Why character motivations can be more important than plot, and how desire drives both. Read on for a handy chart to help if you’re stuck.
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Tag: writing process
writing process
5-Minute Writing Tips
Sometimes you just have to admit defeat. No matter how hard you try, there’s simply no time to write. This[…]
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Wisdom
Always Mary Oliver. Usually Anne Lamott and William Kent Kruger. Lou Berney. These are the writers I turn to when[…]
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A Conversation with Mystery Writer Marni Graff
MISS DEMEANORS ARE BACK! And we’re excited to welcome author and my fellow Anglophile Marni Graff for a conversation about[…]
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4 Things Book Clubs would like writers to know
Writers spend a lot of time talking to other writers. We have to. They’re the only people who understand the[…]
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Writers, don’t fear the outline
There is more than one way to write a book, or better stated, to conceive a book. However, outlining is often given a harsh shake of the head. Not creative enough. Constraining.
Recently I asked a number of writers why they felt this way. More to the point, I asked them what they meant by outlining.
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Mystery Writers: Why NaNoWriMo works
Words on the page. Most writers agree that this is the key ingredient to shift from wanting to be a writer to being a writer. It is certainly key to seeing your book in print. NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) was created with this in mind: words on the page. Fifty thousand words, ideally.
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He did what?
When you’re a mystery writer, you’re always trying to figure out why people do what they do. Sometimes you can[…]
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Six Things Writers Need to Know about ISBNs
ISBns are the way the publishing industry identifies and tracks specific books. Especially if you are self-publishing, it’s critical for authors to understand what an ISBN is and how they are used.
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Developing a Writing Plan That Works For You
First a confession: I was never a model student. My early report cards always included comments like “She could do so much better if she tried” and “Getting assignments in on time would help.” Even in college I struggled with a lack of discipline. I cut way too many classes, neglected to study, and left papers until the very last minute.
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