I have reached a sort of writers block where I want to write, but when I get to the paper nothing comes out. I feel like I’ve lost the inspiration I used to have. Any tips on what to do?—Melanie Lambrecht Yes. Get up. Go outside. You have nothing to… Read more“Triumphing over writer’s block”
Author: Victoria
Handling research
Hi Victoria, I’ve been stumbling across your blog many times and many of your articles are are marked as favorite under my Stumbleupon account. I have nursed my passion for writing since high school and I now will be entering my Junior year of college. I would like to write… Read more“Handling research”
How to Revise Wrong, in 3 Easy Steps
And now that you’ve plotted wrong, characterized wrong, and written wrong, even 9 ways to find the time to write. . .let’s talk about how to sit down with that baby and revise it wrong. Be obsessed with letting your language ‘breathe’ This is code for: “Be unwilling to revise… Read more“How to Revise Wrong, in 3 Easy Steps”
How to Write Wrong, in 3 Easy Steps
Last week we learned how to characterize wrong. The week before that we learned how to plot wrong. And today I’m going to teach you how to cripple your book so that—even if your plot is maximum overdrive and your characterization nothing short of brilliant—no one in the industry will… Read more“How to Write Wrong, in 3 Easy Steps”
How to Characterize Wrong, in 3 Easy Steps
So we know how to plot wrong. Now this week let’s talk about how to handle character wrong. Because this one is trickier—character is a trickier element of fiction while, at the same time, an even more essential one than plot. It’s possible to get by on pretty darn thin… Read more“How to Characterize Wrong, in 3 Easy Steps”
How to Plot Wrong, in 3 Easy Steps
Can you believe it’s June already? You’d never know it from the weather on the Northern California Coast. It’s been pouring rain for days. It’s practically the Pacific Northwest. So I’m going to spend the month of June talking about how to do everything backward. And I’m going to need… Read more“How to Plot Wrong, in 3 Easy Steps”
How to use regional influence for distinctive voice
Victoria, You have changed my whole outlook on what good writing is and is not. Thanks. I am from the South. Texas to be exact. I am writing a story about the South. The hill country of Tennessee to be exact. I am confused about whether to use or not… Read more“How to use regional influence for distinctive voice”
3 Reasons Dialog is Important, 3 Reasons It’s Not
We’re talking about the pros and cons of the three aspects of scenes: description, action, dialog. Now, as we all know, dialog is the mainstay of modern fiction. Raised in a world of television, radio, and telephones, we as an industrialized race are familiar with nothing if not the power… Read more“3 Reasons Dialog is Important, 3 Reasons It’s Not”
3 Reasons Action is Important, 3 Reasons It’s Not
You know how everyone’s always telling you “Show, Don’t Tell”? Well, that means “Write Scenes, Not Exposition.” So we’re spending three weeks covering the three aspects of scenes: description, action, dialog. Last week we did description. Next week we’ll do dialog. And this week we’re doing action. Action is important… Read more“3 Reasons Action is Important, 3 Reasons It’s Not”
3 Reasons Description is Important, 3 Reasons It’s Not
This topic came from @__Deb, and it’s such a good idea I’m going to extrapolate from it for two more weeks, covering all three aspects of scene: description, action, dialog. “Show, Don’t Tell.” Write scenes, not exposition. Description is important because: Details create the life on the page If there… Read more“3 Reasons Description is Important, 3 Reasons It’s Not”