February 16, 2021
What is Author Intrusion?
By Tina Jenkins Bell
There are days when I get into the groove of telling a story and in my head the arc of the story is complete, conflict and character motivation are evident, and the characters will have taken on the reality of living, breathing individuals. Sometimes, though, I occasionally see myself in a character or hear my own words instead of theirs. It's a common mistake called author intrusion.
…
February 9, 2021
February 2, 2021
5 Guidelines for Writing a Helpful Critique
By Maggie Smith
Last week my writing buddy sent me her new novel and asked for my feedback. This is the one I’ve been hearing about for a year, the novel she’s written that’s closest to her heart, and the one I feel will earn her a deal with a major publisher. And…
January 26, 2021
Write What You Don’t Know
by Samantha Hoffman
Arguably, the most famous piece of writing advice is "Write what you know," usually attributed to Mark Twain. It's sound advice, if you don't take it literally. It's unfortunate that Mr. Twain didn't say, "Write what you feel," or "Write what moves you," or "Write what you dream or imagine."
…January 19, 2021
What Writers Should Know About Taxes
by L.D. Barnes
Two things we can all be sure of are death and taxes. As a mystery writer, I deal with stories of death and as a tax preparer I deal with the intricacies of taxes. I prefer working on the former, but let’s talk here about the latter, since it’s that…
January 12, 2021
What Your Sentences are Telling You
by Katey Schultz
A writer recently asked me if I revise line by line, in chronological order. It seemed like a simple question, but I had to stop and consider it for a moment. In one regard, yes, when I revise I start at the beginning of a story or particular scene that…
January 5, 2021
How to Write a Memoir: 7 Creative Ways to Tell a Powerful Story
by Brooke Warner
Originally published in The Write Life
Whether you curl up with memoirs on a frequent basis or pick one up every now and again, you know powerful memoirs have the capacity to take you, as a reader, for an exhilarating ride.
When I teach people how to write and…
December 29, 2020
Butt Off of Green Couch
by Tina Jenkins Bell
In 2000 I contracted a dangerous liver infection which had nothing to do with my lifestyle and much to do with the fact that my immune system was not my friend. My prognosis was dark, but I emerged.
Shortly after my amazing recovery, my brother Ricky was diagnosed…
December 22, 2020
Historical Fiction…or is it Fact?
by Samantha Hoffman
Historical fiction is a very popular genre; think The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown, Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders, everything by Phillipa Gregory. I admit, though, it's a puzzling one for me. How much of it is truth and how much is invented? If someone really wants to…
December 15, 2020
Weaving Controversial Issues into Your Fiction
by Marian L. Thomas
How to Weave Controversial Issues into your Fiction's Storylines
Life is full of controversy and today's multi-genre fiction readers are clamoring for stories that take a human-centric approach. Readers crave relatability and connection. One way to ensure that your storyline connects is to weave in issues such as social injustice…
