Monday Motivation: The solution to a milquetoast story
For obvious reasons, we usually spend a great deal of time thinking about the protagonist of our stories. He or she is unambiguously our Hero. But we don’t spend as […]
Monday Motivation: People watching in Venice
Writers observe. Their observations serve as the foundations on which characters are built and stories developed. We’re in Venice at the moment on our annual retreat – rudely interrupted by […]
Monday Motivation: Ten steps to a compelling character
Once in a while, when I have the time, I allow myself the luxury of writing an extremely abbreviated Monday Motivation. I was trawling through old notes of mine and […]
Monday Motivation: An eternal question: plot or characters?
Whatever creative narrative you’re writing, the challenge is to establish a balance between character and story. Readers are happy if the writer uses story simply as the washing line on […]
Writing Secrets: Take the leap – we’ll leap with you
We don’t need to follow your character into the bathroom. Her brushing and flossing routine don’t do it for us – or even for your story. If, however, she enters […]
Writing Secrets: The silver thread between your character and you
Be aware of your connection to your character – that silver thread that attaches you to them – and you’ll write better. I believe this and I’ve seen it again […]
Monday Motivation: A story-teller in search of six characters
Let’s examine how a master story-teller whips a little literary confection into existence. Stephen King is the dude I’m thinking of – and the confection in question is a feature […]
Writing Secrets: The touchy-feely art of character portrayal.
We need to know how your character is feeling, okay? It’s not enough simply to have things happen to him without giving us any sense of his emotional state. Part […]
The secrets behind the practice of good writing: If you want for nothing – it’s the end of your story
In life people speak about “wanting for nothing” as though it’s a good thing. Actually, in life and in stories, it’s not a good thing at all. It means, basically, […]
Monday Motivation: Make details do double-duty
Consider for a moment the four-dimensional world you live in. You might well be sitting at your computer at this very moment, reading these words… But a few minutes ago, […]
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The secrets behind the practice of good writing: Go on, be a sadist
As a novelist, you shouldn’t be too kind. We all know Kurt Vonnegut’s exhortation to put your characters through hell, but do we always heed it where our own beloved […]
Monday Motivation: Your protagonist must remain the lead in his story
I think in the film and television business we talk more about agency than people do when discussing stories destined for print – although why this should be so I’m […]
