by Jill Williamson | Dec 11, 2012 | Writing
by Jill WilliamsonBackstory and exposition are tricky things to handle in fiction. You’ve all likely heard the cautions against both, but it’s practically impossible to write a story without including some. Your characters’ lives are...
by Jill Williamson | Dec 7, 2012 | Writing
by Jill WilliamsonIt’s time for another episode of Punctuation 101, where we talk about something that seems super boring but will really help you out as a writer more than you care to admit. Are you ready?Today’s...
by Stephanie Morrill | Dec 6, 2012 | Writing
We received 116 entries to our last writing contest – wow! Congratulations to those in the top 20: (Listed in alpha order)Allison PerdueBethany BaldwinBritt M.Danielle C.Ellen CoatneyGeorge ArkleyGillian AdamsHannah MummertJessi RobertsJessica StarickaJill...
by Stephanie Morrill | Dec 5, 2012 | Writing
by Stephanie MorrillOne way to add depth to your important characters is to determine their philosophies about life. And to maximize conflict, the life philosophies of various characters should contradict each other. (Though it can also be fun to have two characters...
by Stephanie Morrill | Dec 4, 2012 | Writing
by Jill WilliamsonEvery scene in your novel should have a purpose. This I’ve always known, but at a writers’ conference this past summer, Nancy Kress taught us that there are three reasons for a scene:1. To advance the plot2. To deepen characters3. To fill...
by Stephanie Morrill | Dec 3, 2012 | Writing
by Stephanie MorrillOne of the best parts of both writing and reading a book are the unexpected twists. But I think twists are most effective when you balance them out with what I call ripple scenes.These are scenes that show the effects the twist had on the...
