Reader Perception is Important

Readers bring perceptions to every novel. Put those perceptions to work for you rather than allowing them to annoy your readers.

read Reader Perception is Important »

Readers can get really ticked off when you use coincidence to solve story problems. They are pulled out of the fiction and made aware that you’ve been fooling them.

read Coincidence Destroys the Suspension of Disbelief »

Many modern writers are discouraged from using adverbs. But adverbs have their uses. And no part of speech should be banned from the writer’s toolkit.

read What About Adverbs—A Reader’s Question »

Apparently some in the writing community think semicolons have no place in fiction. But all punctuation has a purpose and can be put to use in novels and short stories.

read Punctuation in Fiction—Are There Prohibitions? »

All writers leave something out of their early drafts. Learn your writing weaknesses and then plan your rewrites around strengthening your stories and overcoming those weaknesses.

read Use a Rewrite to Add What Your Story Lacks »

Links to the most popular (as of the end of 2011) articles at The Editor’s Blog as well as links to a few of Beth’s favorite articles.

read Recap of Past Articles—2011 Year-End Review »

Ramp up story conflict by repeatedly denying characters what they want or need.

read Deny, Deny, Deny »

Give your main character a tour de force moment where he reveals his true personality and all the needs and fears he’s been repressing and stuffing deep for a lifetime.

read Character Rants and Breakdowns—Let ‘em Rip »

Use celebrations and holidays in your stories to make characters real, to tap into emotional moments in a character’s life.

read Celebrations in Story—Marking the Special Days »

Author intrusion is disruptive and annoying. Look at ways to identify and cut out the writer’s obvious intrusions into a story.

read Weed Out Author Intrusion »