Category: Friday’s Findings

  • Friday’s Findings: Plot and Story

    Friday’s Findings: Plot and Story

    I’ve been trying to wrap my head around the concepts of the difference between plot and story. The simplest, bare-bones definitions is this: plot is what happens on the surface and story is what happens on the inside. Plot is the physical action and events. Story is the internal thoughts, themes and conflicts of the…

  • Friday’s Findings: Can AI Write a Novel?

    Friday’s Findings: Can AI Write a Novel?

    Apparently, Artificial Intelligence can write a novel. The question is: can AI write a good novel? To me, good novels require human emotions. Characters need to make decisions in their fictional exploits. And decisions, even those based on just the facts, require emotions to be made. Can AI make decisions as complex as humans? Can…

  • Friday’s Findings: The Perfect Story?

    Friday’s Findings: The Perfect Story?

    This week, I came across some articles that go over the basics of fiction: story elements, types of characters and the three act story structure. I also came across Writer’s Digest’s 50 best websites for writers in 2023. Elements of Fiction: A Quick Guide to Writing the Perfect Story – Kotobee Blog A refresher on…

  • Friday’s Findings: Vision Boards and Facial Cues

    Friday’s Findings: Vision Boards and Facial Cues

    My Seven writing rules – JMJ Williamson Not so much ‘rules’ as they are ‘preferences.’ How to Write a Good Villain: 6 Scenes Your Story Needs (thewritepractice.com) Some good suggestions for scenes to make your antagonist more real to the reader. Fiction University: Give Your Story Meaning with Inner Conflict and Theme (janicehardy.com) Some good…

  • Friday’s Findings

    Friday’s Findings

    Prologues vs. Flashbacks Backstory is something I’ve been thinking about lately and this article answered a lot of questions. How to Read Like a Writer (to become a better writer) Five simple steps to reading a book and noticing techniques writers use to make readers want to finish the book. 5 Ways to Write Better…

  • Friday’s Findings: Screenplay Writing with Tony Acree

    Friday’s Findings: Screenplay Writing with Tony Acree

    Last week, I attended a short workshop on screenplay writing. Tony Acree, author and publisher, has turned his novel, The Hand of God, into a screenplay. He talked about what he has learned as he gets it turned into a movie. With his permission, I’ve summarized his main points: Video of Acree’s presentation. Here are…

  • Friday’s Findings: How to Write Fast

    Friday’s Findings: How to Write Fast

    Some writers imagine the writing process as slow and meticulous. They take their time composing that first draft, lingering over it for months, maybe years. These writers are tortoises and they don’t mind. However, in How to Write Fast by Sean Platt and Neeve Silver, the writing process is the hare, not the tortoise. They…

  • Friday’s Findings: Why I Write

    Friday’s Findings: Why I Write

    I’ve been meaning to write about this for quite a while. I see other writers on social media and they measure success in these ways: number of likes, book sales, etc. I can honestly say that’s okay. But I am loving just the creative side of writing. I get to use my writing and graphic…

  • Friday’s Findings: July 2022 Camp NaNoWriMo Update #4

    Friday’s Findings: July 2022 Camp NaNoWriMo Update #4

    Working on more than one WIP at once Well, Camp NaNoWriMo will be over Sunday night. So far, I’ve written 25,7000 words out of my 25,000 goal. But one of my less tangible goals was to successfully navigate three WIPs simultaneously. I’ve definitely learned some things about writing three WIP at once. Good things. For…