writing tips

S37E7 – Those Who Can’t Do, Teach

The expression ‘Those who can’t do, teach’ is a curious one, because if you look at the world, you’ll see that teachers aren’t particularly worse at doing things than anyone else, so perhaps the expression might be better worded as ‘nobody can do anything.’ – Lemony Snicket

Read More

S37E6 – Characters Must Be Practically Perfect in Every Way

Make him honest. I don’t mean ‘never fish for spare change in a pay phone honest.’ I mean ‘tell it like it is and own up to it’ honest. Readers will forgive a character for any number of flaws if the character is honest about who he is and what he’s doing. – K.M. Weiland

Read More

S33E7 – Avoiding the Info Dump: Backstory

A little story is supported by a lot of untold backstory. What they get is more than what they see. – Karen Lord

Read More

S33E6 – Avoiding the Info Dump: Personalities and Descriptions

Creating characters is like throwing together ingredients for a recipe. I take characteristics I like and dislike in real people I know, or know of, and use them to embellish and define characters. – Cassandra Clare

Read More

S16E7 – Yes, But…

The suspense is terrible. I hope it will last. – Oscar Wilde

Read More

S16E1 – Writing Right Right Now

Very often we write down a sentence too early, then another too late; what we have to do is write it down at the proper time, otherwise it’s lost. – Thomas Bernhard

Read More