Word magic.
When you write fiction, beginning each new novel is a fresh challenge because you’re starting from nothing. Your blank computer screen can be terrifying. One of my writing students called me in a panic. “I haven’t written anything new in four months! What do I do? I need to create a publishing schedule.” She’d become so involved with marketing her … Read more
Would you like a fiction writing process that will help you to write good stories; stories readers love? Try this: “make your hero want something so badly that he’ll fight for it—to the death.” This isn’t a new formula, by any means, but I found that Ray Bradbury’s version resonated with me. Here it is; from Zen in the Art … Read more
Want to write a selling novel? Every author does. Sadly, over the past year or two, I’ve been in a reading slump, marking many novels “DNF” (did not finish), especially those downloaded from Kindle Unlimited. But it’s happened with novels I’ve bought too. Is AI the reason for my miserable DNF run of stale plots and characters? Perhaps. It’s relatively … Read more
Writing fiction is a messy process. You’re tracking characters, elements of your plot, scenes, research, and much more. Apps can help you to make sense of it all, cutting down on stress. I like to create mind maps in apps like Obsidian and Ayoa. Mind maps help control stress when you’re writing fiction From Mind Maps For Creatives: Overcome Challenges … Read more
Frustrated? When you’re writing fiction, frustration is a given: you’ll often become annoyed. Please expect that. Every project is different, regardless of what you’re writing. Last week, an author told me she was ready to give up. She’d started a series, and although the first book sold well, the second wasn’t moving at all. Moreover, the third novel was a … Read more