This blog is late. It's late because I made the silly mistake of promising in my last post in this series that the next part would come "next week" i.e. the second half of November. Well, that didn't happen, for a variety of reasons including getting behind on NaNoWriMo, exciting new health issues, and getting … Continue reading All Downhill From Here: Story Structure in Act 2, Part 2
Tag: writing craft
Stuck in the Middle With You: Story Structure in Act II
There's no denying that storytelling can get messy in the middle. The middle of a novel may sag or slump, prone to descriptions like soggy, mushy, murky, or muddy. These damp and sticky terms reflect an experience familiar to many a writer. The often arduous process of drafting a story's second act may feel a … Continue reading Stuck in the Middle With You: Story Structure in Act II
Setting the Stage for Story: Structuring the First Act
All you need to write a story is a beginning, a middle, and an end. The three-act structure sounds simple enough. It’s a classic, literally, originating with the theories of Aristotle and still central to much of the structural writing advice that floats around today. But drilling down into exactly how each act should work—and … Continue reading Setting the Stage for Story: Structuring the First Act
Five Lessons From the Other Side of the Query Letter
Hello from the other side! June has been a busy month for me. I had my second book release and wrote my first official edit letter as a Rogue Mentor. I’m also slowly working through feedback letters to some Rogue hopefuls. And now that my mentee has started her revision process, I want to share … Continue reading Five Lessons From the Other Side of the Query Letter
Don’t Let Craft Advice Silence Your Authorial Voice
The internet is full of craft advice for writers. Some of it is even good advice. All of it purports to make your writing better, more readable, more relatable, more salable. I’m not talking about grammar advice, like how to punctuate dialogue. That’s a mechanical skill. It’s mostly objective, at least within its specific context … Continue reading Don’t Let Craft Advice Silence Your Authorial Voice
Recommended Reads for May 13
Happy Friday the 13th! I meant to get this published earlier today but completely spaced on it last night, because that is how my May is going. Whee! This is the second edition of my so-far monthly Recommended Reads series. Check out April's Recommended Reads here. Longform Love: Writing in Scary Times and Emotional Logic … Continue reading Recommended Reads for May 13
Recommended Reads for April 15
Hello, dear readers! I'm trying out a new thing on here this week, a link roundup/news post. If it works out, I may step up my posting schedule from one post per week to two. There are so many amazing creative minds in my social media circles working on cool stuff that I find meaningful … Continue reading Recommended Reads for April 15
Welcome to My TED Talk(s): Blog Writing Step by Step
It's no secret that I love blogging. "Live, laugh, longform" has become my unofficial motto for this project, only half-tongue in cheek. When I started this blog, however, I had no idea what I wanted to do with it or how to do it in the first place. I had tried blogging a few times … Continue reading Welcome to My TED Talk(s): Blog Writing Step by Step
I’m Going Rogue: Mentor Wish Lists Are Live!
Popping in for a bonus post on here to share some exciting news: I'm going Rogue...Mentor, that is! I've been selected as a Rogue Mentor for the Spring/Summer 2022 session and I can't wait to get started. You can view an image-light version of my wish list on the Rogue Mentor site as well as … Continue reading I’m Going Rogue: Mentor Wish Lists Are Live!
Here Be Dragons: Outlining for Discovery Writers
If the prospect of outlining a new project make you want to run away to sea, you’re not alone. While some writers swear by extensive planning, others despise it. And some aspire to plan ahead, but find themselves uninspired by the process. The age-old split between plotters and pantsers may leave many in the latter … Continue reading Here Be Dragons: Outlining for Discovery Writers