Step Outside Your Story World

Writers often become so lost in their stories that they can’t look at them dispassionately. Remember to step back and away from your fiction so you can get a true picture of a story.

Continue reading Step Outside Your Story World »

Writers sometimes don’t know how to begin writing a new story, but you can begin anywhere, with any story element. You can begin at any point in the story.

Continue reading What To Write First When Writing Fiction »

I don’t take on every manuscript that’s sent to me for editing. The simple reason is that many are not ready for a professional edit. A look at my reasons for turning down an edit.

Continue reading Why I Would Decline an Edit »

Characters look phony and unreal, making fiction seem unreal, when writers give them concurrent actions that can’t possibly happen at the same time.

Continue reading Multi-Tasking Characters or Impossible Actions? »

There’s much more to a paragraph than what you learned way back when. See what your paragraphs can and should be doing for your stories.

Continue reading Writing Basics—The Paragraph »

New writers need to hear it for the first time and experienced writers need reminders—basic writing advice.

Continue reading Clear and Simple Writing Advice »

A novel’s first draft is never the final product. Learn both what’s missing from a first draft and what should be taken out to make it a better manuscript.

Continue reading The First Draft—What it is and What it isn’t »

How to write a novel—everyone has advice. This is mine. Tips for writing the novel you always said you’d write.

Continue reading How to Write a Novel »

Invite readers into your story with a compelling open. Readers want to be enticed into new worlds—make yours an attractive one, a world readers will willingly step into, willingly stay in while your fictional events unfold.

Continue reading Invite Readers into Your Story »

Common writing mistakes can be made by any writer at any stage in his career. Write better fiction by being aware of these common writing mistakes.

Continue reading Common Writing Mistakes »