Ever crack open a new book, read the first line, and feel like the author’s right there, drawing you into the story. That’s the beauty of a great opening line. The best ones don’t just tease your taste buds, they offer you a full culinary experience. Let’s check out some killer opening lines (well, I […]
4 First Lines: How to Set the Tone for Your Novel Read More »
With years of wisdom and a lifetime of experiences to draw upon, you have a unique story to tell. Your story has the power to give a new generation a roadmap to success, inspiration to pursue their dreams, or the ability to prioritize what truly matters in life. In this article, we’ll explore what makes a great
What Should I Write My Memoir About Read More »
When I lived in Massachusetts, I would annually hike/climb several mountains starting with something small, like Mount Wachusett (it was close to home), then progressing to something like Mount Monadnock, and eventually take on something a bit larger—and no, I have not tried Mount Washington. Standing at the car park, the hike looks like no
26 Writing Tips for Writers Writing Their First Novel Read More »
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 »
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 »
Since beginning my writing journey, I’ve read tons of books on how to write stories. Some of them were for writing screenplays, others for novels, and still others on specifics like dialogue, point of view, emotion, character, etc. You get the picture, there’s a lot written about writing. Among the fifty or so books I
Improve Your Writing Craft Today with These 5 Books Read More »
