What follows is some really basic and essential advice that will help you create characters that leap off the page. But I’m gonna start with the caveats on this post straightaway: don’t take this advice overly literally. I’m not saying you can’t name a universal emotion in a novel full stop. When I say “avoid,” […]
Writing Advice
Don’t step on your surprises
Crafting good mysteries is an important part of the novel writing process, no matter the genre. Mysteries pull the reader through the novel, they build anticipation and suspense, and they often result in the most satisfying payoffs for the reader. I’ve written previously about the danger of being too vague as you’re crafting a mystery. […]
Summer writing jumpstart
The weather is warm here in the United States if not downright scorching, many people are regaining a bounce in their step, and you might be thinking about getting your writing going. In lieu of a new post this week, I thought I’d include a mini “greatest hits” that might be helpful to read or […]
Writers are storytellers, not theme-tellers
If you’ve ever taken an English course in high school or university, you’re taught to care deeply about what books mean. You may have been compelled to write papers of various lengths about the way certain themes and motifs and all sorts of meanings can be gleaned by analyzing books. Whether the book you’re reading […]
Don’t start a scene without these four essential elements
Writers often don’t pay quite enough attention to how they start their chapters. Starting a new chapter is kind of like starting a new mini-novel. Some time has likely elapsed since the end of the previous chapter, and we might also be shifting to a new physical location. We’re starting somewhat fresh, and it’s useful […]
Why it works: “Ramona the Pest”
A lot of the writing advice out there focuses on what NOT to do. “Why it works” is my occasional series where I take books I love and try to pinpoint what the author does especially well. Beverly Cleary’s recent passing led me to revisit one of my favorites from my childhood: Ramona the Pest. […]
