What Not to Do in Chapter One
There's lots of advice out there about what you should (or must) include in your first chapter, first scene, first page, first paragraph, first...
Are Your Characters 3-D?
In a post on the Killzone blog, Sue Coletta offers advice on creating compelling characters. "It starts with three dimensions," she says. "We’re all...
Picking Up Where You Left Off
In their latest episode, the Writing Excuses hosts share advice for getting back into a project that you dropped. They talk about the different...
Stimulus and Response for Scenes and Sequels
In a post on Killzone, James Scott Bell says you can streamline your writing by putting your stimulus-response transactions in the right order. In other...
Can This Novel Be Saved?
In a new post, Janice Hardy offers advice for reviving a manuscript that isn't working out. "Last year, I had three manuscripts for novels...
Don’t Let Worry Win
In a post on Lit Hub, Thomas Foster identifies the seven deadly sins of writing. Surprisingly, the sins aren't related to grammar, spelling, or...
Five Questions For Building a Solid Story Structure
In a post on DIY MFA, Heather Davis suggests five questions you should ask to guarantee your novel has a sturdy structure. "A great...
False Belief Drives Your Story
In a new post, Mary Carroll Moore examines the narrator's false belief - the ignorance, superstition, or unconscious failing that makes life difficult for...
Are You Sure You Need That Real Person in Your Fiction?
In a post on Writers Write, Alex Coyne offers advice for writing real characters in fiction. "Characters can be inspired by real-life events, or...
The Villain’s Journey Shows the Hero in the Mirror
In a post on the Killzone blog, Debbie Burke examines the villain's journey, a counterpoint to the traditional hero's journey character arc.
While the traditional...
