You've thought of your story idea, devised your main character and your supporting cast, created a basic outline, and maybe even written down your story's central themes. Yet all of that work, as rewarding and powerful as it is, still feels like you're holding your breath. When does the exhale finally happen? When you dive … Continue reading Lessons to Practice #6: Opening Lines
Lessons to Practice
Lessons to Practice #5: Mapping Out Subplots
Subplots. Themes. The amalgam of every side story and secondary character can become a beautiful and multilayered work of art that carries readers through a story with ease - or it can devolve into a nasty mess of confusing or ill-developed themes and forgettable characters. Yikes! Last week I wrote about the topic of theme, which I'm expounding … Continue reading Lessons to Practice #5: Mapping Out Subplots
Lessons to Practice #4: The Crux that is Theme
Welcome back readers and fellow bloggers! I'm excited to bring another important topic to the table as part of my Lessons to Practice series: Theme. There. I said it. The word that, for so many of us, has been a source of interminable torment and head bashing. My thinking, however, is that theme can be … Continue reading Lessons to Practice #4: The Crux that is Theme
Lessons to Practice #3: Developing Strong Characters
Hello again! How was everyone's weekend? I thank you all for your patience and understanding in waiting for my next blog post. I spent Thursday through Sunday at a winter training camp put on by my very own triathlon coaches here in town. It was a great test of my mental and physical fortitude, and … Continue reading Lessons to Practice #3: Developing Strong Characters
Lessons to Practice #2: Joining a Writers’ Group
Happy Tuesday, Valentine's Day, and Taco Tuesday! Here in North Texas, we just had a pretty gnarly storm roll in last night; it's been raining almost nonstop since late last night. It didn't stop me from going to my volunteer job for a few hours today, though. In learning my own writing lessons, I started to … Continue reading Lessons to Practice #2: Joining a Writers’ Group
Lessons to Practice #1: Writing Consistently and with Purpose
Good evening folks! How is everyone doing? Tonight I would like to start a new blogging series called "Lessons to Practice." In each Tuesday night post of this series, I will summarize what I'm learning as I spend 2017 editing, rewriting, and refining my works. Each "Lessons to Practice" installment will also include a brief summary of … Continue reading Lessons to Practice #1: Writing Consistently and with Purpose
