conspiracy theory that might open the door for human, authentic writing. That’s worth considering no matter whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction like memoirs.
2 mins
The book’s beats Go On
A story beat can be anything, even an interlude of character backstory. My foundation is always character work and backstory.
2 mins
Things to Do When words won’t come
If I’m ever to make the leap from writer to author on a book — it’s a leap, every single time — I must do something.
2 mins
Setting a Menu for Novels
A book outline is as essential as silverware at a table setting. Working from an outline, you break it into a set of chapter summaries.
2 mins
Brainstorming versus aI
Writers everywhere are being offered AI. It’s a choice, to use a chat. You’re either Not-Bot, or Got-Bot. You might even be Not-Yet-Bot.
2 mins
Make a thesaurus deliver humanity
Knowing what to try, and what to replace, is a very human task. AI did not build The Emotion Thesaurus.
2 mins
Why learn to talk about Writing?
Learning to speak the language about literature and writing takes practice. If you have any chance to talk with other writers, try to turn the conversation to how your own work comes together.
2 mins
How to drive a story with problems
People are what we enjoy observing, and their conflicts and troubles entertain and captivate us.
2 mins
Why meaning wins spots for the mundane
Mundane memories don’t earn their keep just because you can remember them well. The everyday event, the droll habit, the mundane action, they all need something more.
2 mins
An ocean going reading list
With weeks of time in the cabin, or on deck coming up, John asked what books would I recommend to a fiction writer, one who’s setting sail for a cruise around the Pacific.
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