Exposition and the Plot-Driven Novel
Exposition. Wikipedia defines it as, “…the portion of a story that introduces important background information to the audience; for example, information about the setting, events occurring before the...
View Article5 Ways to Tell If the Scene You Loathe Is Destined for the Trash Can
You have a scene that isn’t working, and you can’t figure out why. Character motivation seems unclear, dialogue is stilted, the prose is awkward… Whatever the reason, you’ve re-written this scene...
View ArticleCharacter Building: 20 Questions to Ask Your Characters
Plot is important. You’ve gotta have a great setting. Evocative imagery, strong dialogue, prose that stands the test of time… All of these things are important in the quest to be a writer who stands...
View ArticleThe Dialogue Tag Conundrum
I’ve been doing some experiments lately with dialogue tags, because I think as writers who have grown up in a visual age, we tend to ascribe more action to a dialogue tag than is strictly necessary....
View ArticleGuest Editing Q&A at The Creative Penn
Today, I’m answering questions on finding the right book editor for you, at my lovely client Joanna Penn’s writing and publishing site, The Creative Penn. Be sure to stop by with your questions! And if...
View Article5 Techniques Used by James Lee Burke to Write Evocative Settings
As a teen, my favorite writer was Barbara Kingsolver. Her prose is pretty enough to eat, and her imagery so evocative that even now, twenty years after first reading ANIMAL DREAMS, I can still picture...
View Article5 Keys to a Thriller Readers Can’t Put Down
In Gregg Hurwitz’s critically acclaimed suspense thriller TRUST NO ONE, the action starts in the very first scene, and doesn’t let up until the end of the book, without sacrificing character...
View Article10 Writing & Editing Stages of the Successful Novel
When you’re in the midst of writing a novel, it can frequently seem like you’re never going to make your way out of the weeds. How long do you spend on editing? When do you start? When should beta...
View ArticleBeta Readers: Where To Find Them, How to Use Them, and Why You Need Them
For writers, a thoughtful beta reader is worth his or her weight in gold. Before ever handing your manuscript off to an editor, a qualified beta can let you know about plot holes, character...
View ArticleGuest Post at The Creative Penn
This week, I’m back at The Creative Penn answering questions about self-editing and prepping your manuscript for the editorial process. Hop on over and check it out, and I’ll be back here next Monday...
View ArticleEditor or Beta Reader: Which Do You Need?
Over the past couple of months, I’ve been doing a lot of sample edits — which I love, because it gives me an opportunity to meet new authors, read new works, and exercise different parts of my...
View ArticleLearn the Art of Successful Self-Publishing at Upcoming Maine Crime Wave
I’m pleased to announce that I’ll be doing a workshop at the upcoming Maine Crime Wave in Portland on April 9 on Successfully Self-Publishing the Modern Mystery. In the workshop, we’ll...
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