied with your theme, you can use it as a standard for which scenes to keep and which to delete.…
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Why NaNoWriMo?
I have decided to take a month-long break from my work-in-progress (WIP) and rediscover the excitement of creating an all-new story. Yes, I am going to participate in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). In case you don’t know, November is NaNoWriMo. Click here if you are unfamiliar with National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Ten years…
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Friday’s Findings: 09.07.18
Here are some articles on writing I’ve read lately: How to Write a Fight Scene How to Choose Setting with a Purpose 6 Book Publicity Ideas for Today’s Author Writing While Uninspired 10 Ways To Get Reviews For Your Book
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My Reading: Past, Present and Future 09.03.18
Past: The Grapes of Wrath (audio) by John Steinbeck Past: Blackfish City (ebook) by Sam J. Miller In the past couple of weeks, I finished two very different novels–Grapes of Wrath and Blackfish City— but I see some similarities between them. Both feature the interplay and relationships of an inter-generational family; both show the struggle…
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Friday’s Findings: 08.31.18
Here are some articles on writing I’ve read lately: The Art of “Skipping Around,” or Writing Out of Sequence Bullet Journaling for Writers Writing Dialogue: A Storytelling Exercise Who Ya Gonna Call? Writing Paranormal and Supernatural Phenomena Realistically and Authentically Adjectives and Adverbs Guide
