by Jackie Cangro | Writing Craft
We writers often think dialogue should be the easiest aspect of storytelling. After all, we talk all the time IRL. Therefore, conversations between our characters should be a no-brainer. Right? Wrong! As an editor, I find dialogue to be one of the biggest hurdles writers face and they don’t even realize it.
by Jackie Cangro | Writing Craft, Writing Prompts
One of the questions writers always ask when editing their work is: where do I begin? The 31-Day Editing Challenge will help you answer that question and more!
by Jackie Cangro | Writing Craft
If you want to start a heated debate at your next writing group, ask if you should include a prologue in your novel. Many writers love prologues, but many readers (and therefore agents) aren’t keen on them. As with many things, there’s no right or wrong answer. Let’s take look at both sides.
by Jackie Cangro | Writing Craft
When I was a writing student, one of my professors said, “Once you find your voice, this story will really shine.” As if, like my house keys, I’d simply misplaced my voice and would find it again somewhere I least expected it like inside the freezer or behind a...
by Jackie Cangro | Writing Craft
If you’ve been writing for more than five minutes, you’ve heard this old saw: Show, don’t tell. There is value in this message—whether you’re writing a short story, novel or memoir. But I think the takeaway gets overpowered by the mantra....
by Jackie Cangro | Writing Craft
How do you wrap up a 300-page novel or memoir? It can be a daunting task. In the first part of this series, we reviewed the six styles of conclusions. These apply whether you’re writing a novel, memoir or short story. No matter which option you choose, the...
