I've been asked a writer question: Many writers obsess over word count because publishers require a specific number of words for manuscripts so they can plan for a specific number of pages to be printed and figure the costs involved to be sure they don’t lose money. A short story normally is approximately 4,000 words, …
Where and how to find peace and quiet to write.
I've been asked a writer question: Where and how to find the peace and quiet to write? There are two answers to this question. The first answer is to create a space and a time in which you are guaranteed silence and no interruptions. If you are able to do this in your life and …
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How can a writer avoid cliches when describing characters?
I've been asked a writer question: How to describe characters and avoid cliches? That’s a rather common question, usually by newish writers because writers with a lot of experience know that almost all fictional characters are either cliches or archetypes of real people. Every writer wishes to avoid cliches. Every writer hopes to have their …
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How to use action to break up dialogue without disrupting the flow of the story?
I've been asked a writer question: How to use action to break up dialogue without disrupting the flow of the story? It’s easy to do and hard to explain. The short answer is that you blend the two together throughout the entire story so there are few if any scenes that are entirely one or …
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Should an author have a writing portfolio blog?
I've been asked a writer question: Should an author have a writing portfolio blog? I suppose a writer can exist without writing credits to pull out whenever the occasion requires, but it’s a lot easier to show prospective clients and publishers what you can do if you have samples of your writing at your fingertips. …
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Show Vs Tell: The Writer’s Dilemma
I've been asked a writer question: Is it true that in fiction it's essential to show something instead of just telling the reader what they need to know? The answer is: it depends --- I started my writing career writing short stories. In short fiction, you pretty much must tell because showing would take too …
Is it possible to write about a situation very precisely without even going through it?
I've been asked: Can you write precisely about something you’ve never experienced? Writers do it all the time and some of them do it very well. But there’s a caveat and, as far as I’m concerned, it’s a big one. You can picture the situation and imagine what it would be like and then you …
Is it a good idea to write an entire first draft with no editing whatsoever?
I've been asked: Should you edit as you write your first draft or wait until you are done with the entire manuscript? Good question. Nanowrimo says to just get in there and write and don’t stop until you reach the end. There’s a good reason to follow that advice, namely that if you keep revising …
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The Fine Art of Piddling
Got this in an email and just HAD to pass it on: As you will see, I have been cleaning out drawers. the Fine Art of Piddling!! What is a piddler?? It's hard to explain to begin with, because piddling is neither one thing nor another, but something in between. It is not rest, not …
Is knowing grammar essential to becoming a good writer?
I've been asked: Must you be an expert in grammar in order to be a good writer? No, you do not need to know good grammar to write well, though it helps. What you do need to know is what you want to say. Sit down at your computer and say it. Use your own …
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