Inspiring Indies: Wisdom from Indie Pros

For those of you who are ready to look into the publishing stage of writing, indie publishing offers an opportunity you shouldn't overlook. Today I'm very pleased to share some advice from two indie author friends of mine, Savannah Jezowski and Tammy Lash. I asked them a series of questions about what the indie publishing process …

Character Meet Plot. Plot Meet Character.

You’ve probably heard that popular fiction is plot driven while literary fiction is character driven (driven being the key word because if a narrative isn’t advancing then what story are you even telling?).   This is true. There is sit on the edge of your seat plot driven fiction, and there is sink back into …

Your Character’s Journey – Home from the Dentist

Earlier this year, I had a moment of writing illumination as I read a science fiction novel. A character in this novel had taken a trip and was about to return by hovercar to the human settlement on his planet. As a reader, I was subconsciously prepared for a description of the journey back. I …

Less is More

Less is more.   Shorter                                                                          is                           …

Do Your Characters Talk to You? Should They?

Have you ever heard a writer talk about her characters as if… they were real? Like, as if the writer were not entirely in control of her own work? It used to be my pet peeve to hear writers say “my main character told me _____,” or in more ludicrous scenarios, “my main character refused …

Take Critique Like A Pro

Feedback is critical for a writer. It's also tricky. Good feedback can help you unlock parts of your story and discover new possibilities, whereas bad feedback can set you back, send you down a wrong path, and even derail the necessary confidence. The dividing line between the two is often thin. So how do you navigate …

The Home Stretch: Finishing Well

I will let you all in on a little secret. I'm not a runner. The closest I've ever come to running a marathon was a 5k turkey trot one of my more fitness-keen friends convinced me to run with her during my freshman year of college. She said it would be fun, we'd take it …

Storytelling Tips from A Quiet Place

When I walked into a showing of the film A Quiet Place earlier this week I expected thrills, chills, and awkward popcorn munching in an otherwise silent theatre. I didn't know that I was heading into not only an entertaining and intriguing movie but also a display of excellent storytelling. I came out of the theatre energized …