The SEO Post that ATE MY WRITING TIME. Ehhhh…I can’t even be mad. This will make an excellent post to optimize on my website at some point. But I sat down to make a ten-minute list, and ended up with a half-day project. What writers do to sell their books doesn’t involve a lot of …
Sorry, I got sidetracked and a) didn’t get the next Writing Craft post cleaned up, and b) ended up what was supposed to be a “short” guide to SEO for my co-editor, Jamie, for the Amazing Monster Tales #4: Into the Briny Deep release. The guide turned out okay! But it’s 2,000 words long and …
I can’t deal with a long, extended process of coming up with characters for a story. I have to do make characters who feel fresh and interesting in the moment–if I have to plan ahead too much, I won’t want to spend time with the character. I don’t want to have to read a dossier …
We will talk more later about points of view in Writing Craft, Volume 4: Keeping the Reader Trapped In Your Story. But I do need to address a few points about creating point of view characters, because they are vital to how you write setting! You can’t write setting without a point of view character …
I don’t know what the deal is, but I’ve been in several knock-down arguments with other writers about naming the places in their settings. Like, I’ll be lazy and not name a setting location sometimes. (I often forget to name POV characters, too; I don’t go around thinking, “My name is DeAnna” on a moment-by-moment …
Process Post: Where is the story set in place and time? Read More »
(This section is about the type of setting that you’re probably used to, the place and time. I didn’t put it first; I put the “reality” and “rules” of the story first. But these two types of setting usually work together inseparably, so don’t hesitate to juggle as your particular story warrants!) What’s more important, …
Writing Craft Vol. 3: Where is the story set in place and time? Read More »
I’m second-guessing myself: should I include more information on how to write reader check-ins or not? At first you have to think about writing reader check-ins. It doesn’t necessarily come naturally. You: “I just want to tell the story!” Reader (eventually): “It’s a great story but it’s not for me…” You: [Sobbing] It seems like …
(Sorry, I really thought I was going to get to prologues. I did not. Not even close.) Every time the author stops the current forward momentum of the plot to explain something, describe the setting, give context, or give backstory, we’re going to call that a “reader check-in.” It’s like the author is saying, “In …
OMG. If you haven’t heard, I’ve had drama. My boss got fired (with cause). There was a metric assload of tasks to do to try to get the department back on track, with every day bringing a new surprise for stuff that wasn’t done at all or done in such a way that left it …
We are back to Writing Craft Volume 3! Apologies – work went nuts after my boss got fired, and then *I* got laid off! Aieee! But the real reason is that I struggle to be confident about my writing techniques. As one does. Welcome to new folks! Let me know if you need anything or …
Writing Craft Vol. 3: How Real is the Story & Story Openings Read More »
