The meat of any story is the scenes showing the conflicts and obstacles that the main character(s) face as they try to reach some sort of end point that they can be happy with, or satisfied by. Sometimes they have fully envisioned it, mapped every step it will take to get where or what theyContinueContinue reading “Writing through conflict”
Category Archives: advice
The first turn
Note, while I discuss this as the inciting incident and not the beginning page of your story, several genres do begin their storytelling here, in medias res (in the midst of things). Trouble has found the main character. The normalcy of the character that you established in the beginning page is disrupted. The cop whoContinueContinue reading “The first turn”
More setting
Previously, I discussed the sensory details part of building your setting. Time (and season) Of course, that is not all that setting is. Setting is also the time (of day for scenes; season or year for stories) things are happening, too. Inasmuch as the weather or anniversaries or daily patterns impacts the character you shouldContinueContinue reading “More setting”
Setting up
To continue my previous topic of starting at the beginning with your stories, I’m going to talk today about setting up your setting. probably my favorite cartoon of all time, Snoopy spent decades trying to write his story. Setting is the place where your story takes place: New York, Paris, a loft in Soho, aContinueContinue reading “Setting up”
Starting at the beginning
Happy new year, everyone. Welcome to 2025. Let’s start at the very beginning… What comes first when you set out to write a story? The characters or the plot? Do you say something like “I’ve got this rich playboy…”? Or do you say “There’s this company taking over another…”? For more guidance how to begin,ContinueContinue reading “Starting at the beginning”
Plotting New Character Goals
Welcome back to my newsletter. As I mentioned in my last newsletter, my goal in 2025 is to post bi-monthly. No better time to start a new habit than right away. As in life, you do not have to set an arbitrary future date to make changes in your life. Small, incremental shifts “one stepContinueContinue reading “Plotting New Character Goals”
December 2024
Heads up! For 2025, I will be shifting to twice monthly posting. Hopefully this will mean I will be able to tag only one or two key ideas instead of half a dozen, making the posts easier to search for specific advice. I’ve been told I should write my stories with a theme. How doContinueContinue reading “December 2024”
November 2024
Here’s November’s actual newsletter. Thank you for your indulgence with my special notice last week. ~ LZ Writing Advice Photo by Dom J on Pexels.com If you are Nano-ing, happy writing! This month’s advice is about what to consider when you’re writing. This may help you get more words down in your writing sprints. ForContinueContinue reading “November 2024”
October 2024
Sections Writing Advice Editing Advice Service Availability Writing Advice Preptober! A lot of writers challenge themselves to write 50,000 words in the month of November. While the official NNWM has had some problematic issues, trying to write a novel by focusing on “butt in chair” and getting the words down is a valid first draftContinueContinue reading “October 2024”
September 2024
Sections Writing Advice Editing Advice Service Availability Writing Advice Last month, we talked about how to build your story’s ending from your character’s wound and assuaging their fears or the Lie they’ve been telling themselves all this time. There’s a concept called “mirroring” that will make your story resonate with readers. The psychology of theContinueContinue reading “September 2024”
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