Blog
Creating Lifelike Characters
Well-rounded characters drive a story. Without them, all we have are cardboard cutouts of roles that need to be filled. When these roles (hero, victim, villain, mentor, etc.) are filled with well-rounded characters, the story is complex, rich, and intriguing. The...
Soapbox Talks with Esther Rabbit
Soapbox Talks stemmed from the desires to pay it forward and help get the word out for debut authors. Self-publishing can be a difficult journey and any little bit can help. Here, we'll learn about the authors and their novels, written in their own words. To get this...
The Five Requirements of Story
Actually, let's make that four... Editor's note: I've removed the Predicament from the five requirements of story in my structure model. It's such an inherent piece that I've never seen it missing when the Climax is presented clearly. There's no need to muddle things...
Interview By Esther Rabbit
Last week I was excited to receive an email from blogger and writer Esther Rabbit asking me to interview with her! She took the time out of her busy schedule to ask me for some tips for writers, how to balance editing and life, and some common myths about editing....
Essential Scenes: A Study of the Thriller Genre
For a piece of fiction to work, several elements must be present. Most commercial and genre fiction, those works of art that general audiences read and buy, follow the three-act structure. Not surprisingly, those acts are the beginning, middle, and end. But to have a...
Pacing
Pacing is often an overlooked, sometimes seemingly magic, element to a good book. It can keep readers at the edge of their seat, calm them from high intensity scenes, and drive them to turn the page. Yet, if it’s not done well, it can exhaust your audience, bore them,...