Showing your story to your readers instead of telling it is a cardinal rule in fiction writing, yet much easier said than done. One very effective way to change telling into showing is a concept called motivation-reaction units (MRUs). What are MRUs? They were first introduced by Dwight V. Swain, in his book Techniques of the Selling […]
The Dot-to-Dot Method of Plotting a Story
Writing is a very personal activity, and there are probably as many “methods” of writing as there are authors. What works for one person may not work for someone else. In some instances–such as the outliner vs. the seat-of-the-pants writer–methods can be complete opposites, yet they both get the job done for different sets of […]
Behind the Scenes: How Author Michelle Ule cooked up a story sequel
My story The Yuletide Bride wasn’t written with a sequel in mind. So how did I create one? A minor character in the first story intrigued me. Malcolm showed wit in the first story, character growth, and insight into his sister and her bagpipes. I liked him. An awkward unmarried teamster, albeit light on his […]
The basis of a strong plot
Writers, does your main character have an overriding goal for the middle section of your book? One that makes him or her reach outside his comfort zone, again and again? In a sense, could you call him a hero on a journey? Or is your main character dodging something, reacting to the actions of others, […]
Better than a critique group…
Critique groups as currently practiced by many writers include sharing books, one chapter at a time, for comment and critique. I’ve done this before, and while it helped hone my line-editing skills, it did nothing to help me plot the book, a question which remained a puzzle for me for a long time. In addition, […]
Writers, how to make a great plot
If you hang out with other writers in critique groups, you may get lots of advice about the mechanics of good writing. Watch the passive voice. Use strong verbs rather than adverbs. Use the five senses in descriptions. And so on. But what about the overarching story? Are your critique partners watching that too? Often, […]
Four elements that every flash fiction story needs
Sick of writing your novel? Sure, I may be biased since I run Splickety Magazine, a flash fiction publication dedicated to showcasing the country’s best quick fic with kick, but we all know how difficult it can be to finish a novel. The solution? Write some flash fiction (a short story 1,000 words or less). […]