“Write what you know,” they say. Well, the protagonist in one of my WIPs (works-in-progress, and yes, plural, because doesn’t everyone work on multiple novels at the same time? No? Hmmm…) is a committed lone wolf caught up in a controversy he’s not interested in being caught up in. There are bad guys. Missing friends. […]
character
How to Write Stories that Bore Your Readers – On the RMFW Blog
Are your stories too exciting? Are they keeping your readers up past their bedtimes? Are they causing book clubs to swoon? Well, fear not, gentle writer, for I have compiled a list of 10 ways you can suck the energy right out of your writing. If your dream is to craft a story so boring […]
Character Development: Use Poetry to Find a Character’s Voice – On the RMFW Blog
In honor of National Poetry Month (April), I talk about how fiction writers can wade into the murky waters of a writing a simple poem to help find their fictional characters’ voices. Check out my article on the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers blog: “Using Poetry to Explore a Character’s Voice in Fiction.”
Thanksgiving on the Page: Gratitude as a Character Trait in Your Writing – On the RMFW Blog
As you’re developing characters in your stories, have you considered how those characters feel about expressing gratitude to another being? Do they say “thank you” freely, or do they view saying thanks as an obligation or a debt to be paid? Expressing thanks can take on strong meanings for your characters whether you’re writing a […]
Character-Building: What Does Freedom Mean to Your Protagonist? – On the RMFW Blog
When you’re creating a character in your story, it’s important to make them as well-rounded and three-dimensional as possible. You must know their history, their desires, their goals, their obstacles, their quirks, and the way they’ll react in any given situation. Have you considered how they define freedom, and what they might do if they […]
Fire Up Your Writing Energy – Bar Scene
Writing can go through seasons—some seasons are hot and fast, filled with fireworks, while others are cold and sluggish, like a Sunday morning in December. After one of those cold, unproductive seasons, getting back to our computers to do some fiction writing can feel like a sun-kissed reward for having survived all those lost gloves […]
