Word Magic
Readers want what they want, so when you’re writing fiction, it’s easy to make mistakes which annoy readers. That said, don’t despair. You can fix most mistakes easily. Writing fiction: the biggest mistake Before we look at common errors, let’s look at the biggest one: failing to capitalize on success. Sadly this is horribly common. One of my students wrote … Read more
Are you writing short stories? If you aren’t, give them a try. Why? Many reasons: we’ve looked at the many advantages of bite-sized fiction here. The biggest advantage for me is that shorties bring visibility to novels I wrote years ago. If you want to promote older material in a story too, add a link to that published book in … Read more
When you’re writing fiction, your characters are everything. “Plot” is what your characters do. Since characterization is so vital, let’s look at simple ways to get characters clear in your own mind… So you can make them real to readers. I’ve been rereading Anthony Trollope, just for his characters. He’s masterful at characterization. Not only do you believe in his … Read more
How do you create drama in your fiction? When I coach fiction authors, it’s often simple to make their novels more exciting. Many authors fall into the trap of creating perfect characters. You need to give your characters flaws, and I suggested: (Although) it’s advisable not to use your family and friends when writing fiction… you can use people’s flaws—and … Read more
Do you enjoy writing fiction? One of the joys of fiction is spending time with people who do things you’d never do, are way braver than you, and have a better sense of humor. Characters are fun. I love creating them, even though I always procrastinate naming them; finding names for characters is frustrating. If you enjoy your characters, be … Read more