Monthly Archives: July 2016

Pantsers abound the world over. They like surprise endings too. But is that the best way to handle a writing project? In an earlier post, I said the quickest route from point A to point B is a straight line. … Continue reading →

I recently took a course on Udemy, taught by Elizabeth Bezant. http://www.writing-information-and-tips.com/elizabeth-bezant.html. One of the most important things I learned from her was how to use “gas” and “brake” pedals in my writing. Action and dialogue are the gas pedal. … Continue reading →

Every serious story has a certain level of drama. Unwed mother leaves her baby in a basket on the church doorstep. Boy steps aside so the girl of his dreams can marry his rich rival, who can give her the … Continue reading →

Yesterday’s blog post on sanction patterns came to mind, while I was reading this poem, published in Motley Measures, Bert Leston Taylor, 1913. Modern Matrimony He Dear one, when we exchange our vows We’ll knot the loosest sort of tie; … Continue reading →

Recently, I purchased a box of Harlequin romance novels from a flea market. One in particular, a book called The Sacrifice by Mary Hollins, written in 1969, comes to mind as a perfect example of what a writer could do … Continue reading →

To properly set a scene for your readers, you’ll need three key ingredients: 1. Unity 2. Emphasis 3. Coherence To demonstrate, I will borrow a scene from a random novel from my bookshelf: “Yonder, bluely spread with the splendor of … Continue reading →

I recently read a best-selling novel that has been getting rave reviews. The author spent over a decade refining the story’s imagery. He made it all the better by setting the story in present tense, so everything was happening right … Continue reading →

Charles Dickens offered the following list of key ingredients to a well-written letter. They apply equally well to a well-written novel. 1. Power of Language Word choice greatly affects a reader’s takeaway from any given piece of writing. The short … Continue reading →

“Sell them what they want to buy and in just the way they want to buy it.” – Samuel Crowther, The Romance and Rise of the American Tropics Finding a market for your work is kind of like finding a … Continue reading →