As discussed in “6 Steps to Story Development,” a story needs conflict. In fact, without it you have no story. So let’s take a closer look and see how you can make sure you’re developing the conflict in your story. James Scott Bell, in his book Conflict & Suspense, defines conflict this way: “a clash between…
Do you have a book releasing soon, or one already on the market? Doing local radio station interviews is a good way to get the word out about your book. These local interviews also help you break into the public speaking arena on a more comfortable level. You’ll gain experience and practice that will help…
When you get right down to it the major goal of the fiction writer is to keep the reader reading. And like the performer who spins plates at the top of a stick, writers must spin several plates too—characters and character arc, plot and plot development, conflict, dialog, show vs. tell, and pacing. If we focus…
I have a delightful interview in store for you today with author Elizabeth Noyes. Bookmark this page because you’re going to want to come back to her advice at all stages of your writing journey. Imperfect Wings, published by Write Integrity Press and released August 1, 2014, is Elizabeth’s first full novel. She is a…
I’m blogging over at the Palmetto Christian Writers Network today. Come join me for 5 Steps to Capture and Keep the Editor’s Interest.
The first thing we as writers must accomplish with our story is to hook our reader. But if we merely hook them, the reader can get away. So we must also then compel them to read on to the middle and then right through to the end of our story. We spur our reader to the…
Here are today’s markets. Read the writer’s guidelines thoroughly and study at least one sample issue before submitting. Prism Magazine, a publication of Evangelicals for Social Action, http://prismmagazine.org/writers-guidelines/ The Lookout is designed to provide Christian adults with true-to-the-Bible teaching about current topics to help them mature as believers and live in the world as faithful witnesses…
What was the big bad wolf’s goal in the story of the 3 little pigs? To have dinner. He needed to eat and the 3 pigs met the bill. The wolf was doing what came naturally to him. There was nothing evil about eating the pigs, but of course to the pigs, who stood to…