One of the most common pieces of writing advice is to “show, don’t tell.” It’s true that many new writers struggle with their balance of showing and telling, usually telling what they ought to show. But the advice to “show, don’t tell” is far too simplistic. If you...
So, what exactly is a macro and why would you want one? A macro is a custom feature that you can add to Microsoft Word. Most macros are tools that can help you edit your work. Do you wish that Word could compile a list of all the proper names in your document so...
I’m sure you’ve heard the advice that your first chapter needs to hook your reader. But once you have your opening hook, how do you make sure you don’t lose your momentum in the middle? How do you avoid writing boring scenes? The secret to writing a story that...
Readers are always looking for a unique and compelling story to read. We also live in a culture that values uniqueness over conformity. Yet genres are all about writing with the common characteristics and rules of a specific story form. So, given the cultural value...
Agents and publishing houses judge manuscripts based on how unique and compelling the story is. Why? Because that is how readers decide whether or not to buy a book. Readers want certain familiar hallmarks (that is, genre conventions). But they also want the story...
To include a prologue or to not include a prologue, that is the question. Prologues are these tempting things that appear sophisticated but are usually unnecessary, unhelpful, or both. It is so easy to write a bad prologue that I’ve split this topic into two posts:...
The first thing to learn about prologues is that you probably don't need one. Prologues are these tempting things that appear sophisticated but are usually unnecessary, unhelpful, or both. It is so easy to write a bad prologue that we first need to cover how to not...
Alright, this week’s post is going to blend my profession in story craft with my one of my absolute favourite hobbies: tabletop role-playing. Yes, I am a language nerd, story nerd, and a Dungeons and Dragons nerd. I've already discussed how to use role-playing...
It is so important that you find the right editor for your book. The question is, how? What kind of editor should you look for? Where should you look? How do you know if she’ll be a good fit for your manuscript? Here, I’ll break down the key things you need to know...