Surprise yourself. If you can bring the story – or let it bring you – to a place that amazes you, then you can surprise your reader.… Read more “Surprise Yourself”
Day: February 21, 2020
Take A Few Notes As You Have Ideas
Take a few notes as you have ideas. And only when you’ve decided on the bones of the scene – then, sit and write it. Don’t go… Read more “Take A Few Notes As You Have Ideas”
Go Back And Read Your Earlier Scenes
When you get stuck, go back and read your earlier scenes, looking for dropped characters or details that you can resurrect as ‘buried guns.’” Palahniuk, C. (2020).… Read more “Go Back And Read Your Earlier Scenes”
Savor The Moments You Spent Alone
Even if someday you sell your work, no amount of money will compensate you for your time spent alone. So, take your “paycheck” up front, make writing… Read more “Savor The Moments You Spent Alone”
Today’s Reader Is Smarter
My personal theory is that younger readers distain most books – not because those readers are dumber than past readers, but because today’s reader is smarter. Movies… Read more “Today’s Reader Is Smarter”
Mull It Over In Your Mind
Before you sit down to write a scene, mull it over in your mind and know the purpose of that scene. What earlier set-ups will this scene… Read more “Mull It Over In Your Mind”
Get The Distance You Need To Really Torture A Character
If you need more freedom around the story, draft to draft, change the character names. Characters aren’t real, and they aren’t you. By arbitrarily changing their names,… Read more “Get The Distance You Need To Really Torture A Character”
Let Yourself Be With Not Knowing
Let yourself be with Not Knowing… The longer you can allow a story to take shape, the better that final shape will be. Don’t rush or force… Read more “Let Yourself Be With Not Knowing”
Your Audience Is Smarter Than You Imagine
Your audience is smarter than you imagine. Don’t be afraid to experiment with story forms and time shifts. Palahniuk, C. (2020). 13 Writing Tips. Retrieved 21 February… Read more “Your Audience Is Smarter Than You Imagine”
Change The Bedsheets
If you don’t know what comes next in the story… clean your toilet. Change the bed sheets. For Christ sakes, dust the computer. A better idea will… Read more “Change The Bedsheets”
Set An Egg Timer
When you don’t want to write, set an egg timer for one hour (or half hour) and sit down to write until the timer rings. If you… Read more “Set An Egg Timer”
Rolando Andrés Ramos 