Category Archives: Writing Tips

If you’re plotting according to the hero’s journey, step 4 is Meet the Mentor.  Mentors exist in every genre. And often, the unlikely the mentor, the better.  Mr. Miyagi mentored The Karate Kid.  Shug Avery was Celie’s principal mentor in The Color Purple. She was also Mister’s mistress, and filled the traditional mentor roles of mother, confidant,Continue reading “Enter the Mentor”

Stuck? Writing is tricky, but it takes only a few minutes to plan stunning plot twists to start a story, intertwine plot threads to weave through what is normally a sagging second act, and contrive a brilliant finale. Fairly early on in the process, a writer should sit down and ask, “Where the plot isContinue reading “How to Twist a Plot”

My friend has written three books. His dialogue sounds interesting. There’s plenty of it. But only three people speak, and all three sound as if they’re speaking from the same lips. Many of their sentences are long, it sounds as if their dialogue is written instead of spoken, there’s little difference in wording among theContinue reading “Authentic Dialogue”

The first thing writers should know about villains is that the best villains are such likeable guys. Anakin Skywalker, a good guy who was tricked by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. Hans Landa, a charming, circumspect, polite SS officer who hunts and kills Jews, even women and children. The Joker, a pitiable character who could have beenContinue reading “How to Build a Better Villain”

Must you outline your novel before you start writing? It’s so boring, it’s a lot of work, and you’d rather just dive right in.  I dove in and started writing To Daddy, Who I Never Loved, and I got lost after a few chapters. It’s about my hitchhiking journey as a 15-year-old from Oklahoma to California,Continue reading “Outlining and First Draft”

Most stories are largely about the hero. The story may be told from his point of view. The story may start in the hero’s ordinary world and end with how the hero fared.  So let’s talk about your hero. What is his or her full name? Does he have a nickname? Is he a ruggedContinue reading “Reluctant Heroes and Anti-heroes”

In January 2020, Robert Lee Brewer, senior editor at Writer’s Digest, posted 25 Ways to Start a Story.  I know what you’re thinking. Wow. Starting Chapter 1 is sooo hard.  Yeah, but it’s waaay easier if you know Ernest Hemingway’s trick: utter honesty.  “All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write theContinue reading “How to Begin Your Story”

Chapter 1 is about a hero who isn’t a hero yet. Chapter 2 is about the Herald and how the hero avoids the Call to Adventure. Why does the hero avoid the Call to Adventure? Isn’t that cowardly? James Scott Bell has written novels by the dozen, plus several books on how to write aContinue reading “And Then a Hero Comes Along”

Sasha Marie Stone posted Five Ways to Find Time for Blogging on WordPress.com at https://wordpress.com/go/content-blogging/five-ways-to-find-time-for-blogging/ I’ve revised her tips for those who want to write a novel.  1. Did you actually write Chapter 1?  Congrats. If you’re feeling like a writer, you should.  Stone suggests scheduling writing dates with yourself. I feel compelled to write everyContinue reading “Nine Thoughts Before Writing Chapter 2”

Fair warning: if you want to write a novel, you’ll have to commit serious time. A year or two may be the minimum, unless you’re Stephen King, who apparently writes a book every other month and fills his down time with screenplays, for God sakes.  If you finish your manuscript (it’s a book after it’sContinue reading “How to start chapter 1”