#5onFri: Five Ways to Express Character Emotion

Reading is an exercise in empathy. When we read an effective story, we identify with its main characters and mirror their emotions. Indeed, the best stories get us to experience the events being portrayed. Studies have even shown that when readers encounter well-told stories, there’s cortex activity in their brains; that is, the areas of… Read more »

Writing SMART Goals

Maybe you’re a pantser when it comes to writing, but to have a writing career, you need to be a plotter. As I discussed in my last post, successful independent authors craft business plans for themselves. They don’t have to be complicated, but they do have to exist. We know that people who write down… Read more »

Episode 227: How to Craft a Knockout Graphic Novel — Interview with Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin, and Giovanni Rigano

Hey there word nerds! Today I am so excited—and I’ll admit I’m also having a bit of a fangirl moment—because I’m interviewing Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin, and Giovanni Rigano on the show! Together, they comprise the powerhouse team behind the heart-wrenching and powerful graphic novel Illegal. You probably already know Eoin Colfer as the bestselling… Read more »

Ten Rules for Writing Killer Romance: Part One

Hi, I’m Tammy Lough, and I’m thrilled to be talking romance with you. Over my next three articles, we’re going to go over ten rules to help you craft a killer romance. Plant the soles of your Jimmy Choo’s on the floor and wiggle your backside. Let’s do the “Happy Dance.” Why? Keep this on… Read more »

#5onFri: Five Ways to Create Conflict Within Your Reader

The man-versus-X distinctions we were taught in school are pretty useless. In my experience, at least, knowing that an individual might struggle against nature or man or self or society does little to help me craft gripping scenes. Don’t get me wrong: I’m not saying conflict isn’t important. It’s absolutely essential. But giving broad labels… Read more »