I’ve reflected before on the power of surprise in novels. But I’d like to share a few thoughts now about a certain kind of surprise—perhaps the most heart-wrenching kind, because it’s so relatable. That is, the “good” character who turns out to be bad, or the “bad” one who finally shows himself to be good(ish). The Good Are Bad It’s true, of course, that no human being is fully good or bad, and our fictional personages should reflect that. But … Read More »

I’ve been thinking about how one generates ideas for poems, stories, novels—or anything for that matter, like engineered new-fangled whatnots, or works of visual or auditory art. I suspect some of you are like me, wasting time thinking you don’t have an idea. And so, you don’t write or make other kinds of art. Last year I attended a program by Florida professor and poet David Kirby (FSU) hosted by the Florida State Poetry Association. During that session he talked … Read More »

The time has finally come to write the dedication page to the story you’ve sweat blood and tears over. Should be easy enough, right? Sometimes it seems that these little blurbs are harder to write than the book itself. Let’s toss around some ideas to help you get this important part of your book written. Who? Who should you dedicate your book to? Well, there are many answers, and they can be a lot of creative fun. You can dedicate … Read More »

Sit your chastushka down and raise the vodka in salute. Does that sound a little naughty? Well, it might. The chastushka is a short funny, ironic, or naughty Russian verse form, often on the same intellectual level as the limerick. If you’re quick on the draw and love working with silly rhymes, or satirical themes, the chastushka is for you. It can be a lot of fun. It’s a folk style that’s engendered many a rowdy competition—or friendly one. The … Read More »

When I was in high school, I missed a lot of questions on a lot of tests. But there’s one question I’ll never forget. It was pretty simple. The image displayed a slice of the earth’s interior, with a question: What is the name of the stuff in the middle? I thought of two answers. One was “the core of the earth,” because that IS the middle (and was the correct answer). But I tried to outsmart the question, and … Read More »

One usually approaches this topic as “filling scenes with emotion” although, if you think about it, it’s people who experience emotion. If your characters are feeling it, then they’ll embue the whole scene with it. And, because of the wonderful faculty of compassion, readers will start to twang with the same emotional resonance. Where do you stand? The exact way we, the authors, will go about this depends on what point of view we’ve chosen. Is it omniscient third person? … Read More »

Writers are dedicated, committed, sometimes obsessed individuals. Their creativity seldom gives them a moment’s peace. Some writers work on multiple projects simultaneously, which amps up the pressure to create even more and leaves little, if any, time to just chill a little. So, how does a writer take a break without feeling like they’ve abandoned their work, impatient characters, and unresolved plot? Even if writers can’t completely disconnect, let’s explore some temporary solutions. A Related Break Set your work aside … Read More »

As humans we read signals all the time. If someone flips us the finger, we know that person is angry. If someone throws their arms wide and does a little dance, we know that the person is happy about something. We communicate every day without words. Gestures reveal so much about a character, and about a situation. Reveal is the important term here—reveal/show. It speaks to that old writing adage “show, don’t tell.” When we see certain gestures by characters … Read More »

Sell sheets, also known as one sheets, are often requested by booksellers, award competitions, reviewers, and other industry folks. They are useful tools for people to get quick information about your book and make decisions, such as whether or not to stock your book in their store. It’s important to have all the standard elements on your sell sheet and to make sure they are organized in a structured way. So what exactly do you need to have on a … Read More »

I just read a charming book, and I’d like to be able to write one. But what exactly is charm? The word comes (from Latin by way of Middle French) from carmen, an incantation, and even today it can mean an enchantment, a magic spell. Yet we often also use it in a different, more secular sense to mean —I  quote the Oxford Dictionary here — “the power or quality of delighting, attracting, or fascinating others.” Although, with all due … Read More »

When it’s time to name the characters in your story, where do you start? If you’re lucky, one or more may have already told you who they are. What about the rest? Some may be secondary characters or ones that are mentioned only once or twice, but they still need names so readers can picture them in their mind and identify with them. Let’s see what we can do about those blank spaces on your character roster. Personality Traits Take … Read More »

We all want to write elegantly. That calls for tightening lines. One way to rid excess verbiage is to cut all unnecessary prepositions and prepositional phrases. I say unnecessary because, as writers, we are also concerned about how a line sings. Sometimes prepositional phrases are needed to keep a meter, portray the voice of a persona, or enhance the lilt of the line. Barring that, here are some ways to cut unnecessary prepositions and prepositional phrases. 6 Ways to rework … Read More »

This is one of those questions that readers and writers have very different opinions about. Those who teach writing are pretty united in saying that it’s a bad idea to start a book with a dream. “But it seems so clever,” you say. “There’s that zingy moment when the character wakes up and the reader realizes that none of what she’s learned so far really happened.” Set Up for a Let Down Well, yes. But there’s also a certain element … Read More »

At some point in the life of your story, you’re going to have to write a book blurb. Some writers are convinced that this short description is more challenging than writing an entire novel. How does one condense an 80,000 word story into a 150-250 word teaser? Well, it’s not impossible, and it’s important to try and get it as right as you can—for a number of reasons. Back Cover Showcase Your book blurb is an important attention-getter on the … Read More »

In my FWA posting for last month we dove into the tetractys, a poetry short form from Greece.  This month let’s look closely at the pensee. The pensee (pronounced pahn-say) is a short syllabic form with specific attributes. But before we get into those let’s backtrack a little. The word pensee means a thought, or reflection, in French. When we speak of a pensee we are referring to a thought expressed in a literary way, such as the short form … Read More »

Writers are pretty much a solitary, dedicated lot, listening to their characters and investing countless hours telling their story. Amidst that fierce determination is the stark realization that writers cannot work non-stop—it may even prove to be counter-productive. So, when is the best time to take a break, and should those breaks be totally unrelated to the craft of writing? Let’s explore some ideas about taking breaks and how they can help a writer become even more productive when they … Read More »

One of the things I love best as a reader is those books that create such a colorful sense of place that the setting becomes another character—so much so that a change in scene would change the feel of the book altogether. What would Inspector Brunetti be without Venice, right? Its geography shapes the action; its history shapes the people. Anyone who has ever visted that amazing city of water can immediately picture the ambulance taking off down the canal … Read More »

Go on … think of a poetry short form you know. Probably, the first one that comes to mind is the haiku, or maybe, the limerick. I bet that’s what would come to mind for most folks. Or, if you’re familiar with Japanese forms you might also think of the tanka, or haibun. For many American writers that’s about the extent of our short form poetry knowledge. But there’s a vast world of short forms from almost every continent. (Probably, … Read More »

I read a lot of book manuscripts, and I’m here to tell you there are some story openers in danger of being used more often than “once upon a time.” Here are some beginnings I see quite frequently: • Character waking up • Character looking out a window and thinking about the weather • Character thinking about the setting, reviewing the objects in a room • Character thinking or saying out loud, “This isn’t happening.” • Character pondering her life, … Read More »

These thoughts are aimed at those who are writing a series, as I have been. It’s begun to feel like I’m writing the same book over and over! Why? Because the characters and their sitz im leben need to be reintroduced each time, in case (a very likely case) someone picks up Book Three without having read Books One or Two. Just how much grounding in the continuum of the series is necessary for each episode? That depends on the … Read More »

Every story needs details—it’s what helps bring it to life for the reader. Details set stories apart from one another and enable the writer to introduce seemingly insignificant nuggets that may play a major role as the story progresses. The challenge for the writer is to find the acceptable ratio of details to plot without drowning the reader in details. Let’s examine a few pitfalls and see what we can learn from them. Example: A historical fiction novel features a … Read More »

Writers create images with words, and the techniques used are called literary devices. Because of the wide variety of literary devices, we will examine them in groups. In this article, we review the literary devices used to compare and contrast. By comparing and contrasting things, the author invites the reader to see a deeper truth. Use these devices to emphasize an idea, a character, or important moment in the story. Analogy An analogy clarifies by comparison. Unlike simile and metaphor, … Read More »

New York may be the city so nice they named it twice, but when it comes to novels, most readers want a point well made once and not battered home in multiple forms. There are several ways this can happen. One is by showing and telling the same fact. Here’s what I mean: She was steaming with frustration. “Why can’t you ever be on time?” she cried. Nothing is really incorrect about this, but it could be tighter. Her words … Read More »

Writers, whether plotters or pantsers, inevitably get stuck somewhere along the way in the creation of their story and struggle to find a way forward. It’s a situation I’m familiar with, and it brought to mind a Robert Burns quote: “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” So, what’s a writer to do other than stare at the screen like a zombie for hours on end or throw their hands in the air and walk away in … Read More »

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 »

You have a great idea for a workshop and there is a conference coming up. Time to fill out the faculty application. How can you give yourself the best chance of being selected as a presenter? Write a stellar workshop description! Many times writers view the description as a little nonfiction blurb stating the basics of what they will be sharing with the group. Incorrect. You are selling your workshop, and not just to the person selecting faculty, but to … Read More »

Silence. Try to picture it: a novel with no dialogue. That would seem cold and distant indeed. Dialogue is showing, not telling what the characters think. It gives us their own tricks of speech, carries the weight of their emotions, lets us literally hear their own voices. Well done, it adds to the force and immediacy of the story. But if we neglect it, dialogue can drag down the pace, unravel the characterizations, even take readers out of the fictional … Read More »

Successful stories take readers by the hand and invite them into the multi-sensory world the writer has created. Integrating as many senses as possible is critical to helping readers invest in the story and what is happening from one sentence/scene/chapter to the next. However, it requires a delicate touch to avoid bombarding the plot with in your face, obvious attempts at integrating the fabulous five: sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch. Let’s whip up a batch of lasagna and see … Read More »

Picture books are jewels in the world of literature; artistic, fun, informative, and full of heart-shine. One important aspect is that they are short. Many publishers insist on less than 500 words. Yet they must have characterization, plot, setting, theme, and mood—all the same things a 90,000-word novel has. The other thing they must do is grab and retain the interest of young minds. Those minds are racing at phenomenal speed. It’s a tricky business to get that young reader … Read More »

Before you think I’m starting the New Year with a toast to the soldiers of many an ancient war, let’s reflect for a minute on our antecedents. Grammatical antecedents, that is. You know: the identifying name or noun to which a pronoun refers. John petted his dog. Whose dog? John’s, but fortunately you don’t have to say John petted John’s dog, because the proximity and word order tells you that his is a reference to John. Simple and straightforward. No … 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 »

Stephen King wrote in his book On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, “the road to hell is paved with adverbs.” We’re rightly admonished not to use adverbs. But what about adjectives? I’d argue that adjectives are also there in the mix that makes up the road to hell. In fact, Mark Twain wrote to student D. W. Bowser (3/20/1880) “When you catch an adjective, kill it. No, I don’t mean utterly, but kill most of them—then the rest will … Read More »

Nobody likes to peer through a glass darkly—it’s too hard to see. Why not just look directly at the scene rather than at its reflection, which is pale and distorted? (Unless you’re looking at an eclipse, of course.) Filter Not It’s just as hard to get the full impact of an emotional scene in a novel if the author dims everything through a series of filter words. You know what I mean: felt, seemed, heard, saw, and their kin. Needless … Read More »

You’ve decided. Your fiction story will become a series. The decision could have been made when you realized your characters have more to say than one book can hold, or you may have decided at the outset that a series is the best way forward. Either way, here are a few hints and suggestions to help make that series a successful one. Timeline Structuring It’s logical to think that books in a series continue where the last one left off, … Read More »

In March of this year I wrote a posting for FWA titled:  A Friday Folly: Get Prompted!  Since then, my group and I have had many months of writing to fun, and sometimes difficult prompts. These are prompts that are all directed toward some aspect of the craft. To wind up the year I thought I’d share with you a half-dozen that worked well. Why not try some of these yourself, or within your writing group? 1. Working with numbers … Read More »

Sometimes writing is easy, when you feel deeply impassioned about a subject and know just how to say it. The words flow.  I think it was Truman Capote who said something like:  “I’ve always been able to throw words up in the air and have them come down in the right order.” Sometimes we can do that, too. When you’ve emptied the passion bucket, maybe all you have to do is tweak a sentence or two, choose a better word … Read More »

In reading novels as in attending parties, nobody wants to sit next to a bore. It’s easy to say what constitutes a social bore: she hogs the conversation, talks about herself, burrows into a one narrow topic that doesn’t interest you. What marks out a boring book? I had a recent opportunity to think about this when a friend asked me to read his manuscript and give him some feedback. The overarching problem that jumped out at me seemed worth … Read More »

It may feel like an afterthought or process a writer goes through when the writing is done, but whether or not to include a table of contents (TOC) warrants careful thought and special attention. The discussion that follows is based on my own (unofficial) research and inspection of various titles in my own small library. What is a TOC anyway? Basically, it’s a list of chapters and page numbers at the beginning of a book. As a writer, it’s important … Read More »

A friend of mine recently sent me a compiled list of writing tip lists. It’s here. (Do check it out, there’re some really good ones.) That got me thinking. I’ve been in this game for a long time—traditionally published for about forty-eight years with over 160 poems in print and 20 books out. And, of course, I’ve been writing for much longer than that. Which means that I, too, have a handy list that might supply the fuel for some … Read More »

Ouch! This isn’t the reflection of a sadomasochist! Pain occurs (or should occur) a lot in novels, and it gives the author a lot of fresh ways to show something about their characters. I say “should occur” because it’s far less prevalent in hard-driving thrillers (for example) than it should be. If you jump off bridges and throw yourself out of moving cars, my guess is you’re going to get a few ouchy booboos. If the book makes any pretense … Read More »

Lucky is the writer whose book title is known before the first word is written. Other books may tease a vague hint or inclination, and then there are those that refuse to cooperate. At any level. If book titles are a challenge, let’s explore some possible remedies for those defiant or reluctant to make themselves known. Reflect the Book’s Tone The title of your book confers a critical first impression for a potential reader. It should provide insight into what … Read More »

In July of 2021 I wrote about Stimulating Similes. Now, t’s about time we got around to talking about metaphors—the big sister/brother of similes. Metaphors have more muscle than similes, and less tact. Rather than using a qualifying word such as “like” or “as” between two comparisons, metaphors just blurt out that one thing is another. Sure, tougher sibling Metaphor can be a bit rude, but it does its job quickly and without a lot of extraneous verbiage. For example, … Read More »

There’s an ebb and flow to the pace of a story. Everything in the world moves at a pace that changes now and then, so your story needs to flow with a momentum that makes logical sense based on the setting, characters, and plot of the story. Let’s explore some ideas that will help vary the stride of your story. Word Choices Words have the power to move the reader along or slow them down, based on what is happening … Read More »

A really good book is like plywood—many layers of story glued together to produce an end product that’s stronger than any one layer alone. You have a main plot (say, retrieving the magic stone that protects the kingdom), one or more sub-plots (the heroine’s coming of age and her sidekick’s overcoming his sense of inferiority to a brother who died a hero), and then a thematic layer (resisting the temptation to do evil for a good cause). It’s about that … Read More »

Most writers will tell you that a writer’s group, or critique group, has proved indispensable to their writing success. The fellow writers in these groups offer encouragement, inspiration, valuable feedback from close readers, answers to other questions about the writing life (such as about the business end of things), a place to get beta readers for longer works and, often, friendship. I’ve been involved with writing groups for almost five decades and I have heard only from a couple of … Read More »

Time is always tricky in structuring a novel, even one with a single line of action. Maybe your two sleuths split up to investigate two leads at once. In what order do you present their interviews? Because at some point you’ll need to bring them back together, and it should be in the smoothest possible way. But even more challenging is the ordering of a book with multiple timelines—two characters’ independent stories, for example, that braid together until they unite … Read More »

The story that you doubted about, shed blood, sweat, and tears over, and dedicated countless hours to is finally in the hands of eager readers. Much to your delight (and relief), they love the story and wonder what happens next! They raise questions about a character’s fate, a relationship, or what the future holds for the plot itself. They’re asking about a sequel to your story. Do you write one? If you decide to, how do you begin? Here are … Read More »

In a recent interview Ted Kooser (U. S. Poet laureate: 2004-2006, Pulitzer Prize winner) said “I often start with a metaphor and build the poem out with that association.” So, not until he’s found the right metaphor does he begin. This makes sense to me, for I would hazard to say that all good poetry is metaphor—poems mean something more than what the words denote. The ability of poetry to stretch itself beyond the page and into our lives with … Read More »

Artificial intelligence, more commonly referred to as AI, is the hot tech topic of the day. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) wants AI addressed in their contract negotiations and Congress is holding a series of AI Insight Forums to gain a better understanding of it. If you find yourself wondering what AI means to the average writer, read on. Chat GPT To gain an understanding of just what AI can do, let’s take a look at a highly popular … Read More »

You’ve written a great book, but how do you get reviews on Amazon? The Price of Fewer Reviews As a new author, you pay a tremendous price when you don’t get Amazon reviews. Your books have lower visibility and credibility, since reviews are social proof for potential buyers. Book sales may ultimately suffer as a result. Amazon reviews offer exposure to potential readers and can testify to your book’s quality and content. Reviews are an essential marketing tool. Positive reviews … Read More »

Once upon a time, it was common for books to be written in an omniscient third-person voice. A disembodied and all-seeing narrator told you the story, gentle reader, and he knew what every character was thinking and how they looked as well. Increasingly, though, readers seem to want the in-head experience of close third-person. One character carries them around through the action of the novel, and they see the world and other characters though her eyes. She can report her … Read More »

Have you lost control of your story? Has it decided the path you charted (by plotting, pantsing, or whatever) is not the way things are going to go? Is it a rebellion of sorts? A mutiny? Before you hoist the white flag of surrender, there are strategies to consider that can bring things back into balance and help you regain the upper hand. Plot In the Ditch? The story that was set to begin with a cruise to the Bahamas … Read More »

A major challenge that writers for young readers face is having one’s work taken seriously. And I don’t mean just the response to the published book/piece, but the actual work of writing for a young audience. A sure-fire way to make a kind, unassuming children’s author foam at the mouth, or go for the jugular is to comment: “Well, that must have been easy to write, it’s only nine words long.” Or, “That must not have taken long to write.” … Read More »

Summer is upon us! It’s time for vacations, beach trips, lazy afternoons, and bucket lists. Summer bucket lists are easy to find, and they’re filled with fun ideas. Go ziplining, Spot a herd of manatees. Swim in a lake. But what about writers? Wouldn’t it be fun to turn your writing goals and to-do list into a summer bucket list? What would that list include? How could it be both goal-oriented and fun? Well, I have a few ideas. Write … Read More »

Have you lost control of your story? Has it decided the path you charted (by plotting, pantsing, or whatever) is not the way things are going to go? Is it a rebellion of sorts? A mutiny? Before you hoist the white flag of surrender, there are strategies to consider that can bring things back into balance and help you regain the upper hand. Plot In the Ditch? The story that was set to begin with a cruise to the Bahamas … Read More »

Lately there’s both a lot of shoulder shrugging, and a lot of fear around generative AI making inroads into creative endeavors. Everybody seems to have some opinion about it, from Wow, so cool! To  OMG! It’s going to take over! So of course, I had to try out a few things to see how well generative AI could reproduce one of my creative loves, poetry. Below is a very shortened run-down of my wrangling with ChatGPT and poetry. I started … Read More »

When writing fiction, we often focus on the plot, and our characters become vehicles for moving the narrative forward. However, if we want readers to become invested in the story, we need to create protagonists who will draw them in. So what are some concrete strategies for helping readers identify with our main characters and develop some sort of attachment? How can we be sure readers care about what happens to these fictional friends, and that they stick around to … Read More »

The other day in our writer’s group, somebody brought up the idea of each of us taking responsibility for a periodic “artist’s date” to recharge our creativity. Those of you who remember Julia Cameron’s 2020 blockbuster The Artist’s Way will recognize this concept. I, who avoid self-help books, did not, but when its eloquent proponent among us presented the idea, it sounded extremely appealing. And then I realized I’ve been on one long artist’s date here on the farm, and … Read More »

I’ve read a lot of social media posts by and about writers and their angst with the process. Many don’t think they’re actually writing if they’re not actively typing or putting words to paper. They lament the fact that they only wrote (insert a number here) words within a certain timeframe. Some exceeded their goal while others fell short (by their own estimation). I’d like to challenge the myth that writing is that one-dimensional, one setting pursuit. Plot-Pondering There are … Read More »

Recently I was Zooming with some lovely poets. One of the poets read a prose poem that went on and on without stopping to take a breath. Not only did I feel a bit overwhelmed—and not in a good way—but I was saddened, because I could not get a moment to take in and reflect upon her many great images and wonderful word choices. Everything rushed by in such a blur I lost the emotional impact as well. I just … Read More »

As writers, we know that the three basic elements of a fictional story are character, setting, and plot. We spend a lot of time planning and developing each of those elements. However, if we want to create a story that really captures readers, we need to be mindful of the stakes. When we talk about stakes, we’re referring to what might be gained or lost in the story. The higher the stakes, the more compelling the story. If the protagonist … Read More »

Picky! Picky!” wasn’t exactly a compliment when Mom aimed it at you at the dinner table. You were supposed to eat everything on the plate and have no preferences. But we writers can hardly be picky enough when it comes to choosing just the right word. It’s a primary duty of a prose author—let alone a poet—to expend some effort in finding the expression that captures exactly the image she wants to convey. The one that rolls most smoothly over … Read More »

Your story idea is well underway, and the characters are firmly set in your mind. Yikes! They’re all naked! Unless your story takes place in a nudist colony, you’ll need to clothe those bodies, and quick! When and What? When your story takes place has a significant bearing on what your characters wear. You won’t dress a medieval peasant woman in a flowing gown of silk or velvet when they would be wearing linen or wool. They couldn’t afford it, … Read More »

I generally do not write to specific forms, and always have to look up the “rules” for villanelles, Shakespearean Sonnets, sestinas, and the like. What I truly love is free verse. However, there are many times that working within a form is liberating in that you’ve already got a set of parameters you don’t have to worry about. And, sometimes, when you’re forced to conform to a certain structure the little creative geniuses in your brain run off into territory … Read More »

During my years of teaching, this was the time of year when I unrolled a favorite laminated poster and taught my students this lovely poem by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers: Keep a poem in your pocket And a picture in your head And you’ll never feel lonely At night when you’re in bed The little poem will sing to you The little picture bring to you A dozen dreams to dance to you At night when you’re in bed So … Read More »

Yay! You came up with an awesome idea for a story! It’s been swirling around in your brain for months, growing in size and complexity, and it’s getting more and more insistent in its pleadings to be released onto the page. You finally comply and begin the process but find yourself frozen in front of the screen/paper. What happened? And, just as important, what can be done to jump-start the journey from brain to book? As much as I may … Read More »

When the first round of covid hit a couple of years ago, it seemed like everything stopped. And in that stoppage was the monthly critique group I’d been part of since 2001. During that hiatus I thought if I can just keep myself motivated—keep that little spark of inspiration which was usually fueled by the critique group—that would be wonderful. So, the Friday Follies were born. What it is It’s quick. It’s simple. We meet online for no more than … Read More »

Do you have an interest in writing for children? Do you dream up story ideas that would make great books for young readers? If so, it’s important to learn about the children’s market. Every author is familiar with genre, and most can easily identify their writing as nonfiction, realistic fiction, fantasy, historical, sci-fi, etc. However, in the children’s market, it’s important to also know about book categories. Children grow through stages of cognitive development, and at each stage, they change. … Read More »

I recently blogged about the importance of beginnings—that first chapter or so of your novel that gins up your reader’s interest in it and hooks her good, so that she has to keep reading. Then there’s the all-important ending of the book, wherein you take advantage of your last chance to impress and leave a satisfied taste in readers’ mouths. We’ll get back to that in due time. And that’s the thing about endings: you have to get to them. … Read More »

I’ve seen the question posed (in various forms) on social media sites that writers frequent. “I just finished writing my story. Can I send it ‘as is’ to my editor?” Or it might be something like, “How much editing do I need to do before I send my story to beta readers?” A writer may consider the story done when the last sentence is typed, but let’s explore some practical, cost-saving steps that are worth taking before handing off a … Read More »

Last month I presented 5 techniques that were easily learned from reading picture books (Part 1) regardless of what format or genre you work in. The fact that picture books are so short means you can find numerous examples of literary techniques in the best of them. And they are great teaching tools because they require precision and elegance. Today we will cover 5 more techniques you can find in picture books. There are many titles I could have chosen … Read More »

Authors are tasked with marketing their fiction and nonfiction books to a variety of audiences. While being prepared to speak in front of an audience is invaluable, it’s can also be frightening. When it comes to glossophobia, the numbers are clear: Up to 75% of people have mild to severe anxiety when asked to speak in front of a crowd, no matter the size. Fear of “What If” is one of the most powerful experiences someone could face. What if … Read More »

How is your 2023 To Be Read pile stacking up? If part of your plan for the new year includes learning more about the writing process and the publishing world, you may want to add some tried and true titles to your reading list. Get started here with some books that can boost your creativity, awaken your imagination, and teach you about the publishing world. Okay, here’s my suggested reading list to make you a well-informed writer. The Artist’s Way … Read More »

Since we’re beginning a brand new year, it seems appropriate to reflect on beginnings—the beginning of books, that is. Few things are as daunting to a writer as that blank page upon which we type “Chapter One.” That’s because we know that we only have this one chance to hook the reader, to intrigue and delight her so strongly that she won’t be able to put down the novel until she’s read it cover to cover. It may be the … Read More »

Most of us are looking for less conflict and tension in our lives. Just head to the nearest bookstore and check out the Self-Help section. But if you happen to be a writer (this probably pertains more to fiction), your characters NEED conflict and tension–a lot of it! If a story flows merrily along from beginning to end, there isn’t anything for your readers to invest in, no one to cheer for, and no feeling of resolution at the end. … Read More »

Although fun to read, and short, picture books are not easy to write. They require laser-like precision, elegance, humor, and a deft hand at using writing techniques. The picture book writer must do everything—or almost everything—a long form novelist must do and do it in approximately 500 words. That is: characterization and character arc, setting, tension, plot arc, mood, smooth pacing and, often, humor (whether that’s for a non-fiction picture book or fiction). So good picture books are a wonderful … Read More »

As each new year approaches, we savor the feeling of a fresh start. We make plans, set goals, and even those of us who won’t openly admit it probably come up with a few resolutions for the new year. For many writers, those resolutions often involve word counts, page counts, and time in the chair. However, those quantitative measures can often leave us feeling like failures when reality hits and we just can’t measure up. Others of us experience a … Read More »

This past October, Florida Writers Association (FWA) was pleased to announce the winners for the Royal Palm Literary Awards (RPLA) at a special banquet during the Florida WritersCon conference. RPLA is a prestigious writing competition that recognizes extraordinary writing and is exclusive to FWA members. The winners represented over 28 genres and included both published and unpublished works. As part of the annual RPLA Showcase, FWA interviewed the winners of the grand awards (Published Book of the Year; Unpublished Book … Read More »

Whether your reader is scrolling online or strolling through a book shop, they have an idea of what to expect when they choose a book from a particular genre. As a writer, you will want to ensure your book finds its way to the proper shelf (virtual or otherwise) so that readers will be able to find what they’re looking for. Let’s explore some expectations for a few. Keep in mind that there may be exceptions, but there are general … Read More »

This past October, Florida Writers Association (FWA) was pleased to announce the winners for the Royal Palm Literary Awards (RPLA) at a special banquet during the Florida WritersCon conference. RPLA is a prestigious writing competition that recognizes extraordinary writing and is exclusive to FWA members. The winners represented over 28 genres and included both published and unpublished works. As part of the annual RPLA Showcase, FWA interviewed the winners of the grand awards (Published Book of the Year; Unpublished Book … Read More »

What makes for good literary style? The components are so numerous that it would take all day to list them, but one that jumps out at me is description that is vivid and original. Vivid and Original Vivid: It engages your senses until you can really see, hear, taste, smell, and feel the scene the author has laid before you. In fact, she hasn’t just laid it before you. She has drawn you into it. Original: She has expressed herself … Read More »

This past October, Florida Writers Association (FWA) was pleased to announce the winners for the Royal Palm Literary Awards (RPLA) at a special banquet during the Florida WritersCon conference. RPLA is a prestigious writing competition that recognizes extraordinary writing and is exclusive to FWA members. The winners represented over 28 genres and included both published and unpublished works. As part of the annual RPLA Showcase, FWA interviewed the winners of the grand awards (Published Book of the Year; Unpublished Book … Read More »

“You can’t wait for inspiration; you have to go after it with a club.”—Jack London Some of you may know I do farming, so sorry up front for my farm slang. My observation is that just as consumers increasingly want quality locally-grown farm products, readers want well-written books with a sway toward local authors. There are likely many reasons for this, but for me overall author marketing greatly resembles farmer marketing. Some Marketing Generalities First, some words about advertising’s role … Read More »

This past October, Florida Writers Association (FWA) was pleased to announce the winners for the Royal Palm Literary Awards (RPLA) at a special banquet during the Florida WritersCon conference. RPLA is a prestigious writing competition that recognizes extraordinary writing and is exclusive to FWA members. The winners represented over 28 genres and included both published and unpublished works. As part of the annual RPLA Showcase, FWA interviewed the winners of the grand awards (Published Book of the Year; Unpublished Book … Read More »

It’s gift-giving season again! I’ve written several times about appropriate gifts for writers. (See FWA blog posts on writer gifts: Dec. 9, 2020 and Dec. 3, 2021.) However, writers are needy, you know. They require all the help they can get. The items on those earlier lists remain excellent gifts for your whiny writer. But there’s always more to consider. How about gifting your writer with one of the items below? (And get me a little nosh, while you’re at … Read More »

To the reader curled up with your book, it may appear to be a random collection of thoughts, conversations, and experiences. In fact, stories are carefully constructed works that usually follow a specific formula. It’s known as a plot/story arc, where the events rise and fall and are eventually brought together and explained or resolved (denouement). Pantsers might be scoffing at this point, but I think at some point, they wrangle their works into much the same structure. For years, … Read More »

The holidays are upon us, and already I hear your heart rates increase. “How am I going to maintain my writing schedule through all the family dinners, out-of-town visits, and Super Bowl games?” you’re moaning. “How am I going to maintain the inviolable code of Butt-in-Chair?” For all of our consolation, I’d like to suggest that there’s more to writing than writing. That’s right, and you already know it. For every page that gets typed, how much thinking, imagining, and … Read More »

The way your characters talk — in dialogue scenes as well as in first-person narration — can not only help a reader distinguish one from the other. It can actually serve to establish who each of them is. Is he/she an optimist or a pessimist? An extrovert or an introvert? Honest or devious? Well-educated or not so much? Perhaps as important as any of these, does he/she have a sense of humor? I hope no one needs to be told … Read More »

If you’re a lover of poetry—writer or reader—one of the things I’m sure you’ve noticed is that the world of poetry is full of idiosyncratic punctuation. Sometimes we poets follow the rules of prose, sometimes we don’t. And fashions change—even in what is popular reading/reciting/writing material. Some of us are stuck in classic mode (chinos and tucked in shirts), some of us are out there trying on 4-inch stilettos and feather boas despite the initial discomfort, or response by those … 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 »

Football season has captured the country, and baseball play-offs have begun. In post-game discussions, we often hear about the Most Valuable Players who took the game from good to great. For writers, it’s crunch season for a lot of those year-end goals. And that means it’s time to line up the MVPs of feedback. When that manuscript is complete and polished, you need to seek out feedback. But not just any feedback. You want to orchestrate the most valuable feedback … Read More »

Some time ago, I wrote a blog on unlikable protagonists, and one of my colleagues (you know who you are!) commented that the way we see a protagonist can be mediated by the narrator. That idea is so full of interesting possibilities for an author that it deserves a blog all to itself. So, here are a few ideas to add to your literary arsenal about who is going to tell your tale. To See or Not to See The … Read More »

It sounds really obvious, but I’m continually amazed at the number of aspiring fiction writers who don’t seem to pay enough attention to helping their readers tell one character from another. This is really basic if you want to produce a page turner that requires no unnecessary effort or confusion on the part of the reader. Some of the items below may indeed go without saying, while others might bear a bit more thought and planning. Yet all of them, … Read More »

Writing with a partner author can offer some great benefits, if you’re both willing to set aside your egos and truly cooperate. My first two published books were done with a co-author.  They would not have happened without my partner.  Nor would they have happened without me. My co-author was vice president for education for Florida Audubon Society, and I was on contract as editor of the Florida Audubon magazine. When I suggested we include something for young people in … Read More »

You’ve written a book. You had an idea, you brought it to life, and you got it done. But where do you go from here? If you think you want to pursue publication, the first step is to educate yourself about the many paths that can get you there. Self Publishing Years ago, self publishing meant going to a print shop. In today’s digital world, self-publishing is much more efficient, and the most popular go-to resources are KDP and Ingram … Read More »

When a reader opens the cover of a book, they are embarking on an adventure the writer has created for them. What should happen at the beginning of that first chapter, and subsequent chapters? Let’s explore the possibilities. First Chapter The beginning of the first chapter of a story has specific requirements, different in some ways than subsequent chapters. It’s a big ask. There’s a lot that needs to happen as soon as possible because you want to grab and … Read More »

Authors who go the extra mile in research tend to become bestsellers—Patricia Cornwell, Michael Crichton, Dave Berry, Creston Mapes, James A. Michener, David Morrell, Ridley Pearson, Amy Tan, and Pulitzer-Prize-winning author Herman Wouk to name a few. Some authors start out as experts, such as: Tess Gerritsen (a physician who writes crime stories featuring a coroner) Linda Fairstein (a former Manhattan Assistant DA who writes crime novels) Timothy Browne, M.D. (a missionary physician who writes inspirational medical thrillers) Frank Zafiro … Read More »

Let’s get back to those quirky, fun books that writers of all ages tend to love. And what’s not to love—tight plots, precise characterization, emotional impact—all within a very controlled 32 pages and, nowadays, often with less than 700 words. They’re not easy to write, and to get right. In fact, as the author of three novels, many poems, magazine article, and 13 picture books, I find that a good picture book is the most difficult thing I write. (Maybe … Read More »

You (hotly): You’re kidding, right? Of course my novel has a plot! Me: It probably does, because that’s the kind of tightly-put-together story we prefer nowadays. But some novels really/almost/actually don’t. They’re episodic, quest-like. And that’s OK, if you intend them to be that way. Just don’t let it happen by accident, as I once almost did. Perhaps a little reflection up front can stave off some panicked rewrites later. The Classic Quest The great English classic Pilgrim’s Progress is … Read More »

Chapters are the stepping stones that guide a reader from the beginning to the end of your story. A chapter can be a mini-story in itself, with its own arc and exciting stuff happening in a little, literary package. When it comes time for the chapter to end, what do you do? What is a chapter ending supposed to accomplish within the bigger context of a story? Let’s explore some possibilities. Wrap Up A chapter ending can wrap up that … Read More »

We are so very pleased to announce the finalists for 2022 Royal Palm Literary Awards (RPLA)! Join us for Florida WritersCon 2022 and the Royal Palm Literary Awards Banquet and enjoy a weekend of reconnecting with writer friends and making new ones, networking with authors and publishing industry professionals, learning from experts, an open mic, and more. Learn who takes home a Royal Palm Literary Award!    

Attend any writers’ conference and at some point the questions about an online presence will be heard. Is a website really necessary? Do I have to succumb to the social media craze? Should I invest my time in an online presence, or should I just focus on my writing? Spoiler alert: there are no definitive answers. However, a website provides a platform, and social media is more than a craze. An online presence can help you make connections, build name … Read More »

I’ll admit it, I’ve always been a literary nerd. I earned a master’s degree in Latin American literature back in the ’80s, but way back in the late ’60s, when other kids were spending their allowances on Matchbox toys, I spent mine on books by the New York beat poets—ten cents each in the Bowery for collections by Ginsberg or Ferlinghetti—oh what pleasure to stride the boardwalks in A Coney Island of the Mind. Then I Grew Up … After … Read More »

Not many things in real life are more annoying than a slow leak of the faucet. That plop-plop-plop from the bathroom is guaranteed to drive a writer (who’s probably hoping for a distraction anyway) craaazy. But in your writing, those slow leaks can be an effective way to build tension and lead the reader along clue by clue to a surprise ending. This is supremely important with mysteries and thrillers, but any book with any tension is going to have … Read More »

You want to know how bad a writer I am? I used “by the time” twenty-one times in my current manuscript. I used it twice on the same page. That’s how bad a writer I am. You may not find “by the time” on any list of crutch words, but it appears to be a crutch of mine. I also used “just” two hundred and fifty-two times. “Then” two hundred times. “Turn,” “so,” “right,” and “looked” each more than a … Read More »

Have you ever read a book and found a glaring factual blunder? They happen. In Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper, a character refers to Punch-and-Judy shows. The Punch-and-Judy puppet shows began in the century after the setting of the story. This kind of blunder is an anachronism, a thing out of its time. How do we avoid factual flubs? Research! Yes, great editors help, but ultimately the responsibility for getting the facts straight falls on the author. Discover … Read More »

Picture books are quick reads, fun, and often gems of characterization, mood, sensual detail, and dialogue. They are also perfect for learning the basics of storytelling—regardless of the writer’s age, or genre. One thing well-written picture books do is to organize what’s happening in a coherent way—and they do this quickly. Usually within 32 pages and less than 1,000 words. There are a variety of story-mapping, or outlining, techniques that can be used in pre-writing. All of these are helpful. … Read More »

There is so much satisfaction in typing the words “The End.” And yet, “The End” is actually a beginning. Great works of literature don’t happen by magic. They are created by revision. Revision is a lot of work, but it doesn’t have to be a chaotic process. Mastering a method to the madness of revision will help you streamline your process and get great results. Step One: Let it Rest The first thing you should do is nothing at all. … Read More »

Antagonists are such a pain. Why should a writer bother with one, or more? All they do is cause trouble! Exactly! A story needs to have opposing forces, conflict, and struggle. Otherwise, it won’t be a story worth writing–or reading. Creating your protagonist (main character) and sending him on his merry way might be the easy part. Pitting someone or something against him (the antagonist) is another matter. Now that you know you need one, let’s explore some options. And … Read More »

I’m in querying mode again. It’s not fun. When animals fight, the loser will sometimes expose their jugular vein for a quick finish off. No such mercy in the publishing industry. It’s more of a slow death. Endless, sometimes. Not bitter. Just sayin’. “If you don’t hear from us within sixteen weeks, it’s a pass.” Sixteen weeks! And that’s not the worst of it. At least during those four months (!) there’s hope. Through this process I’ve relearned what I … Read More »

Whether you’re an indie author or shopping your work to agents, there’s no better investment you can make in your manuscript than to spring for professional editing. I don’t mean a do-it-yourself program that hunts out verb and subject agreement. I mean real, live editors—people who have spent their careers reading books, especially in your genre, and who know the English language cold, including all the slippery areas that change from generation to generation. Who can bring a fresh and … Read More »

Much of my writing is about Florida’s natural world – its waters, birds, trees, even clouds. When my first book, The Young Naturalist’s Guide to Florida, was accepted, the editor sent every chapter to a different expert in that subject, and on one expert’s advice, the editor asked me to rewrite a short paragraph.  She read it to me over the phone. I thought a moment and changed the wording to incorporate the correction, to which the editor replied, “That’s … Read More »

When characters say exactly what they mean, such as when a character testifies at a trial or answers questions from police during an investigation, there is no subtext. Children, drunks, and those under the influence of sodium pentothal say exactly what’s on their minds without filter or forethought. If characters only say exactly what they mean in every scene, then the dialogue is flat, or on-the-nose. It can be boring and artificial because such directness and honesty ignores human complexity. … Read More »

If you want to start a column or have been invited to do so, realize what you’ve taken on. You may envision tossing off at pizza fests or cocktail parties, eyes modestly lowered, “Oh, I’m a regular columnist for Extreme Quilting.” But … A quality column takes consistent effort, thought, and rewriting. Here are seven important considerations from my own column-writing and the advice of several column writers I interviewed. 1. Produce on Schedule The editor counts on you to … Read More »

I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m in love with thesauri (or thesauruses) and interesting lexicons. My husband knows, but he’s not the jealous type. In fact, he gifted me my first thesaurus—an ancient Soule’s—before we were married. It’s a treasured relic I still have almost fifty years later. (And him.) In the meantime, I’ve collected some interesting others over the years. (Not husbands.) And the internet has exploded with many you can have at your fingertips when looking for … Read More »

If you’ve read Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way, you have been introduced to the concept of an artist date. To cultivate creativity, Cameron suggests that every writer set aside a weekly block of time to nurture the artist within. No partners. No work. Just an hour or two each week designed for a solitary diversion. Although the idea of an artist date may seem self-indulgent, you’ll find that setting aside time to nurture your creative self will yield a greater … Read More »

As a writer, you send your main character out the door, down the path, and into the world of your story. But wait? Can they succeed if they go it alone? Frodo wouldn’t have gotten far without Sam as The Lord of the Rings fans know all too well. Your story needs someone to join the hero on his/her journey. That’s where secondary characters get their chance to shine. What Are Secondary Characters Secondary characters play a significant role in … Read More »

Lemme tell you something I hate. I hate it when someone comes to a writing group or asks me to critique something and says, “I just wrote it this morning.” Whatever you wrote this morning is not fit to be read by anyone but you. And if you’re any kind of half-decent editor, you won’t like it much. Rough Draft? Don’t Be Daft. The random collections of letters, some formed into words, that fly off your fingertips is not your … Read More »

One of the most important aspects of any novel that aspires to literary quality is the depth of the characterizations. Unless the book is completely plot driven (is there any such book?), it’s through the characters that readers will be able to identify with and be drawn into your story and your world.  This becomes a particularly acute issue in historical fiction, where strange names, customs, and world views may make identification just a little bit harder for many people. … Read More »

I’m a grammar bully. I don’t mean to be a bully, but when it comes to wrong usage, I am. At least for some of them. If I walk into a restaurant with a chalkboard that has misspelled or misused items on it, I can’t help myself. Sometimes all I have to do is wipe my finger across a misplaced apostrophe. If there’s a way, I’ll fix it. Lie/Lay One bit of grammar in particular is used incorrectly over and … Read More »

A story without conflict is not a story. If Jonah had gone directly to Nineveh as God told him to, Jonah would be forgettable. We remember Jonah’s story because he tried to avoid God’s directive by taking a boat somewhere else, got thrown overboard by the boat crew, and a whale swallowed him and spit him out on the shore of Nineveh. Lots of conflicts here. Man versus God. Man versus man. Man versus himself. Man versus Nature. You get … Read More »

Today’s post takes off from where we left our Sculpting the Shapley Sentence, Part I. We’re going to look at five more techniques that might be used once you’re closing in on final revisions and really want certain sentences/phrases/sections to stick with your readers. Take a look at these quotes and then we’ll discuss what it is that makes them successful. “Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.” — Albert Einstein … Read More »

I had the pleasure of meeting agent Andy Ross at the North Colorado Writer’s Conference in the spring of 2022. He instantly became the celebrity among all who attended. His anecdotes, his part in the lunch panel, and his one-on-ones with conference goers highlighted his accessibility and his open candor on any subject in the literary world. So I had to corner him for an interview. Rod Martinez: I understand you owned Cody’s books in Berkeley. There is a lot … Read More »

I’ll be completely honest: Doing research is not one of my favorite pastimes. There are lots of things I’d rather be doing than pore over some dry and musty tome with almost as many pages of footnotes as of actual text But as a writer of history-based fiction it tends to come with the territory. Over the years I’ve learned to accept this as a “necessary evil” — and also to develop some less tedious ways of finding out what … Read More »

When the main character in a story is created, the reader needs to be able “see” a fully-formed individual they can connect with and invest in for the duration of the story. He/she cannot be a teetering paper doll or a penciled stick figure struggling to grab and hold the reader’s attention. Let’s see what we can do about that. A Physical Body Would your reader recognize your MC (main character) if they walked into the room? Would you, the … Read More »

“Are you a planner or a pantser?” This is a frequently asked question in the writing world. On the surface, it’s a simple matter of inquiring whether you create a detailed plan before you write or you throw caution to the muse and fly by the seat of your pants. Naturally, once the process is proclaimed, the writer develops a need to defend it with unwavering loyalty. The level of passion and conviction generated can often rival other critical life … Read More »

Characters should be relatable, we all know that. But do they have to be likeable? I once had a reader comment of one of my protagonists, “That was the most disagreeable character since The Great Gatsby.” My first reaction was “Wow! Me and Scott Fitzgerald in the same sentence!” But then I realized I didn’t come off too well in the comparison. However, there’s food for thought in that reader’s remark, because The Great Gatsby is a highly successful novel, … Read More »

We talk about the “Publishing Journey” because it would be too awful to call it what it is. Hard Slog. Impossible Mission. Death March. Do Everything Right, See If the Universe Cares Sorry, even if you follow all the querying and pitching advice on all the FWA Blogs and everywhere else, you still face an uphill battle. The most important thing is to produce a high-quality manuscript, so you hired an expensive editor. Also important is to research agents and … Read More »

We have three forms of dialogue markers to let the reader know which character is speaking: speech tags, action tags, and thought tags. While writers tend to rely heavily on speech tags, the other forms offer variety to the reader and another way to create depth in the story. Speech Tags For 99 percent of the time, the word “said” is the best choice for a speech tag because it registers with the reader but does not distract the reader … Read More »

Have you ever given a talk or presentation of any kind to a group of people? If you know your subject well, you probably present your topic in a conversational way, as though you were telling it to your family. A bit of enthusiasm, a bit of humor if appropriate, maybe a truncated sentence or two, or maybe one beginning with “And now … “ or “Okay, folks …” If you’re a fiction writer, the people in your story might … Read More »

There are sentences, lyrics, or lines of poetry that stay in the mind. How does that happen? Why do we remember lines such as: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” (Lord Acton) “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” (Charles Dickens) “I am Sam, Sam I am.” (Dr. Seuss) “The name’s Bond. James Bond.” (Ian Fleming) “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I … Read More »

You have a gift. You have ideas. You have the passion to form words into images, concepts, and aha moments for adoring readers. You can do this! Or, you can ruin it. So, here you go. If you want to fail as a writer… 1. Don’t write unless you feel like writing. Many people enjoy the idea of writing, but actually doing the work takes discipline, and discipline is not always fun. If you really want to write, you need … Read More »

Wikipedia calls writer’s block a “condition.” Sounds serious, doesn’t it? Like a chronic malady that a writer struggles to keep at bay, the threat of a recurrence is always lurking in the dark shadows of that last sentence, paragraph, or scene. It’s something you might get a bit of respite from, but is guaranteed to return at some point. I suspect anyone who writes has felt at one time or another that they are unable to move forward with their … Read More »

“Hey! I’m working here!” How many times have you yelled that at someone, or wanted to, when they were making noise or had the gall to talk to you while you were writing? But to be fair, how were they supposed to know you were deep in a complex passage of the next great American novel and not browsing social media? (Or were you? Never mind.) The more important questions are: What are you writing? Who are you writing it … Read More »

Not too long ago, I talked about the new Vella serial format and how one of the traits of a serial is to end each episode with some kind of cliffhanger to keep pulling readers along. But any novel can profit from the delight we take in not knowing what’s going to happen next. Especially when what does happen is completely unforeseen! Let me spin out a few thoughts for your reflection on the related qualities of suspense and the … Read More »

Sometimes writing is easy, when you feel deeply impassioned about something and know just how to say it. The words flow.  I think it was Truman Capote who said something like “I’ve always been able to throw words up in the air and have them come down in the right order.” Sometimes we can do that, too. When you’ve emptied the passion bucket, maybe all you have to do is tweak a sentence or two, choose a better word here … Read More »

In Hamlet, Shakespeare wrote, “Brevity is the soul of wit.” Like poetry and impressionist painting, great fiction suggests themes and meaning through events for the reader to interpret. In storytelling, less is more. Let’s examine some of the flab you can cut from a manuscript that the reader won’t miss. One Is A Million One well-told example can represent a universal truth. Rather than tell the story of five soldiers at war, try telling the story of one. Readers want … Read More »

A couple of months ago I ranted about writers (mostly poets) who insist on cutting out every a, an, and the that can be found in their writing. (Weighing the Weight of Little Words) Today, in honor of April Fool’s Day, I want to stomp some sense into those who foolishly insist on using 4 and 5 syllable words when a single, good ol’ Anglo-Saxon word will do. Some writers are obsessed with finding the bon mot—the good word. And … Read More »

Working as a reporter at the Pentagon, I learned a lot of fun acronyms. Among my favorites was MOOTW (Pron: MOOT wuh). It’s short for Military Operations Other Than War. When you think about it, that describes much of what the military is called upon to do: peacekeeping, humanitarian operations, disaster relief, dispute mediation, even diplomacy. I want to propose the creation of a new acronym: AOOTW (Pron: ah-OOT wuh)—Author Operations Other Than Writing. Like MOOTW for the military, AOOTW … Read More »

A question was recently posed to me about a creative way to insert facts and information from the past into a story. Readers don’t want an information dump, so how does a writer provide the pertinent details without a lot of backstory? After I offered up a few suggestions (I hope they helped!), I thought some might be worth sharing. Invite a Character From the Past When you invite a character from the past into your story, they will naturally … Read More »

As a teacher of writing, I have had the pleasure of working with some creative, ambitious young authors who write with passion and originality. However, their fan base generally resided within the walls of our classroom. If you are a young author, and you would like to take your writing to the next level, this post is for you. Read the advice and check out the list of publications and contests. Take a step toward seeing your work in print! … Read More »

If you’ve ever laughed out loud or cried or chewed a fingernail while reading a book, it’s because the character came to life for you. The character’s experiences drew you into the story, so you vicariously felt that awkward moment, heartbreak, or fear. How does an author create that kind of connection with a reader? Through credibility, authenticity, and originality. Credibility Credibility makes the reader believe the story is possible. Research yields facts and knowledge about the story setting and … Read More »

Did your parents tell you about their growing-up days? Would your children and grandchildren like to read about how they coped during the Great Depression? The Second World War? What their teenage years were like? What do you suppose your children and grandchildren would like to know about your own growing-up days? Do they know where you were born? Where you went to school? What you and your family and your friends did together? I’m talking about writing for the … Read More »

With the proliferation of small presses, more and more chapbooks are coming onto the scene. And if you’ve been wondering how to create a chapbook of your own, I’m here to help. What is a chapbook? But before we dive into how, let’s define what a chapbook is. A chapbook is a small collection, anywhere between 15 and 50 poems, or 3 to 10 short pieces of fiction. It’s usually soft covered and can be stapled (if it’s very short), … Read More »

Have you heard the one about the editor who walks into a room full of writers? Editor says, “Does anybody need an editor?” Nobody answers. Haha. But That Would Never Happen, Would It? That actually happened to me when I was an editor in a newsroom and our computer network went down. Folks could write and print, but not share. So, I walked around the room asking that question. And getting that response. But here’s the truth, and don’t stop … Read More »

You did it! You completed an amazing writing journey, and you’ve got something you’re proud of and excited about—a novel, short story, memoir, etc. After long (endless?) hours of writing, tears of frustration, and feelings of self-doubt, you finally typed those last, two word: The End. Before you whisk it off to your editor, consider these suggestions to put it in the best possible shape before handing it off. The Hiding Obvious You’ve done the spell/grammar check that comes with … Read More »

Writer’s block (shudder). Nobody needs to tell us wordfolk how painful and frustrating that condition that freezes up our creativity can be. But you know the old saying: “When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade.” Yes, fellow authors, even writer’s block can be put to good use to further our literary careers! I’m not guaranteeing that you’ll thank the Powers That Be for a spell of block, but at least you won’t have to look back on it in … Read More »

Storytelling to entertain means skipping the boring parts. Why narrate the time it takes a character to travel from one point to another or to dress or eat or perform other mundane activities? The reader wants meaningful action and gradually increasing conflict. By plotting the story so one event causes another and so on, we choose what happens and the order in which events happen. There will be gaps in time and changes in setting and point of view from … Read More »

If you have a particular interest, activity, or hobby, there is a magazine out there that wants you to write for it. Do you run? Play tennis? Like dogs? Fix bicycles? Play the piano? Attend church? Plant wildflowers around your house? Watch birds? Like rocks? Anything you do and know something about can be fodder for an article that some magazine will be interested in. My efforts at writing fiction have never gone anywhere. But I was involved in many … Read More »

January is about beginnings—new resolutions, new ideas, and hopefully, new first drafts. While thinking about beginnings, I thought about one of my first writing classes, high school journalism. I don’t remember much from the class except that a good lead should always include the answers to four important questions: the 4 Ws. These are; who, what, where, and when. After a good lead, we were taught the story could move on into the meaty details of how, or why. Good … 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 »

Almost every writer I’ve ever spoken to has a particular type of scene that is their nemesis—the scene they skip over with a quick “insert (blank) scene here”. And usually that is either the fight scene or the sex scene. Now if you’ve heard me speak at a conference, you know my issue is NOT the sex scenes. Those are my favorites to write. However, fight scenes give me fits. I don’t skip them. I would hate leaving my most … Read More »

Now that we’re well into the new year, we can actually (cross fingers, throw salt over shoulder, spit three times) start planning to attend writers’ conferences in person. Attending conferences is one of the most useful things a writer can do to improve their craft, make contact with other writers, and promote their work for publication. And they’re fun! Holy Mackerel, There Are a Lot of People Here! These days, there’s a lot of pent-up demand for just about everything. … Read More »

With the holidays so recently behind us, January seems like a good time to reflect on wrapping packages—that is, on tying up all the loose ends in our plots, down to the smallest questions in a reader’s mind. I wrote recently about reader expectations, and here’s a biggie. Although a certain ambiguity may be thought-provoking, basically anyone who picks up your book has the right to find her questions answered. This embraces all the areas where any mystery has existed: … Read More »

Because of the variety of literary devices, we will examine them in groups. In this third article on literary devices, we review a dozen dynamic ones that writers often misuse or overlook. Chiasmus It is symmetry in grammatical structure in which two clauses are used with a reversal of structure against one another. Dramatic and memorable, such a sentence is designed to persuade the reader about a key concept such as defining a value or questioning cause and effect. Ask … Read More »

People need people. Most of us humans are a gregarious sort. When the writing life becomes discouraging and lonely, it helps to be able to talk to another writer. This is the virtue of a writers’ group. I have started a writers group in an area that had none (with one other person over coffee at the kitchen table) and also have come to new areas that had existing clubs to join. Perhaps this discussion will help you in your … Read More »

An editor new to the business wondered in an online forum what other editors do when their editorial comments and revision suggestions are rejected by the author. The query provoked a discussion, and it occurred to me that it might be interesting for writers to be privy to something editors talk about when you’re not around. The In-House Editor & House Style Whether or not the writer incorporates suggested revisions seemed to be a big concern for the in-house editors … Read More »

They say it’s the little things that matter. I couldn’t agree more! Recently, I was in an open mic Zoom session in which one of the readers read a poem that excluded every “the” possible, and several other small words like “an” and “a.” These are known as articles. Sometimes this pruning is done in the mistaken belief that to do so will make a piece feel more poem-like. (Though I don’t fully understand this reasoning.) Sometimes, it’s to cut … Read More »

Here are the blog posts that received the most visits this past year. Jessica Baker, 7/20/20: Scrivener vs Final Draft: Choosing the One That’s Right for You Shutta Crum, 12/3/21: No More Journals! (Better Gifts for Writers) Arielle Haughee, 8/23/21: Announcing RPLA Finalists Shutta Crum, 3/5/21: Writing the Wordless, or Almost Wordless, Picture Book Arielle Haughee, 3/3/21: Using Microsoft Word to Write Concrete Poetry Nate Hoffelder, 3/28/21: Ten Ways for Authors to Waste Their Money Peg Sias Lantz, 10/13/21: The … Read More »

If I may paraphrase Hemingway: To Had and Had Not. Or, if you prefer Shakespeare: To Have Had or Not to Have Had. Indeed, that is the question. The answer is not. “Had” clogs up the prose, acts as a crutch, and puts the action farther into the past than it needs to be. Past (Im)perfect Most novels and short stories are written in the past tense. Fine. Whatever happened happened. The writer is already doing their best to make … 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 »

One thing I struggled with when I was a newer writer was, “What should I write?” I liked a lot of things: science fiction, military sci-fi, science fantasy, steampunk, space opera, contemporary fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal, some romance, some horror, some action, some thriller/suspense, even some erotica. Ideas in all these genres bombarded my brain with “Write This Now!” demands. And as a newer writer, I figured I’d dabble in each until I either found something that grabbed me and … Read More »

We’re always told (and it’s good advice) to “write the story that is in you.” But since we’re also concerned with selling that story to others, readers’ expectations are something to keep in mind. These are not exactly the same as readers’ tastes or the kinds of book they like. Taste varies radically from individual to individual, and its origins lie deep in the person’s psyche. Not much we as writers can do about that, because there is no one … Read More »

The winner of the Candice Coghill Memorial Award for Youth is N.M. Collett, an overachieving twelve-year-old who loves to dance and quilt. In addition to being the Candice Coghill recipient for 2021, her poem “Ode to Rain” was awarded the Royal Palm Literary Award Gold Medal for Poetry in the twelve-to-fifteen age group. RPLA Showcase contacted N.M. to share with us her reactions to winning, what she loves most about writing, and advice for other young writers. What did it … Read More »

Oh, boy! You’ve finished your nonfiction book, and it’s been set in type, copy-edited, and proofed. You have the proof copy in your hand. Nice design, no typos, pages all in order, and everything. Now it needs an index. The publisher wants you to hire someone at your expense to index it. But you know your book and the subject matter better than anyone else. You can do this. You’ve seen some of those books that have been indexed by … Read More »

Like writing or marketing, newsletters are one of those topics where you are always learning new things and improving on what you already know. That’s why I started this blog post series, and that’s why I jumped at the chance to attend Tammi Labrecque’s session at the 20Books to 50k conference in Las Vegas earlier this month. I know a thing or two about newsletters, but she is the Newsletter Ninja. She has forgotten more than I have learned. Here … Read More »

Don’t get me wrong. Journals are lovely, and I have a drawer full. But there are other, and often better ideas for gift giving to a writer. If you have a writer stowed away in your attic, in a closet, or other suitably tight, dark place please consider some of the following ideas for this holiday season. And feel free to check out last year’s post on gifts for writers. Some gifts are timeless (like the gift of time) and … Read More »

Attributions are those cues we give to the reader in order to keep him or her oriented about which of the characters is speaking at any point in a scene. “He said” and “she said” are of course the simplest and most obvious attributions, but they contribute nothing extra to the reader’s perception of what’s happening during the scene. And this is a terrible waste of opportunities for character development, plot advancement, and/or mood creation. There are a number of … Read More »

Dana J. Summers is an award-winning editorial cartoonist, author, and a familiar name on the Royal Palm Literary Awards scene. This year, his novel From Hell’s Heart won the Royal Palm Literary Award for Best Unpublished Book of the Year and Gold in the Thriller/Suspense (Unpublished) category. Other RPLA recognitions include his novel Drawn and Buried which was number one in the Thriller/Suspense (Unpublished) category in 2013 and his novel Downhill Fast which was named Best Unpublished Book of the … Read More »

Denouement is a a French word, literally meaning, “untie the knot.” In the structure of a story, it’s the point near the end where the conflicts, entanglements, and challenges are resolved (untied and smoothed out, according to the French), bringing the plot to a satisfying and read-worthy conclusion. Choose Your Definition Some writers use the literal definition of the word as they resolve all of the turmoil they have to create in their work. I tend to use the term … Read More »

Now that in-person social gatherings are coming back, I’m looking forward to being able to hold launch parties for my upcoming releases again. Previously, I’ve given two launch parties, for my novels Vicious Circle and Threadbare, both of which went well, so I thought I’d write about what I did to make them successful. Budgets and resources will vary, and I understand that, but hopefully you’ll find some ideas you can take away and make work for you. The idea … Read More »

They say every author should have an “elevator pitch” ready. The theory is that you run into your dream agent or publisher, or your all-time favorite author, on an elevator. You have just as much time as it takes to get to the lobby to pitch your book. What do you say? How do you summarize in a few sentences the passion you’ve poured into your book over many years? Although the elevator scenario is not very likely, it’s a … Read More »

Here it is, November again—National Novel Writing Month. Every year, writers throughout America pledge themselves to produce a 50,000 word novel before the clock strikes December. Thanksgiving can make this good intention the road to a nervous breakdown, but just having a goal of some sort and a nation full of colleagues to hold you to it is bracing. No doubt many people actually do write a complete novel (is 50,000 words really a complete novel?). And that is admirable … Read More »

Go Ye Forth and Categorize In Genesis, humankind was given the right to name and categorize living things. God formed every beast…and brought them to the man…and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. (Genesis, 2:19-20) With all the “beasts” named and put in their proper place, humans could make better sense of their surroundings. Fast … Read More »

Barbara Rein is no stranger to recognition for her hilarious and delightfully creepy short stories. In2ition Magazine named her “2021 Short Story Writer of the Year.” Now her book, Tales from the Eerie Canal, has earned her the 2021 Royal Palm Literary Award for Best Published Book of the Year. 2021 Royal Palm Literary Award for Best Published Book of the Year According to Barbara, she “writes ‘horror lite’ short stories (more goosebumps than gore) filled with delightfully creepy twists. … Read More »

Writers use techniques called literary devices to create imagery and mood with words. Some literary devices subtly affect the subconscious while others hammer ideas and descriptions into the reader’s brain. Because there are so many devices, we will examine them in groups. In this article, we review literary devices which create sound and rhythm. Read beautiful prose, song lyrics, and poetry aloud, and it sounds like music. Shakespeare’s plays were known for having a specific rhythm that sounds like elevated … Read More »

Sending an editor really clean copy is a big plus. In the old days, clean copy meant it didn’t have any smudges or coffee splashes or penciled corrections. Now it means your manuscript has words spelled correctly, capital letters and punctuation used properly, paragraphing is appropriate, and apostrophes are in the right places. One editor I sent articles to regularly said my copy was the cleanest of any he received. If my memory is not too fuzzy, he changed a … Read More »

So you’re zipping along – doing your thing – and below the radar one, or more, of your traditionally published books goes silently out of print. Often, you’re not told this by the publisher – you just stumble upon the fact when a teacher or school reports that they can’t get books. When a book goes out of print. it always hurts – it’s a death in the family. You’ve spent a significant portion of your life living with it, … Read More »

If you’re like most writers you’ve probably found yourself getting bogged down at some point during the process. It’s really frustrating if you’re a novelist and after days, weeks or months you’re already 25,000 or 35,000 words into it. Often enough, everything started out well: You chose an interesting setting or milieu, created solid relatable characters, and involved them in compelling situations or conflicts. You may even have a pretty good idea of how you want it to end. But … Read More »

As I write this, the Royal Palm Literary Awards ceremony is merely days away, and the anticipation is building. While we couldn’t gather in person this year, it’s still nice to see so many writers taking the leap, having the courage to put their work out there, and entering the competition. Which brings me to today’s topic: Staying Positive. Focus on the Positives The publishing world is full of negatives: writer’s block, criticism, rejection. And it is SO EASY to … Read More »

If you want to be traditionally published, there are two pathways—the query and the pitch. Queries are free and you can send a lot of them. Pitches are more difficult and usually cost money. More about pitches in my next blog. The Easy Part Queries are formulaic. You can find lots of templates online, but they all include the same basic elements—your genre and wordcount, something about your plot and characters, a bit about yourself, your book’s place in the … Read More »

You did the hard work. You dreamed, plotted, wrote, and edited the story within you that needed to be told. Then you did more hard work — writing that query letter. Some think it’s more of a challenge than writing the book itself! I’m inclined to agree. Query letters and blurbs will be the death of me, but that’s a topic for another blog. So, the carefully researched queries go out. Then what? Crickets These can be the most disheartening … Read More »

The 2021 Royal Palm Literary Award winners were announced during an online ceremony skillfully hosted by RPLA Chair Chris Coward and Chris Hamilton this past Saturday. Winners were cheered by spirited attendees in the online chat and at watch parties across the state. Grand Prize Winners Tales from the Eerie Canal: Murder by toilet plunger. Revenge by pie. A birthday gift of a trip to hell. Twenty-two stories infused with a gaggle of goosebumps. Don’t turn out the lights. Barbara … Read More »

I recently watched a workshop on screenplay writing that presented some ideas every novelist can use to advantage. With my own embroidery added, I’d like to share one of them with you (and my thanks to J.V. Hart). That idea is the nemesis. Not just an antagonist, an opponent, but a character that represents everything your protagonist fears, so that, in fighting her nemesis, your gal must confront her own self. First, the Antagonist Of course, they are also an … Read More »

When Shakespeare wrote The Merchant of Venice back in 1596 or ’97, he peppered it with commas. His commas were meant to tell the actors in his play to pause in their reading or emphasize a word or phrase with a hesitation. For thousands of years, commas served as directions to actors and readers. When I directed church choirs, the composer of the anthem would write the music to show where he wanted a pause. Occasionally, when my choir would … Read More »

The writer’s adage of “show don’t tell” suggests telling is less effective in presenting a story than showing; however, great storytellers do both. Let’s explore how we lure readers into our story to enjoy our fictional dream through balancing show and tell. Show Showing slows down the pace to immerse the reader in a detailed sensual and emotional experience. Readers will ignore a full bladder, an empty stomach, and the need for sleep for the unique thrill of being in … Read More »

  When I was writing my first book, a romance with suspenseful elements, I was shocked when my beta readers told me what I’d actually written was an inspirational romance. By having my characters pray, lean on their faith, and talk with God, I was writing “inspirational”? I asked myself, “Don’t most people do that? Doesn’t everyone pray for the sick and cry out to God when in anguish? That’s normal, right?” So how did my book fall into a … Read More »

Welcome to the latest installment in my blog post series on newsletters. In previous blog posts we have discussed why you should have one, how to get started setting up a mailing list and newsletter, how to get people to sign up, how to get readers to unsubscribe, and what to put in your newsletter. If you have been following along at home, you should now have a growing mailing list and should be sending out newsletters on a regular … Read More »

One, and done should not be the case for many poems. Why waste such a wealthy resource as a poem by only publishing it once in its entirety, or reprinting it whole? The truth is, like any good non-fiction writer who mines their research and articles for possible other perspectives on the material—poets can do the same. If you’ve got a longer poem, is it possible to pull out bits and pieces of it for a micro-poem? Can you reword … Read More »

Let us all bow down to the caring souls who slog through our unedited early drafts. And then let us ignore them. Maybe. I used to think that if only one or two people didn’t like something in my writing, I could ignore them. My rule-of-thumb was “three” for a manuscript change. The problem is, there’s no way to know what that critical mass (pun intended) actually is, so it’s important to pay attention to every critic, every beta-reader, every … Read More »

There are so many senses in which to immerse readers, and color plays a huge role in getting readers to feel like they’re right there in your story. In order to get the most out of each visual description, bust out that color palette and have some fun! Go Beyond the Obvious Sure, her dress was red, but would readers’ perception and attitude toward the character change if the dress was crimson or scarlet? Cherry red or garnet? Color can … Read More »

Disclaimer: I am aware that some of the suggestions in this post may not be possible for everyone, depending upon an individual’s physical condition, financial situation, and level of daring, but there may be some things here that writers haven’t thought of or didn’t know existed. Imagination Is Great. Reality Is Better. Do you dream of being your characters? I definitely do. I’m not strong or athletic or agile. I don’t live on an alien world surrounded by strange landscapes. … Read More »

Amazon has just come out with Vella, a new format for e-novels: the buy-by-the-episode serial. For readers, it’s less awkward than it sounds logistically, and the serial novel has a long pedigree stretching back at least into the nineteenth century. For writers, it’s a whole new adventure. I’ve just wet my toes as a serial writer and thought I’d share some reflections with anyone who’s interested in being part of this new market. Pitch ‘Em Right The best-selling genres seem … Read More »

Finding a Place to Write Jean Kerr locked herself in her car to write. Ernest Hemingway stood at a drawing board. Erma Bombeck, I suspect, locked herself in the bathroom. Some of us used to haul the typewriter out every day to the kitchen table. Perhaps some still write on a legal pad on their knees in bed or on the couch. Have you found the perfect place to write, if there is a perfect place? I tried many ways, … Read More »

If there’s one problem that everyone with a mailing list shares, it’s not knowing why readers unsubscribe. While it is normal to lose a few subscribers every time you send a newsletter, I have been told (and can confirm from personal experience) that if you are losing more than a half of a percent of your mailing list after sending a newsletter, you have a problem. This is part five of a series about author newsletters. It might be that … Read More »

Birds can imprint on voices before they are hatched. And studies confirm that we humans hear sounds before we are born—our mother’s heartbeats, intestinal sounds, music, and the rise and fall of spoken language. Further, researchers have found that fetuses who are spoken to in a variety of pitches have an increased interest in sounds, and the inflections in sound, after birth. Now, isn’t that what’s happening to us as poetry lovers when we hear a poem that just “feels … Read More »

Amazon is without doubt a massive force in the book world. Having a strong presence on Amazon makes it easier for readers to find your work and buy your books. One tool you can use to boost your visibility as an author on the platform is by having an Amazon author page. This is where you can click on an author’s name on Amazon and learn more about them. My Amazon author page:   You’ll notice it has my headshot, … Read More »

I hope this unfortunate stay-at-home time finds you healthy and itching to write. Indeed, did you know that this year marks the 200th anniversary of James Fenimore Cooper’s first novel The Spy?  Many recognize Cooper as our country’s first great novelist. Since I was a teenager, his wordy novels have always drawn me in with their heroic accounts of difficult times in early America. Consequently, those of us who might want to honor Cooper this year with our own Great … Read More »

If you’re a writer who has unexpectedly lost hard-won sentences, paragraphs, or drafts to the electronic technology demons, you know all too well the chest-clenching feeling of panic and heartbreaking loss that comes with a file that will not open or the fatal error message that signals whatever you’ve written is forever doomed to orbit in some cyber underworld for all eternity. Never to be seen or retrieved again. Let me say straightaway that I am not technology-savvy, and most … Read More »

Drum roll! The scores are in, and the finalists have been named for the 2021 Royal Palm Literary Awards competition. RPLA is a service of the Florida Writers Association established to recognize excellence in members’ published and unpublished works while providing objective and constructive written assessments for all entrants. RPLA covers some 26 genre-categories for adults and 5 for youth. The categories cross the broad areas of fiction and nonfiction—short works and book-length, as well as poetry and submissions in … Read More »

Although we seldom think about them, conjunctions are among the writer’s best friends. They make it clear what the relationship is between one action and another—and that’s what writing a story is all about, isn’t it? Unfolding events seen as cause and effect, not just random, unsequenced episodes. “Conjunction” means a “joining together,” but that only tells a small part of the tale. For example, look at the conjunctions that appear in that first paragraph: although and and. And certainly … Read More »

Humor me while I assume that you, dear reader, have never been to see me at the Florida Writers Conference at the Hilton in north Orlando, Altamonte Springs. I’m not offended at your never entering through my door, but perhaps you’ll let me attempt to tempt you to stop in this fall? I have a neutral, typical hotel door wearing a sandwich sign with my open times. My door is heavy, but kept open just for you. Twinkle lights greet … Read More »

I am only an occasional writer of haiku, but I adore the form. Studying it, I’ve found that there’s a lot we can learn from haiku which we can apply to all sorts of writing—in other verse forms or in prose. Now, I bet you’re thinking: brevity. Sure. That’s the most obvious aspect of haiku. And brevity is great to keep in mind when we’re writing anything. But there are other concepts from this verse form that we can use, … Read More »

Many folks earlier in their writing journeys wonder when they can start using certain titles including “writer” and “author.” They wonder if there are specific achievements to be earned or rites of passage to be done before they can label themselves as such, perhaps even use the phrase “aspiring writer” to not jump into using a label too soon. But calling oneself a writer or author feels so official, like you’ve finally made it to your destination. It also sends … Read More »

Did you ever wonder why a lot of author sites have a mailing list sign-up form at the top of the home page? Were you ever curious as to why some sites like Mark Dawson have only the sign-up form on the home page, and nothing else? The short answer is pretty simple: they want to maximize mailing list sign-ups. The long answer, however, is a little more complicated. This post will explain how to optimize your site to get … Read More »

What is a hook? A hook is a plot scenario, line of dialogue, or intriguing description that makes the reader (be it an agent, editor, or someone who buys your published novel) want to continue reading. It’s something in your story that’s so compelling that the reader CAN’T put the book down. It’s the sort of thing that makes them miss their train stop or stay up late into the night cursing you when the morning alarm goes off. It’s … Read More »

Even the most passionate, dedicated writer needs a break. Perhaps you’re in between projects, feel a bit bogged down by the process, or don’t have a clue where the plot of your story is headed. A vacation is a good way to step away from the writing process and give your mind a well-deserved respite. Trouble is, your brain may not be in total agreement. What then? Here are a few suggestions that will keep that creative brain happy while … Read More »

Much can be said in praise of silence (is that a contradiction in terms?). There are at least two kinds of golden silence that can add to the power of our writing, just as the “space between the notes” is the silent power of music. You can probably think of more, but here are a few of my reflections. Silence of the characters We all work hard to make dialogue lifelike and pithy. Sometimes the trailing thoughts of real-life speech … Read More »

ISBNs and barcodes aren’t exactly the most exciting parts of creating a book. Yet, they are very important pieces. An ISBN, short for international standard book number, is a thirteen digit numerical code that identifies an exact book and the format it is in. If you’d like to know what all the numbers in an ISBN represent, you can click here to visit the International ISBN Agency. Two university students invented the barcode in 1948 and based it off Morse … Read More »

I have been publishing my newsletter for about five years now, and in that time my biggest stumbling block has been content. The technical details were easy to iron out, graphics were a relatively simple problem that could be solved by Canva’s stock templates, and growing my mailing list wasn’t too hard, but figuring out what to put in my newsletter had me stumped. It got so bad that I even let three or four months go by in between … Read More »

I love a good simile. Who doesn’t? They shoot off fireworks in the mind—stimulating. And a good simile is a point of connection between an author and a reader. Similes and metaphors say: Look! I’ve noticed a connection between these two things. Do you? Similes add another layer of enjoyment when we read. So, what’s a simile? Both metaphors and similes make comparative connections. But let’s stick to similes for the moment. A simile is a comparison between two things … Read More »

Deadlines. We all have them, and probably chafe in varying degrees when they approach. Work-related deadlines, bill-paying deadlines, and the days of the week that the trash needs to be set out at the curb (yeah, that’s a deadline, too). Some are more constrictive than others, and some we can ignore or procrastinate about a little longer before jumping in and getting things done. As a writer, deadlines take on a whole, new meaning. Agent/Publisher Deadlines If you’re working with … Read More »

Rejections suck, no doubt about it. However, it’s what you do after getting rejected that can determine whether or not you will ever be a successful writer. So let me share my experiences. Remember, your reality will likely differ from mine. Everyone’s writing path is unique. But the takeaway message I’m trying to convey is “Don’t give up too soon.” Wasting Your Writing Years The first time I attempted to find an agent, I sent out about 90 queries. In … Read More »

The hard work we writers go through to polish that memoir, novel, short story, poem or essay is real work. It’s hard, stressful, makes us anxious, doubtful and happy – all at the same time. Those who do not write don’t appreciate the labor we struggle with but when the finished product is in their hand and the story comes alive, we become one because in the end – the words make the difference. The promise of celebrity that writers … Read More »

We’ve just enjoyed the FWA Book Expo last month, and one of its most delightful aspects for me was the author interviews, in which I was privileged to take part. It was fascinating and affirming to hear other authors speak about their experiences and how they go about their writing! Thus I’d like to share a few reflections this month on the value of being part of the larger community of writers. I’ve spoken before about belonging to writers’ groups … Read More »

Are you comfortable when you write? Or do you have routine aches that distract you from writing? Six years ago, I began to examine more than just my writing abilities. I closely monitored my environment and the physical effects of my writing. Since then, these seven practices (or tools) have aided me in being a more capable (fit) writer. 1. Use a desktop computer more often than a laptop. Laptops are convenient, but they are not typically built for hours … Read More »

You are reading the second post in a series on author newsletters. When I first published this series a couple years ago, I started with the idea that I would solve my problems one post at a time, and explain how I did it. But as I sat down to revise the series with all that I learned in the past couple years, I realized that I needed to also help authors start their mailing lists. So let’s start at … Read More »

My last post (Making It in the Middle) was on trying to figure out what it means to be successful as a writer. Now, I want to address the “is my writing any good” question. Most writers worry about that. Even very successful ones — some of whom left instructions to destroy their unpublished work after their deaths like Franz Kafka, Virgil and Harlan Ellison. Thank goodness, other minds prevailed. Good/Bad vs Acceptance/Rejection Sometimes we are so in love with … Read More »

Throw the hot dogs on the grill, kick up those feet with a cold beverage…and grab your writing notebook. It’s time for summer writing prompts! Each set of prompts is organized by sense so you can tap into those deep connections in your writing and make things more real for the reader. Pick your favorites and try not to drip watermelon juice on your paper! Sound-Related Prompts a blender cracking then whirring ice for frozen drinks a deafening cloud of … Read More »

Something I hear a lot is, “Why don’t published authors want to help newer writers?” or someone will say, “I just need a quick look at my query, my opening chapter, my whole manuscript!” Or, “I don’t know why that author won’t refer me to his agent.” Well, there are a lot of reasons. For one thing, authors are busy. They have contracts with deadlines. There are a lot more unpublished writers than published ones. Published authors probably already have … Read More »

A writer’s mind rarely rests. If a writer isn’t in front of the computer, their brain is most likely composing, editing, or solving a plot problem. It’s more than enough for a mind to manage if there’s just one story floating around, but what happens if another one steps in and tugs at your sleeve? Referee or Mediate Perhaps the stories vying for their time need to learn how to take turns. Setting aside specific days for each story will … Read More »

When I began to seriously consider writing and getting books published, I asked myself a very career-minded question:  How will I know when I’ve succeeded as an author? It seemed to me there should be a definitive answer to that question. At that time, I answered it from my perspective as a librarian. I liked when I could go to the shelves and retrieve a couple of books by a favorite writer. So, I thought if I can get ten … Read More »

Illustration brings your story to life in a way that words alone can’t. There is a multitude of talented illustrators out there. You just need to know where to look. Besides knowing exactly where to find these amazing people, there are other considerations you need to take into account before diving in. It’s essential to find an art style that compliments your specific story and combing through portfolios takes time. First, you must ask yourself a very important question… Do You Need … Read More »

In twelve years of blogging I have always tried to follow two maxims. The first is a lesson I learned from Penelope Trunk, which is that one of the secrets to a great blog post is to first ask a question that you don’t know the answer to, and then explain the answer in the post. The second is that if you want to truly understand a topic, commit yourself to having to explain it to others in a blog … Read More »

Since this is my first post for the FWA blog, it seemed appropriate that I talk about beginning a novel, or any piece of writing, really. Now, I’m not going to get into plotting vs. pantsing vs. plantsing. That will need its own post. So let’s assume that you’ve already done the planning work, in whichever way you do it, and you’ve already completed any research necessary to write your piece. Great! You’re all set to start writing, right? Hmm … Read More »

All of us are creative beings. We thrive on inspiration, deep emotions, and messages from our subconscious to get writing. But, as writers, we also have to practice good self-care to ensure we aren’t burnt out. Feeling stressed, depressed, or drained will not help you. I decided to write this blog after realizing it took me a year to process the stresses and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. I barely wrote or read anything during quarantine, which was strong evidence … Read More »

Our first book was never written with the intent of becoming part of a series, but the characters had other ideas. They weren’t done telling their story, so (for my part) I had to figure out a way to keep it all straight going forward. Along the way, I’ve seen other writers experience the challenges of writing a series, so I’m sharing some ideas that worked for me and might help others along the way. Who Stays and Who Goes? … Read More »

Sales figures make it clear that memoirs are a huge genre today. But that’s not what I want to talk about by saying “using life as a foundation for art.” Poets already know this secret, so let me address myself to novelists. My topic is: don’t neglect to take the straw of your own life and spin it into fictional gold! What does that mean? Well, it can means incorporating in your novel things that have actually befallen you. They … Read More »

It’s finally time for the big face off and your reader is at the edge of their seat. Having the correct pacing in action scenes is essential. Otherwise your big moment will flop and the worst thing will happen: Your reader will be disappointed. Gasp! There are several tricks to making sure your pacing is on point in this critical moment. Here are my top five tricks: Factor One: Time Manipulation The scene itself is usually only a matter of … Read More »

There are a hundred and one different sites on the web where authors can give away an ebook. They can use services like InstaFreebie, forums like MobileRead, or blogging platforms like BookLikes. I was just revising a list post on this topic when I was reminded of one option that almost never makes this type of list. Their own website. An author’s website is both the most common place for an author to give away an ebook and the most … Read More »

On a road trip to Maine there were four of us, plus two google-navigating cell phones, one road atlas and a GPS device to “bind them all.” Needless to say, whoever was driving was besieged by three or four opinions about where to turn and which was the best route. (After the GPS led us on a few merry dead-ends, we could only partially count on her expertise.) The driver was in the unenviable position of glancing at the GPS … Read More »

There’s no getting around it. Every successful story has to have a low point – the place where it all goes wrong, and there’s little hope in sight. Is there any point in struggling on? Highly doubtful, probably not. It would be so much easier at this point to give up and let whatever is going to happen to your characters play itself out on the page. I give up! So your character says. So you might say. Low points … Read More »

Rejection letters are commonplace in the world of literature. If you’ve written anything and submitted, I’m sure you have one, or two – or like me – more than you’d care to admit. Personally, I like to call rejection letters toilet paper, it’s just a little more fitting of a title, isn’t it? But I digress. When you began your trek into the world of the literary arts, you probably were sure of one thing, you’d write a masterpiece, you’d … Read More »

A few weeks ago I attended a national writing conference and listened to a fascinating discussion about character and plot from the perspective of screenwriters. Structure is so important to screenwriters, probably more than it is to prose writers. But, in my opinion, it’s smart for all writers to connect with some of the methods screenwriters use to structure their stories. They see character and plot as one. A plot comes from everything that happens to a character, what he … Read More »

The saying goes, “Tell your readers everything they need to know and nothing they don’t need.” Simple enough: make it “juuust right,” like Baby Bear’s porridge. But how do you know how much is enough… or too much? I wish I could give an easy answer. If we take a look together at the possibilities, I bet you can come up with an answer on your own that fits your writing style. Too Hot! First, there’s the danger of too … Read More »

Online events are more popular than ever before. Whether it is a book launch, live reading, writing workshop, or even an entire conference, marketing is essential for maximizing your audience, and thus maximizing your success. So how do you get people to come to your event, and even better, spend money there? Here are five tried-and-true marketing strategies that will help make your event a big win. Strategy One: Identify Your Audience This may sound basic, but you’d be surprised … Read More »

I didn’t even know I was supposed to have a media kit, or press kit, or whatever you want to call it. Did you? Do you even know what one is? I had heard of these things before, but I never really gave them much thought. Until now. In doing research for a new book release, I discovered that I should not just create a media kit for the release, but it should also be a crucial marketing tool. This … Read More »

In honor of National Reading Month (March), and many other fine celebratory days this month, let’s take a look at a book for the very youngest reader/listener. After all, it is never too early to start reading to your child. But how does a writer write a wordless, or almost wordless, book? And how is it done if the writer is not also an illustrator? Obviously, one cannot simply list the few words that appear on the pages and submit … Read More »

Concrete poetry is a fun way to express creativity in a visual form. The words are shaped into an image that is representative of the poem’s theme. The challenge with this type of poetry is formatting the work on a computer if you want to send it out for publication or publish it yourself. There are professional programs out there in the Adobe suite that are perfect for this, but they have a huge learning curve. The good news is … Read More »

Publishing a book can get quite expensive. A good cover designer can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, and the editorial costs alone can set you back even more. While there are many important expenses, there are also many ways to spend money and get nothing useful back. For example, take the Bowker SAN. This costs $150, and is basically a way for you to list your physical address in a Bowker database – something you can do with your … Read More »

With social distancing and sequestering still high on the priority ladder, it might be a good time to dig through the closet/flash drive and unearth that writing project you’ve been meaning to finish or thought was so bad that it was beyond repair. Dust Them Off! Pull those unfinished projects out and see which one jumps to the head of the line, begging for your attention. Give it a new, fresh view and the attention it deserves to get it … Read More »

Have you ever read a sentence about food that was so vivid it made you actually taste it? Taste is the most powerful of all senses because we love food. We need it to survive and, as humans, eating brings us pleasure. Describing taste can be so impactful for a reader, yet some authors avoid it because they can’t think of the right words. The truth is it’s really hard. You end up actually using all of your senses to … Read More »

We all know that the more reviews a book receives, the better—whether reader responses on Goodreads, BookBub, or Amazon, or professional editorial reviews. But writer, beware: the more reviews pile up, the more likely it is that one or more of them will be bad. That’s statistically inevitable. There is no one book that everyone likes (except maybe Harry Potter). People’s tastes and expectations are too varied. You try to pitch your work to those who “like that kind of … Read More »

  We are celebrating a huge milestone this year, our big twentieth anniversary. Two decades of writers reaching out to other writers and helping them on their journeys, wherever they made lead. Let’s take some time to look at our own journey, from humble beginnings to the well-known statewide organization we are today. And even some exciting special events happening just for this special year! How It All Began There were already many writers organizations out there in the year … Read More »

Welcome back to our discussion about the writer’s voice!  If you’ve worked through the exercises in Oh, Those Voice (Part 1),  you should have some idea about the nature of your raw voice. That is your starting point. As writers we need to be able to shape our voice each time we write. And for each thing we write it may be a differently shaped voice. Still yours, but molded to fit what you are writing. And, hopefully, a voice … Read More »

Google Docs is a popular word-processing tool that lets you access your documents and files from any internet-connected device. I for one have found it to be immensely useful as an editing tool; I like to review a Doc on my iPad, and then make changes on my laptop before sending the updated Doc to my collaborators. I also love Google Docs because it’s a great tool for collaborating with people both near and far. (And did I mention Google … Read More »

Sensory details add realism to your writing and make the reader feel more connected to the work. Let’s get those creative juices going and do some practice working with sensory details as writing prompts. Look at the suggestions below and see if anything stands out to you. Can you combine more than one of these in a story? Scent heavy maple sweetness combined with hints of vanilla chemical stench of plastic thrown on a fire flowery fabric softener embedded in … Read More »

Reviews are a big deal for all authors. Whether they’re publishing with Simon & Schuster or self-publishing a few thousand copies, early reviews can make or break a book’s long-term success. There are exceptions, of course. Novels like For Whom The Bell Tolls, To Kill a Mockingbird, or The Handmaid’s Tale all had bad reviews but went on to be classics. Yet for the overwhelming majority of books, reviews are the key to notoriety and sales. The online review has … Read More »

It’s the new year, and people are thinking about resolutions, changing their lives, and expanding their horizons. Those are great goals to aspire and work toward. I’ve even been working on a few of my own in various parts of my life. Then I wondered how I could apply those lofty ideas to my writing. Organize How is the plot moving along? Are scenes jumping around like popping corn or fireworks exploding in the night sky? It might be a … Read More »

When the RPLA Awards were announced last October, Susan Dobson was in the hospital, banqueting with her husband on takeout pizza and some fairly serious meds. It was a big night. Boomerang, a coming-of-age novel set in Dobson’s native Australia, first won the Gold Award for Unpublished Mainstream or Literary. “It was surreal,” she said of the experience. “We were both so excited, we almost missed the announcement for Unpublished Book of the Year!” Boomerang won that award, too. In … Read More »

The herring fish of Eugene Field’s poem “Winken, Blinken and Nod” was probably a special glittering creature, because the fishermen went after them with nets of silver and gold. Writers, on the other hand, are always interested in the infamous red herring. A device especially employed in mysteries, it can be used in other genres as well. What is a red herring and how can it be a helpful item on your authorial menu? Let’s take a look. A false … Read More »

Here are the top five Florida Writers fan favorites! Thank you for reading! #1 Scrivener vs. Final Draft: Choosing the One that’s Right For You   #2 RPLA Finalists, Please Stand Up!   #3 KDP vs. Ingram Spark: Two POD Powerhouses   #4 Book Cover Design: CMYK vs RGB   #5 What Every Book That Matters Must Have

New year or not, I’ve resolved to figure out the hidden secrets of social media countless times over the past years. The formulae seem easy, yet my calculations are always off. Knowing that social media is a huge part of a writer’s marketing strategy, I decided to get some help from the experts (i.e., Google) on how to focus my efforts in 2021. Unsurprisingly, consistency is key. I am not very good with this and get bored after about a … Read More »

With a COVID-19 vaccine in the works, it looks like we will shortly be able to go back to holding public events. Here are a few tips to help you get started. Book fairs and other local events can be a great way for authors to connect with readers and make new fans. They are immensely valuable. But at the same time it can be hard for first-timers to get the most out of an event. That was certainly true … Read More »

Happy New Year! And what a better way to start than tackling one of the knottiest issues in writing: voice. We were born with a voice. So why is it many manuscripts get rejected because an agent/editor says there’s no voice? Then we authors go off frantically searching for our voice as though we’d misplaced it somewhere. The truth of the matter is that you have a voice. It’s just that, often, an author’s voice doesn’t work for a number … Read More »

The first time I realized that I needed to make a Power Point presentation, I flipped out. “Giving a presentation is something for professional public speakers, teachers, ministers—people who are accustomed to orating to a mass or class of people.” At least that’s what I thought. As a writer, the idea hit home that author visits and book talks came with the territory. I was not sure how to get started. That was back in 2015. Just like with anything … Read More »

Star Wars fans aren’t the only ones obsessed with The Mandalorian. The Disney+ series, now in its second season, is five times more popular than any other program on the streaming service. Jon Favreau and his contributing writers have accomplished what no one thought was possible: adapting a brand new Star Wars storyline that is beloved by both old and new fans. This was something the three prequels couldn’t seem to do. Not only did Favreau switch back to the … Read More »

When I go to the grocery store, I like to have a list in hand. It helps me stay on track and (most of the time) keeps me from veering off into the chip/snack/candy aisle for something I don’t really need. That being said, I like to give myself the freedom to explore the “off list” aisles for new and interesting things that may or may not find their way into my cart. When I thought about the process of … Read More »