Blog
Genre Affects EVERYTHING
How would you describe a dog? Four legs, a nose, and a tail, right? Easy enough. But that can also describe a cat, a horse, or even an elephant! Because a dog is such a common animal, we don’t think twice about the difference between a dog and a cat, we just know. We...
SoapBox Talks with Leslie Baker
I got the chance to sit down with local author Leslie Baker and discuss the importance of knowing your genre and how it plays a role in everything from what scenes to include, who your audience will be, and how to market your book. Take a listen! You can find Leslie's...
Requirement 2: Conflict
The best part of any story is the Conflict. The trials and tribulations of compelling characters keep us at the edge of our seats, unwilling to put the book down. It’s no wonder it’s a requirement of story, it is the story! While it’s true you need an inciting...
Why Storytelling?
Storytelling is as natural as breathing. We are told stories, read books, and shown movies and television shows since the day we’re born, for some of us maybe even before. Reading fiction teaches us empathy, helps us to make sense of others’ feelings and...
Requirement 1: The Inciting Incident
Every story needs the same Five Requirements, just presented in unique ways, both to the genre and the story itself. That first Requirement is the Inciting Incident of the story. This incident or event must deliver a promise, hook the reader, and propel the story...
Soapbox Talks with Tola Lisa Vivour
Rarely do I run across a book that gets me thinking deeply about controversial social issues that are widely undiscussed. Tola Lisa Vivour's book did just that when I had the opportunity to work with her a few years ago. Her work started as a passionate project hoping...