by Jacque | May 13, 2020 | Character, Don't Tell, Powerful Stories, Self-Editing, Show, Uncategorized
Understanding point of view (POV) and perspective can help your characters and your story come to life. Though the terms are typically used interchangeably, I’d like to argue that they aren’t the same. Let’s first define POV According to...
by Jacque | Apr 8, 2020 | Powerful Stories, Uncategorized
There’s a heated debate that appears in writer’s groups and forums on a regular basis: Why hire a development editor when a beta reader can do the same thing for free? In short, they have two different roles in the revision and publishing process. And both are useful...
by Jacque | Mar 11, 2020 | five requirements, Powerful Stories, Self-Editing, Structure, Uncategorized
The way a story ends is just as important as the way it begins. While the beginning should hook you in and drive you to continue reading, the ending should bring closure. At this point, the climax has answered many of the plot’s questions, so the ending should show...
by Jacque | Feb 12, 2020 | Controlling Theme, Essential Scenes, Powerful Stories, Self-Editing, Step 2, Structure, Supersets, Uncategorized
Controlling theme. Sounds a bit daunting, doesn’t it? As if there’s this point that needs to be made with your story, some lesson that you must prove. Well…there kinda is. But your story doesn’t have to be a grand statement or literary masterpiece, especially if...
by Jacque | Jan 8, 2020 | five requirements, Powerful Stories, Self-Editing, Structure, Uncategorized
This is the moment you’ve been waiting for, isn’t it? The most exciting part of the story, what everything has been building up to, the part when you’re begging for a release of tension: The Climax! In a previous post, I discussed the predicament, the big event that...
by Jacque | Oct 23, 2019 | five requirements, Powerful Stories, Self-Editing, Structure, Uncategorized
How are they going to reconcile? Will the bad guy get away? These are some of the questions readers ask during big moments. It’s that last pickle that has us at the edge of our seats, turning pages, and staying up past bedtime. All of the conflict, big and small, has...
