Tuesday April 28
Subscribe to RSS Feed

No Explanation Necessary

November 11, 2011 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

A reader’s belief in your fictional world and characters can be easily destroyed. One way is when writers intrude into the story with explanations that have no place in the fiction. Resist the urge to explain.

read No Explanation Necessary »

2 Comments, Join the conversation »

Subscribe to RSS Feed

Check Your Facts

November 7, 2011 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Facts or setting details that are out of era or simply wrong weaken stories and distract readers. Check your story facts, check setting details, to keep stories tight and enjoyable.

read Check Your Facts »

2 Comments, Join the conversation »

Subscribe to RSS Feed

Bad Dialogue—Bad, Bad Dialogue

November 3, 2011 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

We’ve all seen bad, laugh-worthy dialogue. Examples of bad dialogue and ways to avoid writing it.

read Bad Dialogue—Bad, Bad Dialogue »

56 Comments, Join the conversation »

Subscribe to RSS Feed

Dialogue—My Characters Talk Too Much

October 25, 2011 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Are your characters more than verbal, talking more than they do anything else? Determine if your characters talk too much and learn some fixes for getting them to shut up.

read Dialogue—My Characters Talk Too Much »

22 Comments, Join the conversation »

Subscribe to RSS Feed

Character Reaction—Make Your Characters Respond

October 20, 2011 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Character reaction propels story from initial event to climax and resolution. Remember to include character responses as your plot progresses.

read Character Reaction—Make Your Characters Respond »

19 Comments, Join the conversation »

Subscribe to RSS Feed

Setting—The Place and Time of Story

October 15, 2011 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Setting is the place and time of story. It can include physical locale and social milieu and the props that characters handle as they move through the story.

read Setting—The Place and Time of Story »

5 Comments, Join the conversation »

Subscribe to RSS Feed

Beyond the Basics—Push the Story and Push Yourself

October 9, 2011 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

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.

read Beyond the Basics—Push the Story and Push Yourself »

8 Comments, Join the conversation »

Subscribe to RSS Feed

Clothe Characters Well—Choose Words that Fit

October 7, 2011 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Stories can gain strength and meaning when the words we use suit characters and genre and story events. Create memorable stories by clothing characters with words that fit.

read Clothe Characters Well—Choose Words that Fit »

4 Comments, Join the conversation »

Subscribe to RSS Feed

How Goes the Flow in Your Story?

October 1, 2011 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Story passages have a rhythm, a pattern, a sound. Yet I don’t want to talk about rhythm so much as I do flow. Rhythm can affect flow, but it’s only one element that can. Let’s look at other story elements that can interfere with flow. Stories should flow, move along without impediment, and lead ever […]

read How Goes the Flow in Your Story? »

25 Comments, Join the conversation »

Subscribe to RSS Feed

Use Words, Not Punctuation, To Tell Your Story

September 25, 2011 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill

Punctuation can overwhelm a sentence or paragraph. Poor punctuation can be a distraction, pulling readers out of the fiction and out of the mood to read your work. Let words tell the story. Use punctuation for other purposes.

read Use Words, Not Punctuation, To Tell Your Story »

9 Comments, Join the conversation »