What's the difference between an idea and plot? It's important to know as we begin writing. Also, readers love joyous dialogue. Here are thoughts on how to write it. Support the show Buy the master class.
What in our lives made us want to write? Here's a discussion about lighting that fuse. Also: here are techniques for showing rather than telling about our story's setting. And discussed also is a wonderful way to learn to write that takes little extra time or effort. Finally, how to write dialogue when the characters are afraid. Here is a 20-episode master class on fiction writing—a start-to-finish course covering plot, characters, dialogue, scenes, sentence-level craft, and much more. Each epis...
A main reason readers put a novel on their all-time top-ten favorites list is because they fall in love with a character. Here's how we can create characters readers will love. Also discussed are techniques for writing sad dialogue. And also: how to get unstuck when writing or novel or short story. Support the show Buy the master class....
I've been checking out the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT, and here are some impressions of its use for writers. And: what are the benefits of identifying our novel as being in a genre? Also, more on those pesky dialogue tag modifiers. Here is a 20-episode master class on fiction writing—a start-to-finish course covering plot, characters, dialogue, scenes, sentence-level craft, and much more. Each episode is focused and about 30 minutes. The full class—all 20 episodes—is available now f...
How can we get off the dime and start writing our novel or short story? Here are some thoughts. Also, readers love emotional dialogue; techniques to write romantic dialogue and angry dialogue are discussed. Support the show Buy the master class.
Here is a strong technique for immersing readers in our settings. Readers will think they are right there with our characters. Also, almost all stories should have a romance, and keys to writing romance scenes are reviewed. Here is a 20-episode master class on fiction writing—a start-to-finish course covering plot, characters, dialogue, scenes, sentence-level craft, and much more. Each episode is focused and about 30 minutes. The full class—all 20 episodes—is available now for a one-time price o...
Here is a strong technique to make our characters vivid and memorable for the reader. And also: most novels should have action scenes. The craft of writing a powerful action scene is reviewed. Support the show Buy the master class.
Sometimes a scene we've written just doesn't feel right. Something is amiss but we can't put our fingers on it. Here's a method to figure out what might be wrong and how to fix it. Also: we can get stuck in our thinking about the plot. Where should the story go next? What should we add? Here are ideas on inventing plot points. Support the show Buy the master class....
A terrific way for writers to find inspiration is to hear legendary sentences from famous novels. Here are a few. Should we fiddle with fonts in our manuscript? And slow motion is a powerful tool for our scenes. Support the show Buy the master class.
Can we use a spreadsheet to plot our novels? Some authors do. Here are thoughts about using Excel for outlining a story. Also, most main characters in a novel tell the truth to the reader. But some don't. Sometimes an unreliable narrator is a strong tool for plotting. Plus, should authors fiddle with the speed of time in our novels? Hurrying time and skipping time? Here are some techniques regarding the flow of time in our stories. Support the show Buy the master class....
How can we handle the dispiriting feeling that writing our novel is a huge, endless, and hard chore with completion far in the future, if ever? Here are some thoughts about facing our big writing project. Also mentioned are some sentence-by-sentence writing mistakes that are easy to avoid. And this episode presents some specific words we can delete from our manuscript, and our story will magically be better. Here is a 20-episode master class on fiction writing—a start-to-finish course covering p...
Creating a timeline can help us keep things straight as we plot and write. Also, here's a discussion of authorial distance, which is the closeness or distance the reader feels from the scene's subjects. And a list of ways to avoid sentence-by-sentence weak writing. Support the show Buy the master class.
For each scene, the perfect number of characters exists. We'll talk about that number. Too few, and we don't have a scene. Too many, and the scene is like a subway at rush hour. Also, here are some techniques regarding metaphors and similes, a skill that can make our writing more lyrical and engaging. Please note: I will be out of the office next week, and so won't upload a new episode next Friday, but will return for a new episode the following Friday. Here is a 20-episode master class on ficti...
How many words a day? Too fast, and our story might be sloppy. Too slow, and we'll never finish. Here are some thoughts about our pace of writing. And also; contrast is a critical tool for us writers. How can we use it? Support the show Buy the master class.
Here are thoughts on how we might handle doubts about our writing abilities, the fear of failure. Plus, more tips on facing the camera. And: humor is a wonderful tool for writers. Add some laughs to our stories. Here is a 20-episode master class on fiction writing—a start-to-finish course covering plot, characters, dialogue, scenes, sentence-level craft, and much more. Each episode is focused and about 30 minutes. The full class—all 20 episodes—is available now for a one-time price of forty-nine...
We shouldn't write about embarrassing stuff, and here's a list. Also, here are techniques to rev up the middle of the novel, often the hardest part to write. Support the show Buy the master class.
Here's a strong way to make our sentences pop, to make our writing lively and energetic. Also: how to keep the reader engaged by reducing disbelief and so making our story more real. Support the show Buy the master class.
Let's apply the wonder factor to our stories, giving readers elements that will make them shake their heads and smile, and so remember our writing. And here also are techniques to avoid inertia in our writing. Here is a 20-episode master class on fiction writing—a start-to-finish course covering plot, characters, dialogue, scenes, sentence-level craft, and much more. Each episode is focused and about 30 minutes. The full class—all 20 episodes—is available now for a one-time price of forty-nine d...
The ending of our novel should be a surprise but not a complete surprise. Here are techniques for crafting that balance. And famous character descriptions can inspire us to create our own fascinating character portraits. Support the show Buy the master class.
If we are going to spend a year or two writing a novel, shouldn't we avoid a mistake in our very first chapter that ruins the novel's chances with agents and publishers? Here's the mistake and how to avoid it. Also mentioned are techniques on keeping the point of view tight. Support the show Buy the master class.
Dialogue is fun to write and fun to read. What's the best way to mix dialogue with action? How can we make sure dialogue and action work together to propel the story forward? And how science fiction legend Ray Bradbury came up with his plots. Here is a 20-episode master class on fiction writing—a start-to-finish course covering plot, characters, dialogue, scenes, sentence-level craft, and much more. Each episode is focused and about 30 minutes. The full class—all 20 episodes—is available now for...
Sometimes when plotting we run out of ideas. Here's a good way to prime the plotting pump. And more on qualifiers, the leeches that infest the pond of prose. Support the show Buy the master class.
No one in line to buy an autographed copy of your novel? You are not alone. The Wall Street Journal tells of famous authors who have suffered empty bookstores. And techniques for fitting our narrative voice to our genre Here is a 20-episode master class on fiction writing—a start-to-finish course covering plot, characters, dialogue, scenes, sentence-level craft, and much more. Each episode is focused and about 30 minutes. The full class—all 20 episodes—is available now for a one-time price of fo...
Dialogue is fun to write and fun to read. Here is a strong technique to make our dialogue fascinating for readers. Also, novel writing's rule of exceptions. Support the show Buy the master class.
We'll talk in this episode about another big mistake, one that will cause agents and editors to put aside our manuscripts after four or five pages. Also, some dialogue is better than other dialogue, and so here are tips on writing fascinating dialogue. Support the show Buy the master class.
Dialogue that does only one thing might be inert. Talk between our characters should do double duty, and here are techniques about how to write double-duty dialogue. Also, how to avoid the as-you-know syndrome in dialogue. Support the show Buy the master class.
What's the one most important writing technique for novelists? If we get it wrong it sinks our publishing chances. We'll talk about how to get it right. Also, how to add the charming or funny or odd trait to our character that will make him or her stick in the reader's mind. Support the show Buy the master class....
Can we know in advance if we have the talent to write a novel, before we spend the time and effort to write it? Here are some thoughts. Also, we can get better at close observing and phrase- making, and some techniques are discussed. Here is a 20-episode master class on fiction writing—a start-to-finish course covering plot, characters, dialogue, scenes, sentence-level craft, and much more. Each episode is focused and about 30 minutes. The full class—all 20 episodes—is available now for a one-ti...
Here are techniques for creating fictional villains readers will love to loathe and fear. We writers can make readers shudder when our scoundrels appear. Support the show Buy the master class.
Readers want to fall in love with our characters. Here are some techniques about how to create characters readers will be passionate about, and so will dislike seeing the novel end. Also, some advice on handling minor characters. Support the show Buy the master class.
