Sometimes novels jump straight into the action and don’t let up, but most of the time you’ll need a bit of time to introduce the characters, show the setting, and get the reader into the flow of the novel before the main plot kicks off. But the pages before the inciting incident are fraught with […]
Writing Novels
Interview on writing novels and believing in yourself
I was very excited to sit down with my friend Natasa Lekic of New York Book Editors for a forty minute (!) interview on novel writing and editing. Some of the things we covered: Believing in your own creativity Motivation and stakes Dialogue and writing cinematically Here’s the full interview! (Don’t worry, I got a […]
Why protagonists need to be active
I’ve been on a “story essentials” kick lately as I work my way through the latest round of revisions for my new novel. One of the big weaknesses in the last draft: my protagonist wasn’t active enough through the second act of the book. It is so crucial to keep a protagonist active throughout the […]
9 ways to spice up characters
Some characters leap off the page from the moment you first mention them. Some characters start off flat and boring. And no matter how hard we try, a few characters need a whole lot of coaxing to come to life. Never fear! Characters can be resuscitated and invigorated. You might just need to freshen them […]
Pre-order alert: New edition of my guide to writing a novel!
I’ve been hard at work revising and updating my guide to writing a novel, with two new rules and many expanded and polished chapters. Better yet: It will be available as an audiobook very soon! This is all of my best writing advice all in one place. Even if you’re a regular reader, you’ll appreciate […]
5 tips for writing for children
Writing for children is such a unique challenge. In order to write children’s books that appeal to youngsters it’s so important to engage them at their level. There’s a high premium on craft, readability, and really nailing the voice. I have tremendous admiration for children’s book authors, having experienced just how difficult it is firsthand […]
