The first line of a story has a major job—to catch the attention of the reader. The right reader. As a writer it is, arguably, the most important line we write. So how do we write a great first line? The Job of the First Line If the job of the first line of a… Continue reading How to Write a Great First Line
Category: How To’s
Scenes, the Lego bricks of Story Structure
A child learns to use Lego bricks and builds a tower one brick on top of another. The older the child gets, the more he understands that interlocking the bricks makes a stronger structure. Her structures grow taller, sturdier, and more complex. So it is with understanding story structure. Scenes are the Lego bricks of story structure.
Dirty Little Secrets to Writing a Good Story
In my post Two Secret Rules for Writers, I said the secret was that there isn’t a secret in writing. I may have to take that back
Re-visioning Again
This post is directing you back to an eight-week blog post series I wrote a long while ago. It’s my version of revising your manuscript. I call it re-visioning.
Writer’s Block Is Not The End
Writer’s block. Feared and mocked and denied and suffered, it happens. It can be debilitating. But writer’s block is not the end. Some writers say they don’t believe in writer’s block. Carpenters don’t get carpenters’ block. And surgeons don’t get surgeons’ block (thank goodness!) So writer’s blocked is “made up” or “an excuse.” I thought… Continue reading Writer’s Block Is Not The End