Coming up with new story ideas is easy for some writers – they have trouble narrowing their ideas down to just one! However, some writers have more trouble figuring out […]
plot
Catch ‘Em Quick
Writing a catchy first paragraph is a must for every writer, but especially for fiction writers. If the reader isn’t hooked in the first paragraph, sometimes the first two or […]
Plot or Character Driven?
Are you a plot-driven or character-driven writer? By this I mean what sorts of stories do you typically write? It all depends on what sorts of questions you ask. Do […]
Story/Character Arc
The arc of a story is the overall plot of the whole thing – from exposition to denouement. The character arc is how the character changes within that story. Your […]
The Point of No Return
Conflict is a necessary part of any story. Without conflict and tension, you’ve got a boring description and no story. Along with conflict, though, you must have character reaction. If […]
Short-Shorts: Western Plot Kickers
Stephen Bly has a nice little blog with some realistic plot kickers for those of you who also write Westerns!
New Looks
You may have noticed that the site is being revamped. Sometimes it’s good to shake things up and have a makeover. Sometimes your story needs a makeover as well. How […]
Finish It Off
I think I have finished the poker story for the Wolf Creek anthology. Notice the operative word “think.” Sometimes it’s hard to know when you’ve really finished something. I had […]
Advice from the Tony Hillerman Conference
I’ve spent a lovely three days hob-nobbing with other authors and attending writing panels. Here are some gems from the classes. The day I stop learning about my characters is […]
5 Plot Tips
Having trouble thinking of plots? Twisted around when it comes to twists? Here are some tips and tricks to help you solve your problems. Brainstorm. This is the number one […]