What's the difference between a writer and a maniac? The voices in the writer's head are called characters. *a pause for laughter* *awkward silence ensues* Anyway, today's blog post is all about characters, brought to you once again by The Pocket Watch, a group of writers causing fictional mischief. In this blog hop, we're shining … Continue reading Second Pocket Watch Blog Hop Character Spotlight
Tag: writing
10 Best Literary Snacks For Writers
What better way to settle into a writing ritual than with a snack inspired by a great book? Here are ten snacks that can add some mood and flavor to your writing session. 1. Cowboy coffee Annie Proulx’s unflinching portrayal of the hard ranching life in Wyoming in Bad Dirt is a bracing way to start … Continue reading 10 Best Literary Snacks For Writers
Personality tests for fictional characters
Have you ever wondered if your main character might be a narcissist? Is your villain a psychopath, or just misunderstood? I had a lot of fun giving these personality tests to my characters. Seeing their traits highlighted gave me a little perspective and some ideas. But I've got a warning, before we get started. None of … Continue reading Personality tests for fictional characters
Pocket Watch Blog Hop Character Spotlight
Today's blog post is brought to you by The Pocket Watch, a group of amazing writers who get together to make fictional trouble. I'm lucky enough to be a card carrying member, and to have been invited to participate in the....First Ever Pocket Watch Blog Hop Character Spotlight! I'm really excited about this. My mission, … Continue reading Pocket Watch Blog Hop Character Spotlight
4 medical research resources for writers
As a mandate, "Do no harm" is all well and good for doctors, but as Kurt Vonnegut once said, writers must be sadists, tormenting our characters "so that the reader may see what they're made of." Whether you want to torment your characters with a disease, or inflict upon them a career in medicine, research … Continue reading 4 medical research resources for writers
Setting the stage: Tone and realism in fiction
One of the wonderful things about art is that it can take us anywhere. But when constructing a setting, particularly a real world setting, it's important to get a good sense of the tone and level of realism you want your work to have. If the setting isn't consistent, well researched, and appropriate for the … Continue reading Setting the stage: Tone and realism in fiction
The dilemma of research
When I do research I often find myself overwhelmed by the amount and scope of information out there. I could spend dozens of hours in libraries and on the internet pulling together facts about the topics in my novel. To preserve my writing time and my sanity, I have to remind myself not to get … Continue reading The dilemma of research
3 Little Known but Awesome Writing Apps
Most writers have essential apps like Evernote, Dropbox, and a dictionary loaded onto their devices. But when it comes to outlining, mind mapping, and editing, some great apps are often overlooked. Prezi, WorkFlowy, and NoteAnytime are some of the apps I use the most. 1. Outlining - Work Flowy My outlines absolutely have to be … Continue reading 3 Little Known but Awesome Writing Apps
10 Practical Writing Tips from the Greats
There's a lot of writing advice floating out around there, much of it to do with the philosophical approach to the craft, or the ever elusive formula for creativity. I've compiled here a list of very practical suggestions from Kurt Vonnegut, Neil Gaiman, Stephen King, and a few others. Some of this advice may seem … Continue reading 10 Practical Writing Tips from the Greats
The world upside down: Dean Koontz and stunning prose
"Through the stillness snow fell not in skeins but in infinitely layered arabesques, filigree in motion, ornamenting the city air, of an especially intense white in the dove-gray light of the morning, laying boas on the limbs of leafless trees, ermine collars on the tops of walls, a grace of softness in a hard world." … Continue reading The world upside down: Dean Koontz and stunning prose
Sarah Kay Moll 