I have a love/hate relationship with first drafts. I call it my first draft dilemma. On one hand, I love writing a first draft. The idea for the story is fresh in my mind. I’m going along for a ride to see where it takes me. Usually, I don’t even…
Tag: Novel Writing
Books
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Writing Fiction – Showing Vs. Telling
I’ve been reading and reviewing a lot of books lately. I’d say that roughly half of them have been well-written and engaging. The other half, well, the authors were in need of a good editor. Not that the ideas were bad. No, the problem I’m seeing most often is that…
Creativity
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Writing Fiction – A Favorite Time to Write
As a professional writer, one has to always have words at the handy, cocked and ready to fire onto the page. Doesn’t matter the time of day or what else is on my plate, if a request comes in I’m ready to respond. But as a fiction writer, I can…
Books
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Writing Fiction – Talking About Dialogue
One of the little irritations I have when reading fiction is stilted dialogue. What I’m referring to is that written dialogue that, when I hear it in my head, sounds stiff and unnatural. Here’s an example: “Hey,” I said. “Hey,” he replied. “I am going to the store. Would you…
Creativity
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The Novel Rises – The Return of the Undead Draft
My long-languishing novel draft has been dug up and laid back on the slab. Electrodes have been attached and I’m about to send 10,000 volts coursing through it. Time to bring it back to life and finish it off once and for all. I recently mentioned how I struggled with…