Well, you did it. You took that spark of an idea, fleshed it out into an entire book, edited the last page for the last time, and finished one final read-through. The book is done. At least it should be. As proud as you were, there was a little voice in your head as you …
Continue reading Editing Tips: What To Check When It Feels Like Something Is Missing
While a great storyline and an intense setting can make for an excellent read, what really creates a great book is awesome characters. After all, how many pages have you kept turning just to see what happens to the MC? Getting your reader to care about your characters is a task every writer should aim …
Dialogue is an important part of any story and essential to get right. Good dialogue can reveal twists, unveil character traits, motivations, change the direction of the story, and give your cliffhangers the perfect bite—I mean, who doesn't love the final line of a scene ending in a suspenseful piece of dialogue! While it's up …
If you're wondering what an action beat is, you're not alone. Not too long ago, I didn't know what it was either. I've since learned it's an action your character is doing while they're talking. Yeah, it's not exactly an earth-shattering revelation and is something you've probably been writing naturally anyway, it's just now you know …
I don't know about you, but when I write, I don't really plan. Sure, I might have an idea of what I want to write about, but generally, I'll write until something takes shape. That creative freedom is what I love about writing. It's also a double-edged sword because you've got to somehow make sense of …
Just as no two writers will write an idea the same way, drafting is a unique process as well. Some authors may draft their MS in as little as five passes, others (raises hand) might have 20 odd drafts under their belt for certain works in progress. When drafting is such a mammoth task, it's …
Continue reading 6 Draft Checklist Ideas (And Why You Should Create Your Own)
If the thought of writing a novel freaks you out, first, know you're not alone. Second, this seemingly huge task is not as overwhelming as you think it is. Sure, you have to come up with characters, plot lines, unique ideas, master show, don't tell, and learn how to use commas properly. And it could take …
There’s a reason it’s a good idea to not show anyone early drafts, and that’s because it’s usually full of writing that should be cut. And these cuts aren’t darlings—writing that’s good but doesn’t fit with the story—they’re the parts of your MS that will make it stronger once you’ve removed them. They are the weak …
Continue reading 8 Early Draft Cuts For A Stronger Manuscript
One of the ironic twists of being a writer who works alone at a desk making up imaginary things is writing dialogue. You know, a conversation between two or more people when it’s rare you’ve spoken to another person, out loud, about anything interesting for days at a time. While your real life skills may …
K.M. Allan 