Writers are readers. But are you the right kind of reader—a paleontological reader? As writers who want to hone our craft we need to read beyond simple enjoyment or displeasure. Sure, there are times when we need to escape — like anyone else — and simply wallow in the pleasures of a book, or of some poetry. And certainly, there have been many among us who have thrown a book down wondering how in the world did this get published! … Read More »

Names are how we identify things — people, places, things, etc. For the purposes of this blog, I’m going to concentrate on the names we give to the characters in the stories we write. I have found that choosing a name is quite an undertaking, and it’s one that should not be taken lightly! A Visual Fit My character’s name needs to fit the physical body I’ve created in my mind. A tall, muscular man needs to have a name … Read More »

There are certain characters in literature and movies we’ll never forget. Characters who we connect with on deep levels. Characters who make us laugh, cry, cheer on, love, hate, and want to exist in real life so we can be a part of their story forever, for reals. Characters who we want as friends. And every character you love was written by an author just like you. In this 5-part series, I’ll be walking you through the process of fully … Read More »

When starting a new writing project one of the hardest things to do — in my opinion— is to decide on point of view. The choice you make at this stage dictates everything from voice to plot. We all know the differences between first, second, and third person — most of us learned it in elementary school — but it’s much more complex than that. For this blog post, I wanted to dive into the murky world of point of … Read More »

I’ve been reading a novel (nameless here forevermore) that I’m pretty sure is meant to be an allegory. The characters are flat, they commit highly improbable actions, and the only backstory we get on them is in the form of interminable stories-within-stories that don’t illuminate anything about their personality. Reviews have called this author a genius, so I guess I’m wrong. But I don’t enjoy it at all. I have to make myself keep reading because the book was a … Read More »

Twyla Tharp said, “Metaphor is the lifeblood of all art.” That is, for our art to come alive it must relate to our readers in a comparative way that is important. The experience of reading is an empathetic one — the reader should feel a connection. That connection is made through metaphor. This is where much of our joy of reading comes from. I believe that the best way to do this is to invite your reader in amongst the … Read More »