“Write what you know”. Is it merely a dangerous idea, or could there be something genuinely useful in this controversial writerly advice? Read more…
In our continued effort to improve our writing, we can be very sensitive to the advice of others. Here’s a reason not to follow so-called “common knowledge” advice about what is a very personal craft. Read more…
So you want to write every day? Good! That shows dedication, soldier! But now you’ve made that decision, how will you go about it? Behold: 11 tips to set you on your way! Read more…
It’s yearly-round-up-time! I much prefer this way of celebrating the new year to keeping your neighbours awake phoning everyone you know and yelling “HAPPY NEW YEAR!” at them, then keeping your crappy party music going until four in the morning. Read more…
Feel your story is bloated or confused? Maybe that was your last story, and you don’t want the same to happen again. Try these easy techniques to keep your plot on track. Read more…
Metaphors and similes are wonderful tools in the writer’s belt. But what is going on in the brain that makes them so useful? Read more…
Writers occasionally face a problem they can’t get their head around – a plot hole; an aspect to a character; something that just doesn’t feel “right”. Sometimes, pondering won’t solve it. Here’s one way to break through those problems and bypass writer’s block. Read more…
Writing dialogue is one of the best shortcuts to showing character. I love it! But you can have too much! A whole page of dialogue can be confusing, and boring – it just doesn’t have the punch that action does! So, how can we break it up and keep our story moving? Read more…
I’ve had a bit of business coaching during my time at a web development company. Such sessions are crammed to the brim with fragile visual metaphors, fit for purpose at first glance, but ready to shatter at the first raised hand or puzzled expression. So let’s begin with one of themwhynot – a husky team! Read more…
Let us return, for a while, to this subject again. Matt made a comment on my last post that kicked off a thought process in me, on the subject of planning, and making things up as you go along. Common wisdom suggests that you shouldn’t do the latter. I tend to fly in the face of that opinion, because I disagree. Not entirely, mind. Read more…