A Scene with Purpose

A Scene with Purpose

by | Sep 12, 2021 | Blog, WIP, Writing, Writing Craft

Why did you just write that scene? You know the one I mean, the one where nothing really happens, but it was nice, or it connected two other scenes where stuff does happen? Or maybe you don’t know why you wrote the scene, it was just what happened next in the story....
An Author’s Learning Is Never Done

An Author’s Learning Is Never Done

by | Sep 5, 2021 | Blog, Method, Writing, Writing Craft

There’s a concept that once you’ve done something for 10,000 hours you are proficient at it. After being a professional author for over fifteen years, I’m pretty sure I’ve reached that many hours but am I proficient? Do I know how to write? Well, yes, and no. I still...
When do you need to show?

When do you need to show?

by | Aug 29, 2021 | Blog, Method, Writing, Writing Craft

The more I read the more convinced I am that what makes a great book is all in the show and tell. Knowing when to show, when to tell can really be an art form all in itself. But how do you know? First, let’s define the terms: Showing is having an entire scene,...
Your description can do so much more

Your description can do so much more

by | Aug 8, 2021 | Blog, Method, Writing, Writing Craft

Description in a novel is more than just explaining to your reader where your characters are. Yes, it’s incredibly important to do so. No reader likes to be in a metaphorical black box listening to people speak. This is where they are if you don’t give any sort of...
Piling it on

Piling it on

by | Jul 18, 2021 | Blog, Method, Writing, Writing Craft

When I plot out a story I am careful not to overwhelm my reader with too many things going on at once. Especially when it comes to bad things happening. Piling one bad thing onto another onto another could not only get to be too much for the reader, but at some point...