Recent Comments
whimsylph on On the F***ing Garden Path in… Ira on On the F***ing Garden Path in… cherryblossomsecretl… on On the F***ing Garden Path in… Charles on On the F***ing Garden Path in… James A. Miller on Published!
Category Archives: Writing Advice
Profanity in Fiction: When It Helps and When It Hurts
Profanity is one of those tools writers either lean on too hard or avoid like it’s radioactive. But swear words aren’t automatically “bad writing” or “edgy writing.” They’re just words and like any other words, they need to earn their … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, My opinions on writing, Writing Advice
Tagged Fiction, Profanity in fiction, Writing Advice
Leave a comment
What Do Readers Want?
It’s important to think about what a reader is really looking for when they search for a book or look for the next short story to read. Their need is the demand that we are looking to supply. If we … Continue reading
Just take the next step
When I think about the vast landscape of what I haven’t written yet it feels daunting. There are so many authors out there writing way more than me. I can picture them writing away at this very moment outpacing me … Continue reading
Posted in Encouragement, Procrastination, Writing Advice
Tagged Just take the first step
Leave a comment
Storytelling with Nonfiction, by Matthew Walter
If you’re a writer of fiction with limited publishing success, consider writing nonfiction. Why would you want to do that? Because it will make you a better writer. The elements that make good fiction are the same for nonfiction. You … Continue reading
Why Writing with AI Can Undermine Your Creative Growth
I thought I would take a moment to comment on the use of AI to write fiction. My position on it is that if you are using AI to write fiction, you are cheating yourself. You also miss out on … Continue reading
Posted in My opinions on writing, Writing Advice
Tagged AI, AI and Fiction, Writing with AI
Leave a comment
Going Beyond Stereotypes: Revealing Core Traits that Make Characters Real
There are two extremes when creating characters: making them too consistent or too chaotic. One leads to cardboard cutouts and the other creates confusion. Real people aren’t like that and neither are great fictional characters. The Myth of Consistency In … Continue reading
What Masterclass Taught Me About Writing
I finally bit the bullet and signed up for Masterclass. It was great being able to hear from some of the most prominent writers and entertainers of our time—James Patterson, Dan Brown, Joyce Carol Oates, Judy Blume, Walter Mosley, Malcolm … Continue reading
Two Books that changed how I write
There are two books on the art and craft of writing that really resonated with me at the time I read them and have also stayed with me over the years. I have read many other writing advice books, but … Continue reading
Posted in Writing Advice
Tagged Books on Writing, Writing Books, Writing guidance, writing guide
2 Comments
How volunteering to read slush makes you a better writer
I remember the first time I received my assigned slush (story submissions) from the editor of Allegory. Twelve unread submissions, each hoping to land in the publication. It was exciting, daunting, and very eye-opening for me. Once into a routine … Continue reading
Tagging Dialogue: Making the Most of “Said”**
When it comes to writing dialogue, one of the most overlooked yet fundamental elements is the dialogue tag. These are the little phrases that let the reader know who’s speaking, your basic he said, she said, and their many cousins. … Continue reading
Posted in Writing Advice
Tagged he said, he said-she said, she said, Tagging Dialog, Writing
Leave a comment
Breaking Into The Craft 