Writer Fuel: How Publishing Works - A Primer

Writer Fuel: How Publishing Works – A Primer

Before we dive in, I have a short warning. What I’m about to share here is not a glowing, rose-colored-glasses view of being an author, but the sometimes-tough realities of the publishing business. If you’re living blissfully in denial—and that denial helps keep you motivated—keep doing that! Seriously, if not knowing the cold, hard numbers… Read more »

Writer Fuel: The Importance of the Denouement

Writer Fuel: The Importance of the Denouement

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about endings, in particular the denouement. The denouement is that “sigh of relief” that happens after the climax, that extra scene or two (or many) that allows the story to wrap up and come to a satisfying conclusion. It got me wondering why we even need a denouement. After… Read more »

Writer Fuel: How to Get in the Writing Mood

Writer Fuel: How to Get in the Writing Mood

Sometimes we lose our writing mojo and, try as we might, we struggle with building momentum around our writing. No matter what we do, we can’t seem to get in a writing mood. This state of creative paralysis can happen for any number of reasons, including: In the last Writer Fuel, I talked about creative… Read more »

Writer Fuel: Navigating Through Creative Burnout

Writer Fuel: Navigating Through Creative Burnout

For the past several months, I have been going through a period of creative burnout. Maybe it’s the aftermath of COVID and how it has changed the way we learn and interact online. Or maybe it’s because some things in my non-writing life have just been really hard lately. Or maybe it’s the result of… Read more »

Writer Fuel: The Truth Behind “Show, Don’t Tell”

Writer Fuel: The Truth Behind “Show, Don’t Tell”

If you’ve ever taken a writing class, you’ve probably heard the adage “show, don’t tell.” But what does that even mean? What “show, don’t tell” really boils down to is a question of scene versus exposition. “Show” puts readers right in the middle of the action so they can see the scene unfold almost as… Read more »

Writer Fuel: Five Promises in the First Five Pages

Writer Fuel: Five Promises in the First Five Pages

Writing a book is like making a contract with our readers. We agree to craft a great story and our readers in turn agree to suspend their disbelief and keep turning pages. Furthermore, I believe that at the start of every book, we must make five promises to our readers. These promises are not hard-and-fast… Read more »

Writer Fuel: The Three “Rules” of Point of View

Writer Fuel: The Three “Rules” of Point of View

Point of view is one of the trickiest and most technical aspects of writing, but it’s also my favorite. There are so many choices and possibilities—it’s like being in the literary version of a candy store! At the same time, however, this variety of options can be overwhelming, making us feel like we’re being pulled… Read more »