Blog Post Deep, Multi-Faceted Development and Progression of Romantic Relationships 500
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Deep, Multi-Faceted Development and Progression of Romantic Relationships By Karen S. Wiesner

Deep, Multi-Faceted Development and Progression of Romantic Relationships By Karen S. Wiesner   Based on CPR for Dead or Lifeless Fiction {A Writer's Guide to Deep and Multifaceted Development and Progression of Characters, Plot, and Relationships}   "Character is not created in isolation or repose; it’s forged through interaction with others and the world." ~The Art of Character: Creating Memorable Characters for Fiction, Film, and TV by David Corbett   Human beings tend to live in groups, whether because one…
Blurb Writing Series, Part 2: Crafting Blurbs Overview by Karen Wiesner
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Blurb Writing Series, Part 2: Crafting Blurbs Overview by Karen Wiesner

Crafting Blurbs Overview by Karen Wiesner   Back Cover Blurbs A back cover blurb can be anywhere from one to four paragraphs. If the whole package is short and punchy, as we've said, it's practically guaranteed to be intriguingly memorable. But, while shorter is generally better these days, that's not always the case. A too-short blurb may be less than dazzling. Instead of being memorable, it can lack details to capture true interest in readers. Another thing to note is…
Blog Post Blurb Writing Series, Part 1: Judge a Book by its Back Cover Blurb 500
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Blurb Writing Series, Part 1: Judge a Book by its Back Cover Blurb by Karen Wiesner

Fact 1: Readers judge books by their back cover blurbs just as they might a cover.   Fact 2: Authors and publishers want them to! To have a reader judge a book by its back cover blurb is our goal.   The only problem with this is that we want readers to judge our books to be worthy of taking the risk of buying and reading it, not the opposite. For that very reason, an *effectively good* back cover blurb…
Cohesive Story Building 3d cover
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3D Fiction Fundamentals Collection, Volume 2: Cohesive Story Building by Karen S. Wiesner

(ebooks are available from all sites, and print is available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and some from Angus and Robertson)     Cohesive Story Building Bonus Companion Booklet The blank worksheets from COHESIVE STORY BUILDING by Karen S. Wiesner are provided free in an editable digital file that allows users to type right into the document and use it over and over as needed. (Link below) A print edition is also available for purchase (link also below). This bonus…
Blog Post Avoid Rejection... An Editor's Checklist 500
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Avoid Rejection… An Editor’s Checklist by Dee Lloyd

During my six years as Acquisitions Editor for the now-defunct LTDBooks I must have read several thousand submissions. Many of the manuscripts I reluctantly had to reject had much to offer. If the authors had looked carefully at the following aspects of their writing, my response might have been positive. Here are the topics of some of my pet peeves. THE CHECK LIST: Spelling and grammar. There is no more obvious fault to an editor than poor grammar and spelling.…
Blog Post The Stuff Series are Made of 500
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The Stuff Series are Made of by Karen Wiesner

The Stuff Series Are Made Of By Karen S. Wiesner   "The disease of writing is dangerous and contagious," Abelard famously said to Heloise. So, too, can a book series become a relentless obsession: It's why readers follow series devotedly to the last, why writers write them for years on end, and why publishers contract them in spades. In our trend-driven world, series are hotter than ever. But if writing a novel can seem overwhelming, the idea of creating a whole…
Blog Post Scene business, style, and dialogue 500
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Scene business, style, and dialogue by Will Greenway

Scene business, style, and dialogue By Will Greenway Viewpoint is one the most important aspects of writing. It is the eye through which readers see your work. Creating a strong viewpoint "presence" within your story relies on several related narrative techniques. One of the most important is the handling of character interactions and specifically dialogue. Related to dialogue, one of the most common problems in beginning writing is the "talking head" syndrome. Essentially, characters in a scene begin talking, and…
Blog Post World Building, Not Just for Genre Writers 500
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World Building, Not Just for Genre Writers by Will Greenway

Writing: World Building, not just for genre writers By Will Greenway Overview When we see the term "world building", many writers tend to associate this concept with genre fiction, specifically science fiction, fantasy, and often horror as well.  However, building a world is something that all fiction writers must do. Simply because your world is closer to the "real world" in terms of conventions does not mean that there isn't still work to be done. When we take the idea…
Blog Post Writing: Dynamic Beginnings (2 of 2) 500
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Writing: Dynamic Beginnings (2 of 2) by Will Greenway

Dynamic Beginnings (2 of 2) By Will Greenway If you read the material on Dynamic Beginnings and the 8 rules for starting a novel or short story, this article contains additional "starter" tips and some concrete examples for launching stories. One mechanism that is good for teaching writing self-discipline and makes for an evocative story opening is the six-line opener paragraph. The goal of the opener paragraph is to hook the reader and do most of the things talked about…
Blog Post How To Write Dynamic Beginnings (1 of 2) 500
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How To Write Dynamic Beginnings (1 of 2) by Will Greenway

Dynamic Beginnings (1 of 2) By Will Greenway The opening of your novel or short story is crucial. It must be well written, catchy, and evocative. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, your opening doesn't move the story forward in the proper manner. This may not be a shortcoming in your writing ability, but a reflection of an improperly framed narrative. Many people think of their stories as written in stone. In their minds, the narrative doesn't exist outside…