Your Book's First Line
The first line of a novel plays a crucial role in capturing the reader's attention and setting the tone for the entire story.
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Blog Posts
Jun 131 min
A Podcast. Three narrative devices: the MacGuffin, Red Herring and Cuttlefish.
This is a rerelease podcast that I recorded to explain the three narrative devices often used in thrillers.
Jun 62 min
Wondering how to start your book? Try medias res!
Medias res is a Latin term meaning "in the middle of things." In writing, starting a story in medias res means beginning the narrative in...
Jun 51 min
The Blurb: Tips to Captivate Readers - A Video
What exactly is a blurb? Its purpose?
How do you write an effective blurb for the back of your book cover? Watch this video for answers
Jun 43 min
To epilogue or not to epilogue?
An epilogue is a section at the end of a novel that provides closure to the story beyond the main narrative.
Jun 13 min
Tone: creating mood and influencing readers.
Tone is the writer's attitude towards the subject matter or audience conveyed through their style, language, and overall approach.
May 262 min
Understanding Backstory: Prep for Character Development
Character's backstory si the foundational element that shapes his or her identity, motivations, and actions throughout your story.
May 243 min
A Writer’s Life: A Setting Surprise
I remembered visiting a lovely tiny village on the Eastern Shore of Virginia quite a few times in early 2000. This was it! My setting!
May 223 min
Capturing Small-Town Charm: The Intriguing Dynamics of Small-Town Novels
Whether nestled amidst rolling hills or in a flat rural area, small towns embody a unique charm and character that serve as the perfect...
May 161 min
Music for Writing: Attention, Creativity, Motivation, and more.
Music has been found to prompt enhanced activity in the right hemisphere of the brain, a region associated with imagination….
May 142 min
Proust’s Questionnaire – 35 Questions All Your Characters Should Answer
Use Marcel Proust's 35 point questionnaire to develop well-rounded and complex characters for novels.
May 112 min
I LOVE "ING" WORDS - How was I to know they were BAD?
"Ing" words, also known as present participles or gerunds, are words that end in "-ing" and are used to convey continuous or ongoing actions
May 74 min
Archetypes and Characterization
Utilizing archetypes or personas can be a powerful tool for authors to develop rich, multi-dimensional characters that resonate with...
May 53 min
Why Hire an Editor?
On page 13 of his book, "On Writing," Stephen Kings writes: "One rule of the road not directly stated elsewhere in this book: `The...
May 22 min
Hyphens, En Dashes, Em Dashes, and Ellipses
Hyphens, En Dashes, Em Dashes, and Ellipses are all punctuation marks that serve different functions in writing. How they differ and how...
Apr 302 min
Writer's Block and What To Do about it.
On of the greatest challenges for all novelists is writer’s block. If you are a writer, you probably have experienced this one time or...
Apr 282 min
How long should my book be?
I’m always asked that question. My first answer is exactly how I answered my students in my college writing classes: “As long as it...
Apr 251 min
A Video: Writing a Prologue: A Quick Guide for Novelists
In the realm of novel writing, the prologue serves as a powerful tool to captivate readers from the very beginning. It sets the stage for...
Apr 221 min
Unveiling the Art of Subtext in Dialogue
Subtext in writing dialogue refers to the underlying meanings, implications, or emotions conveyed indirectly through the spoken words....
Apr 20