Titles are so important. After noticing the cover and spine art, what’s the next thing a reader looks at? Maybe the author’s name, but certainly, the title. It’s got to catch the eye of the beholder. Which would you rather read: Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss or When to Use the Oxford Comma? Com’on, unless you’re a total punctuation nerd, you’ll head toward Eats, Shoots and Leaves. It’s a grabber. We don’t know if someone is shooting a … Read More »

The world you create for your characters is bound to be full of color—it’s everywhere you and your character(s) look. Sight is a powerful sense, so you want to make the most of it. As a writer, the tendency might lean toward using your favorite color, simply naming what your character sees (the green tree), and move on with the rest of the story’s narrative. Hang on! Don’t let the power of color fade away into thin air! Let’s explore … Read More »

There’s a lot of world-building that takes place when a writer embarks on the journey of creating a story. The plot guides the reader along the path from first to last sentence. Interwoven in the plot are sensory details that make the story come alive for the reader. What’s important to keep, and what can be set aside? Let’s explore some ideas that might help in the decision-making process. Part of the World? Countless interesting details will be a part … Read More »

I happened across this photo of a stone wall project I completed a few years ago, and it made me think about how I might compare it to the construction of a story. Tools, materials, planning, and brain power translates to creating a wall (or a story) that will stand the test of time. I thought it might be fun to break apart this project into story-building elements. Plan for the End Result Before you head out to the landscape … Read More »

Free is great, right? Who doesn’t love free? It’s especially fabulous when you are gearing up to write your first (or next) story. Settings, characters, and other story elements are free for the taking — in unlimited quantities! So forget about TP, grab your cart, and let’s shop ’till we drop! Your Genre Aisle This may be an aisle you’re already familiar with. You may have already written a story here, you’re continuing a series, or it may be a … Read More »