by Shannon Dittemore | Mar 13, 2020 | Writing, Writing Exercise
It’s been forever since we’ve done a writing exercise here, but I’m guessing some of you are home from school unexpectedly and might be on the look out for activities to keep you occupied. I like to think I give the people what they want! So, today I...
by Jill Williamson | Mar 11, 2020 | Book Club Posts, Go Teen Writers Book Club, Theme
Today on the Go Teen Writers Book Club, we’re discussing “Meaning,” chapter twenty of Story Trumps Structure by Steven James. Chapter Recap: If you write a story with the purpose of teaching a lesson or moral, recognize that your story will always come second on your...
by Stephanie Morrill | Mar 9, 2020 | Beginning Writer's Guide To Finishing A Novel, Story Middles
Let’s imagine your story is like a river, and your main character is traveling down it in a canoe. When we meet your character on page one, they’ve been paddling the same way for a long time. Maybe they don’t like it, but it’s comfortable and seems safe. It’s gotten...
by Shannon Dittemore | Mar 6, 2020 | The Craft of Writing, Writing
Like every being of light, Canaan hates fear. It has little effect on him, but humans can’t make such a claim. Only Celestial eyes can see it for what it is. Black and thick. Like tar, but icy and alive. It clings and oozes. It weighs down its victims until they are...
by Jill Williamson | Mar 4, 2020 | Book Club Posts, Characters, Go Teen Writers Book Club
Today on the Go Teen Writers Book Club, we’re discussing “Dilemmas,” chapter nineteen of Story Trumps Structure by Steven James. Chapter Recap:This chapter is all about creating moral quandaries for your character. I call this clashing internal motivations. For...
by Stephanie Morrill | Mar 2, 2020 | Beginning Writer's Guide To Finishing A Novel
I had an email a few weeks ago from a writer named Taylor asking: “I am writing a story that I love, but I keep going off track and getting stuck at points . . . I don’t want to give up on my story. Do you have any advice to make the story more fun and...
by Shannon Dittemore | Feb 28, 2020 | Author Life, Writing, Writing As A Business, Writing Life
Good morning, writers! I have been busy, busy, busy, so this week I thought I’d just give you a quick writing update so I can jump back into my work. First of all, to everyone who celebrated my cover reveal a few weeks back, THANK YOU! The giveaway at YA BOOKS...
by Jill Williamson | Feb 26, 2020 | Book Club Posts, Description, Editing, Go Teen Writers Book Club, The Craft of Writing
Today on the Go Teen Writers Book Club, we’re discussing “Polish,” chapter eighteen of Story Trumps Structure by Steven James. Chapter Recap:This chapter is really about editing in the form of tightening your prose. When polishing a story, every word counts. Anything...
by Stephanie Morrill | Feb 24, 2020 | Beginning Writer's Guide To Finishing A Novel, Characters
I spent my weekend in charming Fredericksburg, Texas at the National Museum of the Pacific War honoring the Day of Remembrance. This day commemorates the signing of Executive Order 9066 in 1942, which authorized the government to put the Japanese Americans into...
by Shannon Dittemore | Feb 21, 2020 | Theme, Writing
Today, we have a fun mailbag question from GloryAnna: I know this is probably up to me, but how do you go about choosing a moral for your story, or a lesson your character will learn? I have tons of story ideas, and I’ve worked with a lot of them but have never...
