We all know our main characters well – at least in our own heads. The trouble is making them seem as real and 3D on the page as they are in our mind’s eye. Because a great well-rounded character doesn’t have to be well liked, attractive, or do heroic things….
Month: December 2013
Writers Need Discipline, Devotion and Dedication
Writers are supposed to be this erratic, emotional, slightly-unhinged, unpredictable mess. I mean, that’s what popular culture says. But to be successful at writing requires equal parts devotion, dedication, and discipline, and there’s not chaos involved at all! So, I’m hanging out on Twitter and see a tweet come through…
Don’t Let Doubt Stop You From Writing
I spent the weekend at WANACon – well, I spent the weekend in my jammies, with no makeup, and listened to and chatted in real time with some best selling authors at WANACon. This is the beauty of a digital writer’s conference. I had been sick all week. If this…
How To Build Compelling Character Conflict
Wondering how to build in effective character conflict? How does one create the kind of inner turmoil that drives a character to outrageous page-turning decisions and mistakes? Try drawing a line in the sand. I love that scene from the Fellowship Of The Ring where Gandalf screams at the Balrog:…
Writers Behaving Badly on Facebook
Did you know there are rules of etiquette on Facebook? Facebook is my happy place, and I like to try and make Facebook a positive environment when possible. So, when an online acquaintance posted a link to her own blog on my timeline (personal wall) I left her a short…
The Tricky Art of Pacing
I’ve got a great guest post today from Becca Puglisi, the co-creator of The Bookshelf Muse and The Emotion Thesaurus. Before I hand over control, I always ask two probing questions: LHW: What are you reading right now? BP: Right now, I’m reading Lovely, Dark, and Deep, by Amy McNamara….