Writer's Corner: Tips for writers
Writing is a heart-pumping, nerve-knotting, adrenaline rush. From the moment that first kernel of a story idea presents itself, my brain is in high gear, and when the idea takes shape--I'm in writer heaven.
As the first words flow from my brain through my fingers and onto the page, I'm on fast-forward, I can't sleep, I can't eat, (okay, scratch that...I can always eat) and I can't stop writing until I get the story down in its most primitive form. Then I can breathe. Then I can write. Really write. I can't imagine there's any high more powerful than the one I get when I see my story and my characters spring to life on the page.
Writing is also hard work! No question about it.
Even though I have a degree in journalism, most of what I know about creative writing I learned from other writers, writer's groups, and from my wonderful editors. The rest comes from hard work, writing and rewriting over 20 novels, 14 of which were published by Harlequin Enterprises. What I've learned after many years honing my craft is that there is no one right way...there are no absolutes...and no such thing as perfection. Writers must continue to learn and grow...and challenge ourselves, no matter how many books we have published.
"How to Write a Novel" is one of my favorite topics, one I talk about all the time with fellow writers and in my writing classes. It's one I've written about in various venues since I was first published. Many writers shared and helped me along the way, and I'd like to do the same by sharing some of the articles I've written with you.
To read the articles, just click on the titles below.
Writer's Tips
The Secret to Compelling Fiction
The Monster Under the Bed: Setting the Scene
Tips for Creating Fictional Heroes
Ten Tips for Writing Horror Stories
The Critical First Three Pages
Engaging the Reader with Emotion: The most important part of your story
This page will always be a work in progress since I'll be adding more articles as I have time. Be sure to stop by often to see what's new.
WRITING RESOURCES - BOOKS I LOVE AND USE
Writing is a continual learning process. We stop learning just because we become published. We must continue to learn and challenge ourselves or our stories may become repetitious and stale. There's always a way to take your writing to the next level. All I need to do is look at some of my earliest published novels to see how much I've grown. Even when we think we have a good handle on it and can write a story in half the time as in the beginning, it's still wise, from time to time, to simply go back and review the basics. It's amazing how much we forget along the way.
Below are some of my favorite writing resource books and what I like about them. They range from the very basic books for beginning writers to those that explain writing techniques generally used by more advanced writers. All are good resources wherever you are in your writing career. Never forget, the best way to learn how to write is to be an avid reader. After finishing a fantastic novel ask yourself what it is about the story that drew you in and kept you reading. Study what other writers do and then learn how to do that yourself. You won't sound like any other author when you use the same techniques because every perspective and voice is different. You are unique!
Let me know if you have any favorite how-to writers resource books and why you think the book is beneficial. I'm not going to number these since the importance of the content depends on where you are in your writing journey.
MUST READS FOR ALL WRITERS:
Below are some of my favorite writing resource books and what I like about them. They range from the very basic books for beginning writers to those that explain writing techniques generally used by more advanced writers. All are good resources wherever you are in your writing career. Never forget, the best way to learn how to write is to be an avid reader. After finishing a fantastic novel ask yourself what it is about the story that drew you in and kept you reading. Study what other writers do and then learn how to do that yourself. You won't sound like any other author when you use the same techniques because every perspective and voice is different. You are unique!
Let me know if you have any favorite how-to writers resource books and why you think the book is beneficial. I'm not going to number these since the importance of the content depends on where you are in your writing journey.
MUST READS FOR ALL WRITERS:
- The Elements of Style, by William Strunk, Jr., and E.B. White - A timeless pocket primer that takes you through the elementary rules of grammar usage through the principles of composition and form, and finally an approach to individual style. A quick reference book that should sit close at hand on any writer's bookshelf.
- Self Editing for Fiction Writers, by Renni Browne and Dave King - Self editing is a critical piece of the writing process, and this book lays it all out in understandable terms. It's a practical, specific, pertinent and entertaining guide to the craft of writing...that teaches you how to edit like an editor. With exercises that are fun as well as instructive..
- The Techniques of the Selling Writer, by Dwight V. Swain - This book was my bible when I first started writing...even though I didn't understand half of it. For those truly serious about writing, this is one of the best books out there on the creative process of writing commercially oriented fiction . He offers expert advice along with a host of tricks and techniques to make your stories enjoyable and enticing. It's an older book, so the language can be dated, but the advice is timeless.
- Scene & Structure, by Jack M. Bickham - This book is the most easily understandable book I read early on in my career on how to structure a novel. Bickham goes through creating a novel chapter by chapter. If you don't understand story structure after reading this, you're doing something wrong.
- Goal, Motivation & Conflict (GMC): The Building Blocks of Good Fiction, by Debra Dixon - I cannot recommend this book highly enough. If you read nothing else when learning to plot your story, read this book. It isn't enough to simply know the formal structure of a novel, you also have to know the underpinnings...the foundation. Without a good foundation, the structure will fail, either before it's finished or at the end. Neither a good prospect. Goal, motivation and conflict are the bones under the flesh of your novel.