Fiction is a tough gig. There are so many things that have to be developed, crafted, balanced, and brought to completion. Plot, setting, character, dialogue, arc, POV—it can get overwhelming. It is very easy to lose sight of the conflict and then our story gets stuck in the literary dolrums. Bad juju. Two elements drive all great stories—character …
Category: Writing
Aug 22 2011
Deadly Sin of Writing #5–P.O.V. Prostitution
P.O.V. Prostitution is an ugly sight. Okay, you guys asked for more Deadly Sins of Writing, so here we go. I’m putting on my editor’s hat. Many of you decided to become writers because you love to write. Duh. I’ll even bet most of you, back when you were in school, also made very good grades …
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Aug 19 2011
Guinea Pig Diaries: Little Darlings Anonymous
Have you ever heard of the Kubler-Ross 5 Stages of Death and Dying? Well, as an editor for many years, I’ve seen a similar phenomenon happen with first-time novelists, especially when I was called upon to stage an intervention. Not pretty. I call this process of extracting a writer from her first bad novel, The 5 stages …
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Aug 15 2011
Deadly Sin of Writing #4–Beware the Bog of Back Story
Last week, I introduced you guys to my first three Deadly Sins of Writing. Many of you, in the comments, requested I keep going and reveal the rest of my Deadly Sins. All I have to say is, y’all asked for it :D. Creating great characters has to be one of the toughest tasks for …
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Aug 08 2011
The Devil is in the Details–3 Ways to Make Your Writing Shine
Years ago, I left my career in sales. Why? Well, I was quite possibly the worst salesperson on the planet, so I figured most any other job would be a vast improvement. I loved writing and decided to pursue my passion. I actually got my start as a copy editor, and years of proofreading and …
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International Association of Professional Writers & Editors
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