Critique – a word that often scatters writers like a firecracker tossed into a flock of sparrows! But it doesn’t have to be that way. Since critique groups are forming in the Catholic Writers Guild forums, this is a good time to talk about critique, namely, how to be a […]
The Value of Face-to-Face
I love how the internet and the media-that’s-not-really-“new”-anymore has opened many doors and windows in my life. I’ve made friends who are not virtual in any way, though miles may separate us. We drink our coffee via Twitter, share joys via email, follow each other’s lives via blogs. We ask […]
Lions and Tigers and Bears! Oh, my! Tension, Conflict, and Suspense – Creating Compelling Stories
One of the most fundamental techniques of fiction writing is skillful creation of tension, sometimes referred to as conflict. Our favorite authors hook us on page one with a character so compelling that we read further to find out what happens. The character is engaging, with likeable traits that endear […]
Remember Your Priorities
Last week, during the Catholic Writers Conference Online, I was reminded of something that I’m going to just go ahead and remind you of, too. Because you know what? We all need to hear this. Remember your priorities. You are Catholic first, everything else second. That means your big-V vocation–spouse, parent–comes […]
RAH-RAH ROOTING FACTORS! How to make your readers love your characters as much as you do.
What’s one of the biggest reasons you keep reading when you pick up a new book? Think about it for a moment. For me, it’s characters who are interesting, multi-dimensional, unpredictable…and likeable. Yet this is an element many of us struggle to achieve. One of the most common phrases in […]
What’s it all about? How Theme can help your story shine.
Theme comes in lots of shapes, sizes, and variations, but embodies the core of what something is about, whether it’s your brand as a writer, the story you’re writing, the characters you’re writing about – or the music you’re listening to while writing. So what is theme, and how can […]