The Scene is the basic building block of a story. A Scene has two parts: the action part and the reaction part. The action half of a scene consists of a goal, conflict, and disaster. The goal of a scene is usually a small piece of the overall plot goal or it can be aContinue reading “Structuring Your Novel: part two”
Category Archives: Writing tips
Overal Structure of a Novel
As some of you know, I internet and book stalk K.M. Weiland. I just finished reading her book, Structuring Your Novel Essential keys to writing an outstanding story. It’s an excellent resource for beginning and more experienced writers. Her informal witty conversational tone make the book easy to read and understand. She uses examples from her ownContinue reading “Overal Structure of a Novel”
Define Yourself
Many people put their dreams and goals off for the right time. You hear these and similar words all the time. “I’ll do it when my kids are grown.” “When I retire, I’ll have time to work on my dreams and goals.” “Once I’m stable in my job, I’ll have time.” Life won’t wait forContinue reading “Define Yourself”
Writing Space and First Drafts
Over the last few weeks, I have been thinking about making a space for me to write at home. Up until now, I have just sat at either the living room table or the kitchen table. This arrangement requires me to pack up all my writing gear and move it from place to place. ItContinue reading “Writing Space and First Drafts”
The Death of a Dream
The death of a dream is the worst imaginable type of death. Death in any form is awful, but to watch someone’s dreams struggle for breath, fall to its knees clutching at its heart, to never rise again is the most traumatic experience this life has to offer. Dreams are crushed everyday throughout the world.Continue reading “The Death of a Dream”
Courage and Empathy of Writers
It is my theory that writers have a deeper understanding of human motivation and behavior than others in the general population. They may not have the expert terminology of a neurologist, psychologist, or psychiatrist, but their comprehension of what goes on in our heads is significant. In order to write three-dimensional characters, writers must becomeContinue reading “Courage and Empathy of Writers”
WTF is an Author Platform?
A few years ago, I was asking this question. Had I known then what I know now, I would have been focusing more on building my platform and a little less on writing my manuscript. Writers write, but if they don’t have a platform they don’t publish or sell the book that they have spentContinue reading “WTF is an Author Platform?”
In fiction, we find ourselvs.
Writing for me is a release. I often wonder how I ever got along in life without it, but then I realize it’s always been there in one form, or another. As a teen, I kept a journal and wrote poetry trying to express those overwhelming emotional upheavals that seemed to continually crash upon meContinue reading “In fiction, we find ourselvs.”
Pantsing or Outlining Your Novel
When I first began writing my memoir, Fighting for a Chance to Dream, I wrote in a haphazard style. Whichever memory popped into my head, I typed into my laptop. This would then bring another memory to the surface, and I would diligently type it up. The result, drumroll please, was a freaking train wreck.Continue reading “Pantsing or Outlining Your Novel”
Wandering in the Labyrinth of the Internet
This morning I began listening to Chasing the Bard by Philippa Ballantine, AKA Pip Ballantine, (free on iTunes as a podcast) which is a fantasy novel. I had no idea that you could find such quality writing for on iTunes. The second book in the series is also free and called Digital Magic. I foundContinue reading “Wandering in the Labyrinth of the Internet”
Fighting For A Chance To Dream 