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 »

Are your characters and plot so predictable that even you are bored? Add surprises to make stories fresh and characters engaging.

Continue reading Include Surprises in Your Stories »

Writing advice tends to focus on the basics, but many writers are beyond simple basics. Encouragement for successful and published writers who nonetheless want to improve their writing skills.

Continue reading Beyond the Basics—Push the Story and Push Yourself »

A writer with a diva attitude can turn agents and publishers away. And such an attitude can keep a writer from producing his best work. Discover why it’s not good to be a one-manuscript diva.

Continue reading One-Manuscript Diva or Working Novelist? »

Some lists of writing tips are written for those looking for easy fixes, for those who want to play at being writers without taking on the work of writing. This list is not one of those.

Continue reading Tips for Writers—The Down and Dirty »

Most writers have heard the instruction that says to write what you know. I suggest that writers instead write about subjects that move them. Write from your passions.

Continue reading Write What You Know? Maybe Not »

Some lament the seeming death of fiction—but maybe readers simply aren’t reading because writers aren’t creating stories that readers can enjoy. A reminder and an argument to write for the reader.

Continue reading Write for Your Readers »

Writer’s block is real and it can keep you from finishing your manuscripts. Consider strategies and options to overcome writer’s block.

Continue reading Writer’s Block—Real or Imaginary? »

Compelling fiction means stories that engage the reader. And readers are engaged by conflict and tension, by friction between characters and between one character and himself or his surroundings. Explore ways to write boldly and without restraint to create conflict and tension.

Continue reading Take Off the Brakes—Write Boldly »

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 »