February 2012
5 posts
6 tags
Shortcuts to Character Development
What to spice up a character? Lazy? I’ve got some shortcuts to instant character development. No, really.
1. Add a scene where they feel the “wrong” emotion. If he finds out he is getting promoted, make him depressed. If her boyfriend says he loves her, make her scared or depressed. Then explain why, and make it realistic. Suddenly your character is unique and complex. This is...
6 tags
My Favorite Book on Writing
My favorite book on writing is Self-Editing for Fiction Writers. I have a few books on writing, Creating Fiction, Fiction Writer’s Workshop, something by Gotham Writers, Writer’s Workshop in a Book, and maybe a few others. Self-Editing is my favorite by far. Why?
I don’t know. Maybe because it’s not written by writers. It’s written by two editors.
All of my other...
5 tags
Link: Tips for Flash Fiction →
I love it when people who know what they’re talking about provide concrete rules for writing. Most people are too afraid.
3 tags
Words We Don't Say
Writing is an art. No one can tell you how to be a good writer. There’s no guideline to follow. Just intuition.
Which is why I love it when someone gives me rules for writing. Specific, Stone-cold, hard-nosed, zero-tolerance rules.
Reading this article from the Paris Review, which references this other article in the New York Times has made me think a lot more about the words I use. It...