First, let’s start with a quick lesson in language so that we’re all on the same page.  I made an assumption about the word, exposition.  I thought (and honestly, most literary books and websites) define it as a device used to introduce background information about events, settings, characters, etc., to your readers.  The word…

  According to literary agent and author, Donald Maass, the majority of rejected manuscripts (80%) have one thing in common:  lack of conflict.  There should be conflict everywhere – in exposition, in dialogue – every sentence in your story should be building to that climax.  Everything you do needs to complicate your main character’s journey….

Let’s get started! We want to read about characters that we like, characters we can cheer on.  That’s not to say they can’t be flawed or troubled – to me, I like characters where I see a piece of myself.  I don’t want them perfect.  This likability begins on page one of your novel.  The…

In November, lots of fiction writers do a crazy thing – we write a novel in thirty days.  National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) has gone from a small group of people in Oakland, California to an international extravaganza.  In the Racine/Kenosha area, we meet and cheer each other on throughout the month, many of us…

For writers, words are our voice in the world.  Many of us are severely lacking in orating skills, basic conversation skills, self-promoting skills, and even some social graces.  Let’s face it, we’re introverts and we’re introspective.  Words are how we interact with the world.  I just want to hide behind the sofa and write. Instead,…