One of the foundational elements of story is the character arc. A character arc is the transformation or inner journey of a character over the course of a story. The character transforms from one sort of person and gradually becomes a different sort of person in response to the developments in the story. The character […]
Character Profile Planner & Template for Writers Read More »
Over the last two weeks I’ve been working on the outline for my WIP called Dead End. The intent with this revision outline is to take my first draft to a better story place. And in doing so, I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes a good scene, and which scenes should be added
Crafting A Scene: A Guide for Aspiring Writers Read More »
Starting to write a novel is super exciting but also kind of scary, partly because writers, in general, go it alone – at least while they’re pounding away on their keyboards. While there are many stories of authors who stow away in cabins or hotel rooms and bang out their books, it’s not an overstatement
The 5 Steps of Editing: A Guide for Aspiring Novelists Read More »
Have you ever written something, read it back, and experienced a delightful blend of pride and fulfillment? Only to have someone else read it and immediately notice a dozen obvious errors that somehow eluded your eagle eyes. Editing our own work can sometimes feel like trying to tickle ourselves—it just doesn’t work. It’s not because
The Edit Struggle: Why We Can’t See Our Own Typos Read More »
If you don’t already know, I’m a yoga geek. Back in 2004 I joined my local YMCA and found a Saturday 7:30AM class that became my regular thing. Now, 20 years later, I alternate days practicing yoga and Pilates as my exercises of choice. That and walking the dog nightly. So why am I telling
The Zen of Writing: What Yoga and Writing Have in Common Read More »
An overused archetype is the real villain of your story. Have you ever read a thriller where the main character has all the right stuff? Having flawless intuition, impeccable deductive skills, and always being ahead of the killer? I recently took part in a critique group where I read this exact protagonist. She was a
Create Characters with Flaws, not Flawsomeness Read More »
Thirty-three years ago today, I was lucky to find a job as a civil engineer on the Boston Central Artery/Tunnel project (commonly known as the Big Dig). I say lucky because of the sluggish economy, following the crash of the stock market in 1987, marked the end of the decade. Sluggish is probably a mild
The Importance of Training – A Personal Story Read More »
Life is full of challenges. Learning to walk and talk takes about a year before the pieces start falling into place. Graduating from grade school takes 12 years. Raising children takes 18 or more. These are big, everyday challenges that we quite take for granted. Expected on some level. We accept them as given. But
Embracing Personal Challenges Read More »
