We all know what to deck the hall with. That’s right, boughs of holly. Sure, we all know it because the song has an upbeat melody and lots of fun fa-la-las. But it’s also memorable because it sets the Yuletide scene so deftly. Along with all the fresh and fragrant... read more
Best Gifts for Writers lists abound these days, and I’ve read a bunch of them now. It may well be that some writers want a literary tee-shirt. I do know that some writers have a writing tee, but I don’t know whether they take inspiration from one with a famous... read more
My short answer to the question: “Where do you find writing inspiration?” is: Everywhere. In other words I don’t think of writing inspiration in terms beautiful sunsets or waves lapping the shore. However, since the evening sky and the beach are included in “Everywhere” then, sure, they count as places... read more
You’ve produced the first draft of your story. Now what? First Draft Improvement: Tip #1 Live by the Russian motto, suggested by the title image: The first pancake is always lumpy. There are various ways to translate the phrase, and the adjective ‘blob’ also works. So. Your first draft is... read more
Ending your story is not necessarily easier than beginning your story, but the difficulties surrounding these two story moments are different. My previous post was Beginning: Where To Start Your Story, whose major lesson is: Start your story as close to the end as possible. Okay, where is the end?... read more
Archimedes said: Tell me where to stand and I’ll move the earth. You say: Tell me where to begin and I’ll tell …. Ahhh, that’s the problem. Where is the beginning of the great story you want to tell? Beginning: The Oldest Chestnut The oldest piece of writing advice in the... read more
Romance conventions are the story lines, situations and characters that make a romance a romance. They are also sometimes called tropes or commonplaces. They are salient enough for Jenn Northington of Book Riot to make the Romance Bingo card in the title image. Any version of the hero’s journey – a... read more
If you’re in Central North Carolina, aka the Piedmont, this Thanksgiving you might consider visiting the charming, post-Revolutionary town of Pittsboro. It’s a little less than twenty miles south of Chapel Hill on US 501. I went with friends in October. As I look out the window today on this... read more
This post is a companion piece to Interior Monologue and focuses on authentic dialogue, particularly as it pertains to the romance genre. Authentic Dialogue: Tip #1 Here’s a shocker: when writing a scene of dialogue there actually has to be dialogue. Sound absurd? Indeed, it does. But I can’t tell you... read more
In novels, like in movies, we get to know characters through their words and actions. In novels, as opposed to movies, we also get to know characters through what they think and how they feel. These thoughts and feelings come out through interior monologue. Access to characters’ interiors is one... read more
