by Kim Vogel Sawyer A couple of months ago, I came across an article about Lisa Wingate’s recent release, Before We Were Yours. You’ve probably heard about it—set simultaneously in 1939 Memphis and present day Aikens, South Carolina, it’s the fictionalized account of the notorious Tennessee Children’s Home Society which stole babies and adopted them out to wealthy families. I’m …
The Path of Perfection
By Christine Sunderland I am currently reading a novel with a fascinating historical setting and colorful characters. It has received rave reviews, become a bestseller and book club favorite. And yet, the characters seem shallow. What is missing? I considered the plot, which lacks direction. The action doesn’t climb to an anticipated climax. I asked, What drives these characters? What …
Write Like a Pirate
By Kariss Lynch Remember that scene in Pirates of the Caribbean, the one where the not-so-refined Miss Elizabeth requests parley with the pirate captain? She thinks parley is a Pirate Code granting her protection. Sadly, she didn’t quite know her audience. She is quickly informed that the Pirate Code is more like guidelines than actual rules. Writing is a lot …
Five Lies Every Character/Writer Believes
by Angela Arndt Every good character has obstacles to keep him from reaching his goals. Whether your heroine is a nuclear scientist creating a secret device to save the world or a receptionist who’s secretly in love with the town doctor, any lie she believes that keeps her from reaching that goal must be exposed. It’s part of the plotting …
When Writing Stops Being Fun
By Rondi Bauer Olson I had so much fun with my first baby. I dressed him up in the cutest outfits, played with his baby toys while he drooled on them, and took enough pictures to fill multiple scrapbooks. Then, when he was twenty-two months old, I had twins. Three boys under two years old. Playing mommie stopped being fun. …
The Cost of Choice
By Angela Beach Silverthorne Someone asked me why I loved to write. So many words ran through my mind, but one stood out. CHOICE. I feel a need to write about the cost of choice, to show readers strategies that lead to success or failure. Life choices are complicated and serious. I’m not talking about picking your favorite flavor of …
Tips for Using the 5 Senses
by Ane Mulligan Sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste create experiential fiction, a story so in-the-moment, the reader hears, smells, and tastes what the characters do. To do that, we want to show the action. Here are some tips for you. Remember to make the descriptions organic to your character. If you protagonist is a musician, her similes will be musical. …
Questions from a Young Writer
by Ann H. Gabhart Recently I was interviewed by a young high school girl with dreams of writing the same as I had many years ago at her age. Selena hoped I might reveal some magic path to being a successful writer. I don’t think there is any magic. Instead blood, sweat and tears accompany the writing journey, but joy …
Hold the Dream Lightly
By Lorraine Beatty Dreams are funny things. They can sustain us, they can torment us or they can rip our hearts to shreds. But we can’t live without them. As writers we dream of that first contract or that perfect agent who will find us that top publisher. But sometimes dreams take a long time to materialize. Sometimes not at …
Even the “Big Dogs” Struggle
By C. Kevin Thompson I picked up a copy of Lee Child’s debut novel, The Killing Floor. It was his first Jack Reacher novel. Originally published in 1997, this edition (the fifth edition in 2012) is a mass paperback and contains “a new introduction by the author.” It was this intro that inspired me to keep on keeping on. Child …