Time is unfolding like a scroll, and we are letters on the parchment, helping to make up the words that tell the story. Each of us is a character, in both senses of the word. At times, characters become aware that they’re part of the story, and that brings the realization that, first, there is […]
“Of Truth” by Francis Bacon with a Modern Rendering
Have you read much by Francis Bacon? In truth, that’s a question I have never been asked. I think his is a name a lot of people are familiar with, and if pressed as to who he was, the answers might range from philosopher to scientist to writer to statesman. All are true; he was […]
10 Hacks to Boost Your Creativity as a Writer
Let’s face it, even if you’re a creative type, you sometimes need a boost of creativity. And when you’re a writer, you might have all kinds of characters and plots swirling around in your mind and heart, but it’s another story (no pun intended) getting those characters from mind to paper. This is when you […]
Six Ways to Organize Your Writing Life
About this time of year, every year, I realize it’s time to organize my writing life. As much as I try to stay on task and keep focused and goal-oriented, invariably, life has other things in mind. This is especially the case when you’re not a “full-time” writer but have a myriad of other things […]
What Is World-Building in a Novel?
World building is pretty easy to define because the definition is in the phrase itself, world building. You’re building your world. The world building that you do is going to look very different if you’re writing fantasy or if you’re writing historical fiction, contemporary fiction, or magical realism. Obviously, if you’re creating a fantasy or […]
What Is Pacing in a Story?
What Is Pacing in Writing (and Why Is It Important)? Pacing refers to the flow of time in a story. It can be a challenge because there is no hard and fast rule as to how to set the pacing of a book. The pacing needs to fit the story. For instance, the book Gilead […]
What Is Point of View in a Novel?
What is point of view? The point of view is usually the first thing a reader encounters in a story. A novel is generally written in one of these three POVs: A lesser-used POV choice is: Let’s look a little more deeply at these perspectives: First-person point of view: A few books you might recognize […]
Book Review of This Is Where It Ends by Cindy Sproles
This is Where It Ends took me by surprise. I thought I knew what was going to happen by the time I finished the first few chapters. But Cindy K Sproles writes masterfully, slowly revealing the personality, past, and hurts of the main character, Minerva Jane Jenkins, as the story progresses. I did not expect […]
A Book Review of “Remember Me” by Tracie Peterson
Grounded in the setting of the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, fans of historical fiction will appreciate the careful research that has gone into the weaving of the latest by prolific author Tracie Peterson. “Remember Me” captures Addie Bryant at her lowest point and traces her journey into safety and hope. Yet her dark past shadows her […]
Want to Write Books for Children?
Don’t Think It’s Easier than Writing for Adults. On Writing for Children In my last blog post, I talked about becoming a better writer by trusting your readers more. In this post, I want to talk about how this is especially important when it comes to books written for children and young people. But first, […]
Want to be a Better Writer? Trust Your Reader.
So, you want to be a better writer. Every writer does, right? Even bestselling authors can be dissatisfied with their writing skills and want to be better writers. If we have the right mindset, we’ll constantly work to improve some aspects of our writing craft and grow better at it. I thought I was a […]
Bonita Jewel 