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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »