Text, Lies and Old Tapes – The Secret to Elevating Above the Writing Multitudes

An Essential Post of Monstrous, Manifesto Proportions I’m on fire about this topic. I’ve written various iterations of it, sometimes using the words “The Lie” within the title. I even have a little ebook by that title. It’s an attention grabber, one that some writers take as a challenge to disprove, because hey, that’s the way […]

A Post for the New, Unsure, Intimidated First-time Novelist

If you’re considering writing a novel, if you’re serious about it but not certain where or how to start, or you’re simply intimidated by the sheer mystery of the process… I have some good news to share with you: That’s a good thing. You should be intimidated. But you shouldn’t be confused about where and […]

The Most Important Question(s) in Storytelling and the Ensuing Two Questions That Allow You to Answer

Is it okay if I admit that I love today’s post?  Because I do. Maybe because I’ve been tinkering with it for weeks.  I write about things that lurk in all corners of the writing room, some hidden and lurking in the darkest corners, others sitting on desk begging for attention.  Sometimes they’re subtle.  This one […]

Shades of Gray: A Somewhat Liberating Spin on Story Structure

If you’ve been challenged by the notion – or if you’re in complete denial – that effective stories can and should be broken down into sequential parts, that each of these parts has a unique contextual mission to fulfill, and that each segment is separated by a critical milestone that must accomplish certain storytelling feats…  […]

Story Structure: A Kinder, Gentler First Plot Point

Pop quiz: what’s the most important moment in your story? When we first meet our dashing hero?  Nope.   That sky-is-falling plot twist in the middle when all hope is lost?  Nope. When everything comes together, that visceral oh-my-god resolution just before the credits roll, with tears flowing, hormones raging and adrenalin pumping like beer at […]

The Single Most Powerful Writing Tool You’ll Ever See That Fits On One Page

Quick note… I have two killer guest posts running today:  At www.bloggingtips.com… and http://the-new-author.blogspot.com.  Hope you’ll check ’em out! And now for the continuing run of yesterday’s milestone post: A bold claim, that.  But I challenge you to read this stuff — which, when printed, really does fit onto one page — and then argue that […]

Story Structure Series: Epilogue… the Fine Print

This post is about putting everything we’ve just learned about story structure into perspective.  Because little about fiction is black and white.  And yet, as it is in life, the principles that keep those of us who write it safe and sane are written onto white paper with very black ink. And oh… get ready […]

What Kind of Storyteller Are You, Anyhow?

See my guest blog today on Copyblogger.com, the Big Kahuna of all freelance writing sites.   Check it out HERE. If you’ve just come from there, welcome!  Kick around a while, there’s lots to experience. If you like what you see, please SUBSCRIBE.  Hey, it’s FREE! Enter your email address: Follow StoryFix And now for today’s […]

The Ugly Truth About Writer’s Block and the Beautiful Way to Kick It

Writer’s Block is like rejection — its part of the deal if you write seriously.  It reminds me of the blush of new love — in the beginning there’s excitement, the world is all adrenalin and tongue hockey, you can’t focus or sleep… and then reality slaps you upside the head like a mother-in-law who’s […]

45 Questions Your Story Will Always Force You to Answer

But first… Do you Blog? See my guest post today on www.bloggingtips.com And if you’ve just arrived from there… welcome to Storyfix! Inherent to the process of writing a story is answering a certain set of critical questions.  Many are intuitive – like, whodunit?… or, will they or won’t they? – but unless you address […]