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What are you talking about?
Theme is a loaded word. In fiction, it aroused the suspicion that we’re preaching about something. Can’t we just give the story a...
Jan 13, 2014


The Hidden Theme
Theme is a loaded word. It conjures up middle school English classes where you have to cough up what the writer was trying to say in...
Jan 23, 2013


What is the job of a storyteller?
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...
Dec 10, 2011
Sometimes a great nudge
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...
Jul 12, 2011
Writing Prompts
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...
Jul 1, 2011
The Heart of Your Story
Today I’m putting down yet another book that I hoped would grip me in a dramatic embrace. Nope, it didn’t. I’m quitting on page 80. If...
Nov 21, 2010
What’s It All About?
In all of the frenzy to lock down the elements of story craft, we often forget what we’re talking about in the first place. That is, what...
Sep 7, 2010
Thoughts on Story Theme
Theme is a loaded word. It conjures up middle school English classes where you have to cough up what the writer was trying to say in...
Jun 5, 2008
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