She Said or Said She – Which Is Right?
February 22, 2022When it comes to writing dialogue, I see two types of uses to indicate who spoke. Here they are in a nutshell: “I’m hungry,” said…
Category: Fiction Writing
Best Practices for Writing Descriptions of People and Places
February 22, 2022In my editing of other authors’ novels, I’ve discovered that many authors have a blind spot when it comes to descriptive writing, especially of people…
Pacing and Detail in Your Novel
March 25, 2021First, understand that there are all kinds of readers. Some love non-stop action and adventure, a fast-paced rollicking story that carries them from start to…
Too Much Realism Is Too Much
March 24, 2021A mistake many authors make is trying to be too realistic in their writing. By this, I mean they want to drag a reader through…
Which Point of View Is Better for a Novel?
December 15, 2020There are two common points of view taken when writing novels: the first person (I, me, we) and the third person (he, she, they). Writing…
Using the Point of View to Give the Narrative Character
December 15, 2020As already stated in another article, the point of view (POV) is your most important tool in drawing the reader into your story and creating…
Do Your Research When Developing Your Story
November 21, 2020A key to good writing is telling a believable story while creating a willing suspension of disbelief in your readers for those parts of your…
Tips on Showing the Reader Who Is Speaking
November 18, 2020One of the causes of reader irritation that can lead to bad reviews and dissatisfaction with a book is when the author doesn’t inform the…
Stop Using Dialogue to Inform the Reader
November 17, 2020One of my pet-peeves when reading or editing is when authors use dialogue to inform the reader of information they think is important—but it’s information…
Should Christians Write Fiction?
November 15, 2020As a novelist, I am probably biased when it comes to the answer to this question. I think fiction is a legitimate and impactful medium…
