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How To Write Shop

Articles on the craft and business of writing

Writing Tips

Setting the Scene in a Story

June 4, 2018 by Lori Devoti Leave a Comment
setting the scene in a story fiction writing

You are reading along, a scene ends a new one begins and… Wait… Where am I? Who am I with? WHAT IS HAPPENING? I’m lost… Have you ever had this experience? If so, that writer was guilty of not setting the scene in their story or as I sometimes call it, not grounding the reader. … [Read more…]

Posted in: Scenes, Writing Craft, Writing Tips

What are Beats in Fiction Writing?

May 24, 2018 by Lori Devoti Leave a Comment
what are beats in fiction writing

Beats in Fiction Writing? Honestly, beats isn’t a term I use a lot, but it is a term I hear a lot, so I thought it would be good to define what beats in fiction are and why they matter. Beats in Fiction Writing Defined According to Sandra Scofield in her book, The Scene Book, … [Read more…]

Posted in: Scenes, Writing Craft, Writing Tips Tagged: Beats, scenes, writetip

Keeping Readers Engaged: Word Choice Matters

May 16, 2018 by Kathy Steffen Leave a Comment
keeping readers engaged word choice in writing

Writing is about choosing powerful, interesting, and specific words to keep your readers engaged no matter what you are writing. Keeping readers engaged means making every word count. And nothing puts me more in the mood for a session of word-nerding than wisdom from Mark Twain. ~~~ “The difference between the almost right word & … [Read more…]

Posted in: Writing Craft, Writing Tips Tagged: word choice

Writing Anxiety? How to Face Your Fear and WRITE

April 22, 2018 by Kathy Steffen Leave a Comment
writing anxiety writers block

I have been ruminating lately about fear—how it has helped by keeping me sharp and motivated, but also how it manifests as writing anxiety and blocks me. ~~~ “I made a decision a long time ago that if I want creativity in my life – and I do – then I will have to make … [Read more…]

Posted in: Inspiration, Writing Life, Writing Tips Tagged: writer anxiety, writer's block

Ten Steps to Deconstructing a Novel (or How to Learn from Great Authors)

April 3, 2018 by Kathy Steffen 18 Comments
Deconstructing a novel

Reading other’s work will help you study story structure and analyze what works and what doesn’t so you can apply concepts of writing that resonate with you to your own writing. Here’s how to do it.

Posted in: Writing Craft, Writing Tips Tagged: novel writing, writing strategies, writing tips
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Featured Book

The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers
by Christopher Vogler

The Writer’s Journey explores the relationship between mythology and storytelling in a clear, concise style.

Want help plotting great stories that grab readers?

The Writer’s Journey is on our MUST read list.

Get at Amazon

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Featured Book

Techniques of the Selling Writer 
by Dwight V. Swain

Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight Swain

Classic book on how to write books that readers will want to read!

This is one of the foundation books that all novelists should have on their bookshelf.

Get at Amazon


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