How to Critique Another Writer
“How should I critique another person’s writing in a writing group?”
In this video, I’ll talk to you about how to give proper criticism and how to receive it as well!
When to Stop Polishing a Manuscript
Many new writers don’t know when to stop polishing a manuscript and move on to the next. Part of the reason for that might have to do with Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway and His Legacy Years ago, a writer asked Hemingway, “How many times should I rewrite a manuscript?” Now, Hemingway hated dumb questions, so he […]
Attributions in Dialog
Writing clear dialog isn’t hard to do, but many new writers—and some old ones—make some pretty simple mistakes. Here are a few things to be wary of and that you should know.
Performing Your Tale
Many writers will recommend that as you edit your tale, you do a final read-through so that you can see how the story sounds.
Ten Easy Ways to Get Rejected
I’ve often said that there are ten thousand right ways to write a story. Unfortunately, there are a million wrong ways to do so.
Horse Racing
It may seem that there is an element of luck to this business. I won’t deny that. I often hear people compare it to a horse race.
How to Hook Your Readers
How many hooks would be too many for an opening scene in an upper middle grade book?
Payoff
I’ve said before that every story should have an emotional payoff. Yet far too often, I read stories where the payoff is weaker than it should be, or it isn’t there at all.
Three Mistakes in Tone
One of the most common problems I see with new writers is a “mistake in tone.” You know what I mean if you’ve ever played in a band. A new kid comes in, you’re trying to play a song, and he blats out a sour note on a trumpet. The same thing happens in writing.
Surprises and Revelations
6 Ways to Add Surprise to Your Writing Hollywood loves a “reveal.” That’s a moment where a bit of information that has been withheld from the audience is suddenly revealed onscreen. You’ve seen it a hundred times in the movies, often handled poorly. In the latest movie in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, the […]