Writing for YA
How to Avoid Writing a Contrived Plot
I’ve been working on a story, and was a bit concerned my ending felt contrived. In my critique group,…
November 27, 2023-
-
The Intentional WriterWant The Inside Scoop on Writing Mysteries?
When I sat down to write my first mystery, I knew I needed a guide. I’d written a few…
July 24, 2023 -
Writers ChatWriters Chat Recap for June Part 1
Writers Chat, hosted by Jean Wise, Johnnie Alexander, and Brandy Brow, is the show where we talk about all…
June 21, 2023 -
ScreenwritingFinal Draft
For the last six months, I’ve known what I wanted to write about my final post of the year.…
December 4, 2022 -
The Intentional Writer
A simple Tool to Keep Track of Off-Screen Characters
As I was editing my latest WIP, I ran across several instances where my plot followed one character on…
July 23, 2021 -
Guest PostsPlot Structures: Predictable or Helpful?
Girl meets boy. Even though it’s obvious to the reader that they would make a perfect couple, they don’t…
May 25, 2021 -
Mystery/Thriller/SuspensePets as a Plot Ploy
Are pets an asset or an albatross in our mystery, suspense, and thriller genre? Pets have shown up in…
April 21, 2021 -
History in the MakingWhat Time is It?
When writing historical fiction, it’s important to be aware of your timeline. Timelines are significant in all genres of…
April 20, 2021 -
Screenwriting
Plot Twist?
Before I began writing my current W.I.P I knew exactly who my protagonist and antagonist were. I knew how…
August 4, 2020 -
Courting the Muse, Guest PostsHow Reading Poetry Collections Can Help You Plot Your Novel
Whether your novel closes on a cyclone-worthy twist, or a conclusion as warm and satisfying as homemade pie, you’ll…
January 13, 2020 -
Screenwriting
The End?
Recently a fellow aspiring screenwriter reached out to me on social media. She was having problems with figuring out…
December 4, 2018 -
The Picky PenEditing the Plot
Okay. Most of you (myself included) admit it’s challenging and exciting to plan the next book. It must be…
April 22, 2018 -
Talking CharacterWhich Comes First, Plot Or Character?
Plot and character. Two halves of any great story. Both are critical, whether you are telling a character-driven literary…
January 20, 2018 -
The Writer's PenCasePlot Twists – Part IV
We’ve been looking at crafting plot twists. #amwriting #plottwists [bctt tweet=”Create a jaw-dropping plot twist by convincing your reader…
June 10, 2016
