If I get to the end of the first chapter and I don’t get a feel for your main character — if she and I are not connected via some gooey invisible psychic tether — I’m out. I don’t need to like her. I don’t need to know everything about her. But I damn sure need to...
Exploring the writing process and its relationship to self, this guide synthesizes critical and creative theories of writing for both writers and readers. Each chapter links a range of theoretical approaches to one practical aspect of writing, using illustrations from fiction, poetry and literary non...
Realize the universe doesn’t care about you. Oftentimes, we lack inspiration because of fear. We’re afraid because we feel like the world is waiting for us to fail; like there’s a spotlight shining on our inadequacy. We live on a planet that’s one of billions of planets in one of...
As she considers the different options, she must then make a decision and go with it. Perhaps, she decides to ask the host of the party. This would then bring us back to a scene with a goal, conflict, and disaster. Then, reaction, dilemma, and decision. As you can see, a novel i...
It wasn’t until the first lockdown that I decided it was time to get a novel published. There was an unpublished one, written around the turn of the century but it had never found a home. I dug it out, read it, and could see why. I had twenty more years of experience so set ...
#2: “I hope I will be able to confide everything to you, as I have never been able to confide in anyone, and I hope you will be a great source of comfort and support.” #3: “When I write letters, I spend the next two days thinking about what I figured
Then I will write a synopsis of what needs to happen, and each paragraph of that synopsis will contain the seeds of a chapter. Beginning a novel with half an outline and only a vague idea of the ending is why I sometimes lose my way in a first draft. Sometimes, something different ...
("for the person you need to persuade"). Each post in my Write Your First Novel is a series of short prompts and exercises which are designed to lead, step by small step, towards the first draft of a novel. It doesn't assume you already know the technical vocabulary that writers use...
But once you decide to become a writer, whether you're finishing a first novel or writing content for brands, you need to find a way to share your skills. Medium is great for writers who invest time and energy in their work. It rewards in-depth, well-researched, and useful articles, ...
But first, four more historical reflections: (1) I developed my own totally bizarre personality test (the Sommers-Circles), (2) I did my thesis and dissertation on personality and prediction, (3) I discovered, as it turns out, personality is a rather poor predictor of human behavior, and...