If I asked you why you used bookends, what would you say? Envision that long line of books and how those first six books are staying in place … but then the last few stragglers won’t line up. Bookends create order – helping a row of books stand up straight. While we sometimes need a pair of bookends tucked around the outside of a collection of books, have you ever utilized bookends between the book covers your story? What: Bookends are the “mirror elements” of a novel’s 1st and 3rd acts that brings a character back to face the same issue, situation or conflict and reveals the character’s growth Why: The hero and heroine readers meet in chapter one of a novel is not the same (imaginary) person by the […]
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A Writer’s Christmas Wish List
‘Tis the season when the blog-o-sphere is cluttered with writers’ wish lists. Google “gifts for writers” and you’ll discover things like: A book clock A bathrobe – because we all know writers don’t wear real clothes while writing Moleskin notebooks (I love these things—not that I need another notebook.) Jewelry for writers The MBT Novelist Starter Pack (Didn’t think I’d forget that, did you?) It’s all well and good to drop “all I want for Christmas” hints during this time of the year. How else will people know that you long for a ceramic tray that looks like a notepad? And I have a few hints about gifts to give yourself this season that will help you be a better writer in 2013. Give yourself the gift of less. December […]
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TEE’s What and Why: The Ds
Ah, the fun of writing a novel. You, the writer, get to wreak havoc on your characters – all the while ignoring any and all havoc in your life. (At least for a little while. You must return to reality at some point.) Wreaking havoc – that’s just another term for “the Ds”: the events that distance your hero or heroine from their goals. Let me be more specific: What: The Ds Think Distancing, Denial, Disappointments and Devastation. Yes, there are Dreams and Delights too – even a dream-come-true, like your heroine getting offered that job she’s always wanted – can wreak havoc in her life. Ds distance a character from what they want, deny them something – a relationship, maybe – and create a Y in the road, forcing […]
Read the RestFrasier Contest Blog Tour
Hello! Usually, yes, we have Fabulous Fiction Friday… but because we have the Frasier Contest going on this month, I wanted to take this day to encourage you to stop by the following blogs this month and check what the Voices had to say about the Frasier Contest! February 6: Melissa Tagg http://www.melissatagg.com/ February 7: Beth Vogt http://bethvogt.com/ February 8: Andrea Nell http://www.andrea-michelle-wood.blogspot.com/ February 10: Michelle Lim http://thoughtsonplot.wordpress.com/ February 16: Edie Melson http://thewriteconversation.blogspot.com/ February 23: Lisa Jordan http://www.lisajordanbooks.com/ February 27: Julia Matuska http://painterspen.blogspot.com/ February 29: Tiffany Colter http://writingcareercoach.com/ March 1: Casey Herringshaw http://thewritersalleys.blogspot.com/ March 2: Jennifer Fromke http://jenniferfromke.com/blog/ March 5: Rachel Hauck http://www.rachelhauck.com/ Thank you all for your Blog post – and for more info about the Frasier […]
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