How To writing ideas from me and a few of my writing friends.
Dialogue is one of the tale-tell signs of believability for characters in writing. “Hello,” Michael said. “Anna, it’s been nearly seventeen years since I’ve last seen you. My, you look the same. Brown hair, brown eyes, about five feet, six inches.” “Hi Michael,” Anna said. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen you. I’ve recently…
Somewhere along the way of writing your story, you will need a plot. The plot is the glue that brings everything else together: characterization, voice, setting and style. Without a plot, you do not have a story. Here are five things to consider when minding your plot: Conflict – There is nothing a reader loves…
Recently, a friend of mine told me that I need to work on making writer friends because “writer friends will help push you past your limitations”. This is, truly, a lovely thought; however, I found that through the years writer friends come and go and rarely am I able to find a niche. This is…
At New Year, every writing website seems to be full of people setting writing goals, telling me what goals to set and how to set goals. And then… nothing. Where are the reminders to check in, and the advice for how to stay on track or get back on track? For years, I barely even…
It is not too late into the year to think about what you can do to improve your writing. Here are five steps to improve your writing: Write every day because practice does make perfect. Even if it is only one hundred words that you end up throwing out. The discipline of writing every day…
Sometimes keeping the writing engines revving is all about staying inspired. Lately I have been attempting to dip my toes into the pool of finding an agent. The process is a bit harsh to one’s self esteem, and I found myself going back to my finished novel and examining and reexamining it for flaws. This…
Before You Submit Since last September, I have been a fiction reader at a literary magazine run by the Graduate English Program at Florida State University. We receive hundreds of writing submissions and those submissions are divvied up amongst different readers where each story receives several reads. I am grateful for the opportunity and I…
I read a lot about the different writing spaces and places that writers choose. Personally, I have a love-hate relationship with articles about writers’ desks and offices. On the one hand, I enjoy seeing the writing space where creative work happens. I am intrigued by the variety of surroundings people choose as their writing places….