Image: close-up photo of mortar between bricks in a wall.
What’s between scenes is like mortar—necessary for your story’s structure, but not significant—and well handled using summary and spacers ...
Image: in a darkened space, a light illuminates a woman's eye gazing intently.
A little preparation—noting environmental details, character moods and motivations—will make a big difference in the way your scenes unfold ...
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“Making a scene” in public often happens spontaneously, but creating emotionally compelling scenes on paper requires considerable planning ...
Image: hands emerging from bed covers to type on a laptop computer, with a cup of coffee resting nearby on the bedsheets.
One author shares how creation of a daily writing routine has made all the difference in attaining her goals ...
/ Guest Post, Improve Your Writing
Image: a miniature blank book held open by a thumb.
Only a fraction of participants reach the finish line. Setting your sights on the more compact novella form might help ...
/ Guest Post, Improve Your Writing
Image: person walking across pavement which is painted with signage indicating to look both ways
Without insight into how your characters will react in even the most mundane of circumstances, you aren’t ready to plan ...
/ Guest Post, Improve Your Writing
Image: a sign printed with the words "text will go here," draped over a wall
Given that many of us sidestep endings in real life, it should not be surprising that writers have trouble concluding ...
/ Guest Post, Improve Your Writing
Image: television displaying a video game menu of three buttons labeled Continue, Start Over, and Quit
Just as we might be conflict averse, it can be tempting to keep revising a story’s beginning instead of proceeding ...