Gran Torino and Writing the Atypical Hero

I love it when a movie packs a powerful message, but it’s even better when I can learn something about writing from the story. Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino is one such movie. At first glance, it’s a rough movie with a not-so-likable, atypical hero. It is filled with violence and foul language which might turn off many people, but [...]

What If I Don’t Like My Main Character?

Writing a likeable protagonist has plagued my writing on numerous occasions. I think I have the perfect situation and give the protagonist (usually female in my case) an ordinary world where something happens that turns said world on its ear. Decisions have to be made, new roads forged, and of course, there are obstacles a [...]

Studying Emotions in Life & Writing Through Friendly Fire

I woke in the middle of the night to the rooster crowing at the moon. Strange but true. Poor pea brained birds don’t know the difference between the moon, a bright light bulb or the sun! Later, and still before the sun had risen, I woke again to the sound of a single gun shot. [...]

Love Languages

Since this is the month of love and Valentine’s Day, I decided to post about Dr. Gary Chapman’s book, The Five Love Languages, which I recommend to read. I read an interesting book about the language of love we use. In the book, The Five Love Languages, Gary Chapman was insightful and interesting. But most [...]

Creating a Great Villain

Q: What makes a great villain? A: Ah, yes, everyone loves to hate a really bad guy, don’t they? Max Cady (Cape Fear), Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs), Annie Wilkes (Misery), Darth Vader (Star Wars): they all stir something inside us, something that makes us uneasy and uncomfortable with our own feelings. Good versus [...]

Quick Fiction Fixes – Show don’t tell emotions, part 2

We’re all busy, whether working full-time or chasing/chauffeuring kids around all day. Yet we’re also writers, striving to get our words on paper and then polish it to a sparkle. This column gives quick fixes for fiction manuscripts specifically for busy writers. Pick and choose what works best for you! Show don’t tell: Writing emotions [...]

Quick Fiction Fixes – Emotion Memory

We’re all busy, whether working full-time or chasing/chauffeuring kids around all day. Yet we’re also writers, striving to get our words on paper and then polish it to a sparkle. This column gives quick fixes for fiction manuscripts specifically for busy writers. Pick and choose what works best for you! Emotion Memory: Brandilyn Collins talks [...]

Quick Fiction Fixes – Using actions to show emotion

We’re all busy, whether working full-time or chasing/chauffeuring kids around all day. Yet we’re also writers, striving to get our words on paper and then polish it to a sparkle. This column gives quick fixes for fiction manuscripts specifically for busy writers. Pick and choose what works best for you! Character actions: (I already covered [...]

Quick Fiction Fixes – Using thoughts to show emotion

We’re all busy, whether working full-time or chasing/chauffeuring kids around all day. Yet we’re also writers, striving to get our words on paper and then polish it to a sparkle. This column gives quick fixes for fiction manuscripts specifically for busy writers. Pick and choose what works best for you! Character thoughts: Your characters are [...]

Quick Fiction Fixes – Using physical reactions to show emotion

We’re all busy, whether working full-time or chasing/chauffeuring kids around all day. Yet we’re also writers, striving to get our words on paper and then polish it to a sparkle. This column gives quick fixes for fiction manuscripts specifically for busy writers. Pick and choose what works best for you! Physical reactions: Psychiatrists agree that [...]

Next Page »