One of the biggest decisions you’ll make when writing a novel is where to begin. Of course, your story really begins well before page one, with all the events that made your world what it is and with all the experiences that made your characters who they are. But when we’re talking about page one,…
We know dialogue makes for good storytelling and that getting two people talking can make a scene interesting. But, of course, dialogue isn’t interesting just because it exists. The possible things your characters could say at any moment need to be curated and carefully shaped by you. That shaping means you’re going to want every…
I’ve listened in and been a part of many conversations about choosing the past or present tense in storytelling, and the most common advice I hear from one writer to another is some version of, “Do what feels right.” Friend, there is better advice out there and I’m going to give you some right now….
It’s a Wonderful Life is my husband’s favorite Christmas movie and we often watch it on Christmas Eve. But my daughters and I have talked about George’s temper—it bothered them as children and it bothers them now. There’s something about people venting anger, and in this case the prospect of male violence, that shakes them…
U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser said that titles “…represent the hand you extend in friendship toward your reader.” He was talking about titles of poems, but his words apply to titling your book as well. Yes, people buy books because they’re interested in the concept, but just as important is their assessment of the cover….