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Showing posts 51 to 60 labeled Writing in General (77 total)

Writing Timeless Stories (October 7, 2014)

Over my book-free weekend, I tried a lot of things I haven't done since I started obsessing over fiction writing and publishing. I went out on a Friday-night date with Sweetie, in which we ate food I didn't make from a box and engaged in a refreshing round of moral indignation over the Halloween costumes at Fred Meyer (fake foam muscles sewn into superhero costumes for young boys, sultry figure-hugging vampiress dresses for little girls...no wonder we all have body image issues!). I played a terrible video game. I even ate three meals per day. More »

Beware the Biting of the Lips: Body Language Found in Fiction That You Don't See in Real Life (August 12, 2014)

A few days ago, after many moons of waiting, I finally received a book I'd reserved at the public library—a work of women's fiction that has topped bestseller lists and earned critical praise from several impressive-sounding newspapers and journals. I wasn't much interested by the premise, but I felt I should keep an open mind and see what the fuss was about. More »

The Bechdel Test Is a Joke. Literally. (August 2, 2014)

A few days ago, I learned something that is likely common knowledge among people considered educated members of society: the Bechdel test is a joke. Literally. More »

Truth: The REAL Backbone of Comedy (July 26, 2014)

In October of last year, I wrote a post called "Tragedy: The Backbone of Comedy." After showing how the basic structures of tragedies and comedies are the same, which is fairly "duh," I said, "A simple switch in tone and mood can flip one to the other." More »

Who Is Your Audience? Or, Why I Don't Care What Your Heroine Ate for Breakfast (June 27, 2014)

Sometimes I worry that my posts here send mixed messages. First I say, "Writing is communication, period. Write for your audience." And then I say, "Don't worry what other people think. Have confidence in yourself and your ideas." More »

"Realistic" Characters: Individuals or Stereotypes? (June 23, 2014)

As novelists, we see our characters as individuals. We spend years (or at least months) with them, developing their histories and personalities. We give them unique worldviews, unique tastes and hobbies, unique voices. We treat them like real people with real minds. More »

Weak Endings: Why You Write Them, How to Avoid Them (June 13, 2014)

There are several reasons that weak endings are so common in literature, popular or otherwise. More »

BS Writing Advice: Silence Your Internal Editor (May 4, 2014)

When I write these posts about "BS Writing Advice," I'm being a bit unfair. The original advice, or the idea behind it, is not usually BS on its own. It becomes BS because of the way it's interpreted. More »

Shortcomings and Strengths of the Written Word (April 4, 2014)

Too often I come up with a fun new story, map it all out in my head, and then realize, "I can't write this. It wouldn't work as a book. It has to be a movie." More »

Epistolary Style: Pros and Cons (March 22, 2014)

The other day I read a book. I know, I know, I should stop doing that. Nine out of ten times after I finish reading a book, I wander around with an intense look on my face that makes Sweetie ask, "What happened?" I answer, "I read a book." He sighs and says, "You know better!" More »