If you’ve wondered whether the story you’re writing should be in present tense or past tense, you’re in good company. The short answer is: do whatever feels right for you and your story. Since that’s about as helpful as a crocheted bicycle, however, I decided to dive a little deeper into the debate. Read about […]
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The Hidden Value of Critique Groups
When you think of critique groups, you probably assume (hope) that they’ll give you some constructive feedback to improve your scene, chapter, or story. But did you know that’s only half of the benefit you can gain from a critique group? And it’s not even the most important half. I’m blogging about this over on […]
Bad Starts to Good Stories – On the RMFW Blog
Opening pages are the gateway into your story. If those opening pages don’t grab your reader (or agent or editor), they’ll slam that gate shut and move on to the next book. You won’t get a second chance to hook them again. But openings are hard, usually because we draft them before we truly understand […]
Beta Readers, Alpha Readers, and Critique Groups – What’s the Difference?
What’s the difference between alpha readers, critique groups, beta readers, sensitivity readers, developmental editors, and all the other reader/editor types out there? And what are we writers supposed to do with them all? Each one has a role to play in making your story the best it can be, whether you’re polishing your manuscript to […]
Are Your Settings Fading into the Background? – On the RMFW Blog
In your stories, settings can and should be doing more for you than just establishing time and location. Settings can help enhance your characters, set the atmosphere and tone of a scene or entire book, and ratchet up the tension and conflict. I show how on the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers blog this month, in […]
Why Visiting Your Setting in Real Life Can Help Your Story – On the RMFW Blog
It’s tempting to rely on your memory, imagination, or the internet when it comes to describing a setting in your story. However, nothing beats a real-life visit to add authenticity, nuance, and layers to the setting you’re writing about. Even if your story involves fairytale or science fiction settings, you can find places in our […]
