Articles
7 Essential Elements of Scenes in Fiction
Scenes are the building blocks of fiction. Make sure every scene in your novel contributes to the story in a compelling way by including these seven essential elements.
Four Reasons your novel needs backstory
Understanding your characters’ backstory can deepen motivations (why they want what they want) and solve plot problems (what they do next). The heart of your protagonist’s story is buried in their past.
Eleventh Annual Great Books to Give…And Get
Eleven years! Normally (haha!) I post a list of books that I've enjoyed during the year, but this year, I thought I'd do something a bit different. We’ve all been traveling a lot less. Maybe, like me, you've had to cancel a few trips. Without even realizing it, I've...
31 Days of Writing Inspiration for 2021
Well, 2020 has felt like a marathon with a moving finish line. I usually love this time of year. The twinkle lights. The egg nog. The holiday movies I wrap myself in like a cozy blanket. But even at the end of a "normal" year, I'm often drained, running on empty and...
Why Characterization Charts Don’t Work
No doubt you’ve seen them — the charts that allow you to get to know your novel’s characters by filling in the blanks. These charts prompt you with basic questions about each character: Siblings? Age? Education? Many writers spend hours diligently completing these charts and still don’t really know their characters.
4 Most Common WIP Problems
As a developmental editor, I see many of the same issues in novel and memoir manuscripts. The good news is that none of these issues are deal breakers for your WIP. Here are the four most common problems I find in manuscripts…and a few tips to fix them.
Four Ways Point of View Can Transform Your Story
Point of View (POV) is the framework for how your story is told. Let’s take a deeper look at how POV, perspective, and narration impact your novel or short story.
How to Pitch an Agent at a Writers Conference
Having been to many writers conferences, I know they are hectic and overwhelming. This is especially true if you’ll be pitching your manuscript to a literary agent. Here are my top seven tips to maximize your opportunity, and stay sane.
Five Tips to Help You Read Like a Writer
Close reading is an essential skill for all writers, allowing you to uncover how your favorite stories tick and putting those techniques to work in your own story.
Tenth Annual Great Books to Give…and Get
Books make great gifts! If you’ve got a long list of people to buy for this holiday season and no idea what to get them, here are a few suggestions for books I enjoyed this year.
I’m Reading
