This year, we’re finally going to do it. We’re going to buckle down and write more. If you haven’t started your dream project, you’re...

Every December I find myself waxing philosophical about myself, the writing life, storytelling and the perfect lasagna recipe. No, I’m...

This week I’m so pleased to have a guest blog from Brian McDonald. You can hear more from Brian at his blog and website. Brian McDonald...

What stands in your main character’s way? Maybe it’s a person whose goals clash with those of your protagonist. But sometimes it’s a...

You know that your major character is going to make or break your novel, so you’ve studied up. You’ve got a list of strengths and...

Sometimes in stories what the major character wants is a big mistake. Not a mistake in storytelling terms, but in terms of what the...

Today I’m thinking about how the major character of a novel changes through the story. In other words, his or her character arc. Having...

The other day someone asked me how many characters in their story should have a point of view. Ever wrestle with this one? Most writers...

Last week Larry Brooks and I critiqued 16 first pages submitted by writers aspiring to publication. This was the Write on the River First...

How do stories come to a writer? Usually they don’t arrive whole cloth, with clarity and stunning originality. Sometimes stories don’t...

Today’s meditation is on crap. You know, as in the kind that sells. The kind that you swear you will never, never write. Whether it’s a...

This is a tale of luck. It’s also a typical story of how a short story gets published. I’m relating this tale to assure those of you who...

Some days do you think, why the hell am I writing, anyway? The industry is hard, have you noticed? A dozen reasons not to write spring up...

I was listening to Bob Mayer give a workshop on writing the novel and I heard the voice of God. Now, I like Bob Mayer very much, but it...

Writers often harbor seemingly reasonable beliefs that are actually rather deranged. We see conspiracies, cling to unrealistic...

I’ve been working so hard on novels the last few years that I’ve forgotten how useful it is to write short. Very short. If you’re having...

I’ve heard writing teachers say that you should avoid subplots for your first few novels. What? We don’t get to play in the full sandbox?...

Big changes are rolling through the publishing industry. It may be good, it may be bad, but the not knowing gives us pause. Often too...

This past weekend Chelsea Cain gave a little gem of a talk at Write on the River. Hers was an inspirational review of her climb to fame....

This is a stupid-sounding topic. We all know how to chat with people in unique fields, like astrophysics, training Arabian stallions and,...