Many beginning writers mistakenly believe they are creating tension when they withhold certain pieces of information, and that the reader’s desire to know more — to fill in those blanks — will keep us going. This is, quite simply, not true. Withheld information is far more likely to create within us feelings of great annoyance […]
Category Archives: Tips for Writers
Once Upon a First Page
Last week, I said that the goal of the first sentence is, quite simply, to get the reader to move on to the second. This week, I’m going to give you some thoughts on what will keep people reading. Before I begin, however; I must mention this: There is nothing more subjective in the writing […]
Once Upon a First Line
I’ve heard a lot of theories about what makes a first line great. I’ve read a lot of compelling first lines and tried to imagine how I could pull off a similar effect. I’ve read countless stories by other writers, including many novices, who are obviously trying to find this magic and usually, trying too […]
Idea Generation
Where do ideas come from? If you’re a writer, then someone has probably asked you this question. Likewise, if you’re a writer, you probably already have some notion as to the answer. As a frequently asked question, this one has had a strange dichotomy in my life — it is the question most frequently asked […]
Developing a Thick Skin
Someone out there thinks this sentence sucks. It’s as sure as death and taxes, which as someone else has just correctly observed, is a cliche. Or maybe it was the same person. I’m less certain whether these people have a point or if I should edit my post to reflect their ideas, but if I […]
On Writing a Novel in One Month
For many writers, November means NaNo. Since I’m actually participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) this year, I figure it’s only right that I add my voice to the write-a-book-in-a-month movement like many of my fellow writers have done. (Check out Aliette de Bodard and Mary Robinette Kowal) I’ll be honest with you. November […]
Marketing: Twitter
All right, I’ve done it. I’ve given into peer pressure. I am now on twitter. I have tweeted. Not being prone to thinking in 120 characters or less (I write novels…I don’t even write many short stories), I’m curious how this is going to work, but getting on twitter is one of those modern marketing […]
Writing Tips: Know What You Write
I’m sure you’ve heard the tried and true piece of writing advice, “Write what you know.” It only makes sense, in terms of realism and believability, but don’t let the advice hold you back. You aren’t stuck, from now until the end of time, writing about the same things over and over again, regurgitating the […]
Writing Tips: I Dare You
A couple of weeks ago I received some invaluable feedback on a short story, “There was nothing wrong with it, it just didn’t dare as much as I would have liked.” I knew instantly that in this case and in this particular story, she was absolutely right. I had broken a rule I’ve given other […]
Morning Pages
Today is the first day of the rest of my life. I often feel that way when I embark on a new endeavor or, or as in this case, reembark on an old endeavor I never should have abandoned. I started writing morning pages, an exercise in Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path […]