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In high school, our teachers had us conduct a torturous procedure they called ‘critical’ or ‘active’ reading. We had to summarize the plot on each page, highlight literary devices, and make our own observational notes until the books were no longer recognizable. Back when we just thought of ourselves as ‘readers’, it could seem like a pointless, hateful slog. Of course, now that we’re …
[Read more...] about 10 Ways You Can Improve Your Work With Critical Reading
Many travelers tramp through Europe like they’re visiting the cultural zoo. “Ooh, that guy in lederhosen yodeled! Excuse me, could you do that again in the sunshine so I can get a good picture?” It’s important to stow your camera, roll up your sleeves, and enjoy the real thing. – Rick Steves, ‘Becoming a Temporary European’ These wise words from Rick Steves are geared toward travelers, but I …
[Read more...] about How To Make The Most Of Your Research Trip
A while back, we talked about reasons people will put a book down and how to make sure it isn’t your book they’re ditching by page 13. One major thing that turns readers off is a book that’s too homogeneous – it’s all the same, page after page. Books that are homogeneous are easy to drop, but also, unfortunately, easy to write and publish. That being the case, let’s explore a colorful method for …
[Read more...] about The Color-Coding Technique That Will Save Your Writing
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[Read more...] about Judy Blume MasterClass Review: Is It Worth Your Money?
The beginning and the end. More writers have had more aneurysms over bookending their stories and sections than just about anything else. We recently covered the Dreaded First Line; today I’d like to tackle the Dreaded Last Line(s)… of each scene. Whether it’s writing too little or too much, authors of every stripe tend to struggle with ending a scene well. It’s a part of writing that has the …
[Read more...] about The Better Way To End Your Scene (With Exercises)
One of the hardest parts of creating a character – let alone enough of them to tell a story – is knowing where to begin. Their function within the story is paramount (that’s what they’re ‘for’ after all), but after that, how do you start putting together complex, consistent, and engaging people? There are many points of entry, but in this article I’ll be looking at a simple tool you can use to …
[Read more...] about Character Alignment Can Improve Your Book With A Simple Grid
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