Hey there! Sorry for the aggressive title today but I think many of you can use that reminder. I actually need it myself sometimes too! On the blog last week, I said that publishing is just crazy sometimes. It’s slow. It’s fickle. It’s unpredictable. But really, what business isn’t? And we all need to remember… Continue reading Get to Work! Make me Care about your MC
Category: Writing Craft
Permission to Read
So, I was sitting in the snack bar at the hockey rink last Saturday, waiting for my son’s game to begin. Normally I would be catching up with the other hockey moms, or hanging out with my daughter. But my daughter was off doing teenager-y stuff and my hockey mom-friends were, I guess, running late.… Continue reading Permission to Read
Scrub Your Story
I have a secret weapon. I store it inside my revision tool box. It’s called my Sophistication Scrubber. Really. That’s what I call it. 🙂 I pull out my Sophistication Scrubber when I’m revising my story for polish. More specifically, I use it when I want my manuscript to sound more sophisticated. Like a professional writer!Here… Continue reading Scrub Your Story
Let’s Hear Your Voice!
There’s more to writing a story than just the words you say. There’s also how you say them. Yes, your story consists of the words you choose. But in order to catch your reader’s attention, it also needs to tell the reader something about your character too. That’s called writing with Voice. Voice can be… Continue reading Let’s Hear Your Voice!
Set it Up!
When I think about my favorite books, I realize that every single one has something in common. They have a cool setting. There’s an actual place inside the author’s world that intrigues me. I actually want to travel there! I want to live there or take a vacation there or hang out there.In the Last… Continue reading Set it Up!
Give Your Character a Surprise!
I love surprises. I love being surprised. I love surprising other people. And this past weekend, I pulled off a good one- I threw a Sweet 16 Birthday Party for my little girl (who’s obviously not a little girl anymore) and it was a huge, fun surprise! It was fun for me to plan, and… Continue reading Give Your Character a Surprise!
Throw Obstacles in the Path
Obstacles are no fun. They get in the way. They block the road or the path or your dreams.Obstacles can be small like the time when little Patrick couldn’t finish building his tower because he used up all his wooden blocks. Or the time Jenna couldn’t color the grass green on her picture because she… Continue reading Throw Obstacles in the Path
Do You Have Rhythm?
Some people have rhythm. And some people don’t. And I’m sorry to say, I’m one of those people who don’t. I try to have rhythm. Really, I do. I hear a great song on the radio when I’m driving so I tap my hand on the steering wheel or bob my head back and forth.… Continue reading Do You Have Rhythm?
Basic Beliefs
We all want to create interesting characters for our stories, right? I sure do! One of the best ways I’ve found to do that is to give your character a Basic Belief.A Basic Belief is something your character believes to be true. Here are 2 examples of characters and their Basic Beliefs:• Tori believes if… Continue reading Basic Beliefs
What’s at Stake?
As long as you write stories, there will be people out there, like your family or your friends, who will ask you, "What is your story about?" And when they ask you that question, what answer will you give them? You could say something like, “I’m writing a story about a girl named Samantha who makes… Continue reading What’s at Stake?
swirl and spark 