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Essential Editing Tips for Novelists: Filling Plot Holes

Last week I discussed ongoing editing of my current work in progress. The difference between creating and editing has been a motivational struggle, but I feel I have gotten into a rhythm over the past week. Here are a few accomplishments and observations since that last post. Plo…

Identifying Plot Gaps in Your Novel

I've been continuing with my review of my draft novel. I fully believed I had completed it from a plot perspective. Much to my chagrin, a review for editing has shown a big gap in the story. Here's what happened. As part of the review I have begun, I created a tally of the major …

Navigating Writing Challenges: Tips for Revising Your Manuscript

I've been off of writing for a couple of weeks due to company visiting around the holidays. One reason I pushed to complete my NaNoWriMo well before the end of November was to give me the breathing room to prepare for guest. After taking a break, I've gone back into my work in pr…

Flash Fiction: Applying the MICE Model

I mentioned previously that I've been watching Brandon Sanderson's lectures on writing Science Fiction and Fantasy at BYU. Lecture #7 features a guest lecturer, Mary Robinette Kowal. In the lecture, she covers the MICE quotient and has the class apply it to a piece of flash ficti…

Architect or Gardner?

I've recently been going through Brandon Sanderson's Writing Science Fiction & Fantasy lectures at BYU. If you are interested in writing, I encourage you to check the lectures out. In the introductory lecture, he discusses author's approaches to how they plan and write their stor…

Writing Productivity - Start before you feel ready.  Stop before you feel done.

I suspect I am like many of you in the fact that I read a lot. I like to read for both personal enjoyment as well as personal growth and development. I recently came across a work-focused article that has something for the writer inside as well. Over 30 years ago, the psychologis…

Inspiration from the Scottish Highlands

I've just returned from a two week trip through the highlands of Scotland and am trying to get back into the writing groove. I'm sure some of my experiences will find their ways into my writing, but they haven't percolated through my brain as of yet. A few thoughts have already s…

Writing Exercises: Leveraging Ulysses

After drafting my writing exercises workbook (available for free to subscribers), I started using a new writing tool called Ulysses. This isn't a review or plug for the app, but simply an exploration of how I'm doing my own writing exercises within it and some of my observations …

Writing Exercises: Making a Plan

This is part of my writing exercises workbook, available to members. Part of exercising is creating a schedule and sticking to it.  Writing exercises are the same way.  The exercises I've outlined are intended to spark your creativity and help develop the habit of writing on a re…

Writing Exercise 7: Draft a Short Story

This is part of my writing exercises workbook, available to members. This is a longer exercise, depending on your writing style.  However, it is not intended that you try to write a full, polished, ready to publish tale in a single setting.  It’s about getting your creative juice…

Writing Exercise 6: Plot Outlines

This is part of my writing exercises workbook, available to members. Outlining a story involves breaking down its main components into manageable parts. First, start with an introduction or hook that captures readers' attention and sets the stage for what is to come. Then move on…

Writing Exercise 5: Conflict Sketches

This is part of my writing exercises workbook, available to members. Conflict drives the story forward by challenging characters, testing their values, and pushing them to make difficult decisions. Without conflict, stories can feel flat or predictable. By skillfully weaving conf…