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Writing Good Dialogue
ByDebra“Bloated, chunky, dull dialogue is a five-alarm warning to the reviewer that you can’t write salable fiction,” says James Scott Bell in his book The Art of War for Writers. Dialogue, like any other part of your novel, must move your story forward. An important part of good dialogue is the distinctive voice of each…
How Do Plot and Scene Work Together, Part 3: Moving from Scene to Sequel
ByDebraUpdated October 12, 2020 Last time we looked at scenes and how to build them. Most writers don’t have trouble writing scenes, and moving from scene to scene can be accomplished with as simple a statement as “Later that day…” However, there are times when you want to provide your reader with more. The sequel…
Ask the Editor–How do I know I have a good editor?
ByDebraToday is part 2 of Ask the Editor and is a continuation of yesterday’s questions. What clues can help authors in knowing they have a good editor? What a great question. Many writers may wonder about this without ever really voicing the question even to themselves. Scams are everywhere in all arenas. My take on…
Mind Mapping and Ice Cream
ByDebraIt’s National Ice Cream Month. Now there’s an idea I can sink my teeth into…brain freeze! I like ice cream. My favorite flavor is Bordeaux cherry chocolate. Mmmm, heaven on earth. But what does that have to do with writing? I thought I’d give you some story ideas to play around with while you enjoy…
Your Hero’s Story Goal and the Problems in Obtaining It
ByDebraEarlier this year I looked at 4 important elements in fiction writing. Here’s a quick review: What does the hero want? (This is the story goal.) Who or what is opposing the hero getting what she wants? What will the hero’s life look like if she does (or does not) get what she wants? Who…
Through Lines: Your Book’s Special Sauce Part 1 Nonfiction
ByDebraHow many of you remember McDonald’s “special sauce” advertising for the Big Mac? I was around when they first used it in 1974. (After all these years, I wonder if the recipe is still the same. I’m not promoting McDonald’s.) So what’s special sauce got to do with writing? It’s my way of creating an…

