Sometimes it seems like a story just isn’t going anywhere. We’ve worked and reworked it a hundred times, but it never seems quite right. Agents and publishers alike perpetually reject it (something I discussed last week), and it’s getting downright disheartening. At this point, it may be time to do the unthinkable: to go aheadContinue reading “When to Let a Story Go”
Tag Archives: stories
25 Songs That Would Make Great Story Titles
Here’s one just for fun. I’ve always been something of an audiophile (as those who have read my “25 Memorable Quotations” post have probably guessed), and I can’t tell you how many times a great line from a song, or even the song title itself, has come in handy when coming up with titles forContinue reading “25 Songs That Would Make Great Story Titles”
World Building
The most important aspect of any book next to character is setting, for without it there would be no context for the story to exist. I would go so far as to say anywhere from one third to half of any story has to do with establishing the surroundings in which the action can unfold,Continue reading “World Building”
The Worst of the Worst: Making Believable Antagonists
Continuing from last week’s post on creating good characters, I will now give a look at how best to portray those characters who are often far more interesting: the baddies. For the most part, the same rules apply to making good bad guys as making good good guys: show rather than tell, make his/her problemContinue reading “The Worst of the Worst: Making Believable Antagonists”
The Best of the Best: Making Believable Protagonists
While not all protagonists are good, it’s true, they are nevertheless an essential ingredient to any story (with a few abstract exceptions). It might seem easy to make a lead character who is generally likeable, and for some it is. But for others, creating a character out of thin air who is both interesting andContinue reading “The Best of the Best: Making Believable Protagonists”
Marketing Matters: The Benefits of Live Appearances
Once you’ve got your book, story, et cetera published, it is time to move on to that third phase that relatively few of us introverted writer types bother to think about: marketing.
Reading Between the Lines: Sending a Message to Readers
Everybody’s got a point to make. That’s how it often seems, anyway. From movies to television, ads to periodicals, there’s almost always some kind of takeaway message. Some are subtle: others much less so. Thus, it is only natural that books should follow the same pattern. Authors have their ideals and opinions too, after all,Continue reading “Reading Between the Lines: Sending a Message to Readers”