Tag Archives | how to write a great story

When an Author’s Backstory Sparks a Story Idea

By on September 18, 2014 in 1. Discover your story, Beth Vogt, Brainstorming Strategies and Tips, How do I get started?

At the very first My Book Therapy (MBT) Storycrafters Retreat in 2010, Susie May Warren had the attendees complete a seemingly simple – and insignificant – exercise on page nine of our workbooks.

I kept that workbook, the one with the working title of my manuscript scribbled inside the front cover: Wish You Were Here. Thanks to that weekend and how it changed my life and my writing, Wish You Were Here became a “real book” in 2012.

And I refer back to that seemingly insignificant exercise on page nine time and time again.

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Holly Garth, Rachel Hauck, Once Upon A Prince

Deepening the Spiritual Thread

By on September 19, 2013 in Rachel Hauck

I love this quote. I found it on Facebook. And it’s truth resonates. Writing a novel, or any story or article, is hard. And a bit scary. It demands our mind, our will, our determination and yes, even our hearts!

All of my creative juices and emotional energy is demanded when I’m writing a novel. Especially in the final stages when I’m polishing and weaving all of the threads and plot lines together.

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What Does Episodic Mean?

By on September 12, 2013 in Book Therapist, Rachel Hauck, Story Crafting

Not long ago I had a conversation with a new author about what it means when a story is “episodic.” Maybe some of you might be wondering what it means too. Episodic is like TV shows. Sitcoms. Week to week the characters are the same but the situations are different. Old comedy shows epitomized episodic writing. The characterization even changed in order to “fit the bit” for that week. The show may not even even mentioned a problem that was introduced in last week’s show. But shows like Fraser and Friends, even Seinfeld smoothed that out by having continuing story lines and consistent characterization. Each show was different as if time passed and last week’s issue was over and done.The comedy bits were developed out of characterization rather than out […]

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Let’s Be Frank. Jealousy Is Part Of This Biz

By on September 5, 2013 in Nurturing the Soul, Rachel Hauck, Writing Life

Am I the only one? You pop on to FB or an email loop to see what’s going on? Only to find out someone has just GOTTEN THE CALL! Signed with an agent. Signed with a house. Inked a movie deal. Or finaled in, yea, even won a major award. Got a starred review in Publisher’s Weekly. And here you sit! Twenty manuscripts and counting with narry a nod. Perhaps your first book stunk up the publisher’s sales record to date. Maybe you’re doing great, building a readership, but can’t seem to hop into the movie market. Welcome to the world of publishing. Of anything entertainment wise. Shoot, I remember struggling in my corporate job with those who advanced faster than me. Earned more money. (Cause you know we all […]

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