Epiphany: The Bottom Line, Revealed

Sometimes it feels like I’ve been in a street fight for the last 30 months. Pantsers vs. Planners.  Jets vs. Sharks.  Right vs. left.  Good vs. Evil. You would not believe — I’ve only shared a sliver of it — the vitriolic venom sent my way when I’ve suggested that there exists an underlying, matrix-like […]

A Free Sample Chapter From Victoria Mixon’s new book, “The Art and Craft of Story: 2nd Practicioner’s Manual”

New Peer Review Submission from Evonne M. Biggins: “The Perfect Shade of Gray” (YA).  Please honor her with your feedback. ****** Back last winter, when Larry and I were both voted Top 10 Blogs for Writers, we traded guest posts—his Self-Editing at the Story Level on my site A. Victoria Mixon, Editor, and my The […]

Why My Workshops are “Slightly Disturbing”

Sometimes the universe backhands us into paying attention.  When it doesn’t dislocate a jaw, that’s a good thing.  More than most, writers need to pay attention to stuff like this. Especially when you recognize truth in the sting. This morning a valued reader asked me if I was okay.  He noticed that my “voice” was […]

Storyfixing… Explained

Check out the new Peer Review submission from Lake Lopez, the first 5000 words of his novel, “Sinister.”  Who could resist that title?  Please check it out and gift him with your feedback. If you’d like to post your own work on the Storyfix Peer Review Page, and then stand naked in the harsh light of […]

Input Please… Help create the First Storyfix Online Workshop

The title says it all.  I don’t have a date or a timeframe planned. I don’t have a specific agenda or thematic landscape for the workshop.  Yet. What I DO have is a passion for this idea, and the belief that Storyfix readers would really jump on this.  Especially if you have a hand in […]

“Bait and Switch” (deconstruction): A “Criteria-Driven” Story from Square One

First… my apologies for being slow in getting this deconstruction up to full speed.  I hope to pick up the pace next week. I’ve been thinking about it — a lot — and one thing keeps bubbling to the surface as I juggle parts and plot point and protagonistic proclivities.  And that one thing, I’ve […]

Want to Publish, or Self-Publish? Read This Interview

Writer, editor and friend Victoria Mixon runs a great (Top 10!) website for writers, www.victoriamixon.com.  Up now is an interview with another Top-10 writing blogger… someone you might know… talking about stuff you might want to read about. Think of it as some combination of comisseration, confession, encouragement and warning. Consider it today’s Storyfix content. […]

3 New Peer Review Submissions

Please honor these authors with your time and feedback.  Consider it a reservation in your name on the karma train. ***** Frederick Fuller’s contemporary adult romance, “For the Heart’s Treasure.” Jason B. Reed’s adult fantasy novel, “Opposable Thumb.” J Fairfield Perry’s adult contemporary novel, “Warning: Say No or Die.” If you’d like to offer up some […]

Deconstructing “Bait and Switch”: The Double-Barbed Opening Hook

The second in a series of posts that expose and analyze the architecture of this novel. A little business first. Donna Lodge sent me a link to an interview with Kathryn Stockett (author of “The Help”), and it’s fascinating, scary and encouraging (writing often brings us a collision between those experiences).  “The Help” was rejected […]

Deconstructing “Bait and Switch”: Concept and Voice

(Quick note… check out the new posting on the Peer Review Page HERE, a novel partial by J Fairfield Perry.) From Notion to Idea to Story: An Author’s Personal Account Even though I’m deconstructing my own novel this time around, my approach won’t differ (much) from that taken with other deconstructions here on Storyfix.  That […]