Have you ever put down a book you were reading because you just couldn't bring yourself to care about any of the characters? There are some genres out there that tend to get so focused on plot and concept that the characters are hammered into these thin cold puppets who act without any visible charisma or relatable motives. As a writer, regardless of your chosen genre, you cannot let…
Most published authors can't avoid the interview question--where do your ideas come from? The frequently give the simple (often maddening to beginning writers) reply of "Everywhere." If you've read or listened to interviews, you'll hear stories of inspiration striking authors while driving, taking a shower, mowing their lawn, eating lunch...insert mundane activity here. But they're right. A person who is actively searching for inspiration, and dedicated to faithfully recording the…
I have friends who don't want to their writing to be cookie-cutter, fill-in-the-blank stories, thus they hesitate to read books on story structure. There are many more people who just want to write stories than there are people who want to study how to write stories. Writing can be fun and exhilarating. A spurt of creativity and words pouring onto the page sometimes trigger a euphoric "high." However it is an understanding of story structure…
Be impeccable in your word. This is the first of The Four Agreements. In the context of the book's philosphy this is a determined truthfulness and also a dedicated integrity. If you say you will do something, it is tantamount that you do this. Otherwise, your word becomes useless. More on the Four Agreements coming for future posts. For now, it is enough to bring these up and remind myself…