The question which came first the chicken or the egg is difficult to answer in the stream of creation, but as difficult is the question which comes first story or character. It doesn’t really matter. What we need to know is that a novel cannot be written without both—story and character, and one thing we [...]
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Using Motifs To Show Character Change
A nostalgic moment or glowing memory from your life can become a motif or theme woven intricately through your novel, adding charm and continuity. A dictionary’s definition of motif is a recurrent thematic element in an artistic or literary work. It’s using an item or idea throughout a novel to emphasize an emotion or lesson [...]
Finding Conflict In Your Story
Authors know the importance of conflict in fiction. As you know, no story is worth reading without it. So creating realistic and significant conflicts is important. Every story can have multiple conflicts—not arguments or misunderstandings—but real issues of importance to the character. Conflicts also are both external and internal. The most dramatic are often the [...]
Ways To Help Readers Connect
Readers love stories that mean something to them. They may never experience the same event or problem, but they’ve had similar experiences or fears that those things might happen to them. It’s through the emotion authors bring to the characters that makes readers care. Caring creates an emotional connection. This is what you want. What [...]
Pros and Cons Scoop On Publishing Choices
The battle between traditional and indie publishing continues, and that’s well understood. Traditional publishing has been the acceptable form to bring books to life and released into stores around the country and even the world. But like everything, time has changed. Indie publication has moved from the bottom of the heap and edges upward—for some [...]
Radio Interviews and You
Sometimes novelists are asked to do radio interviews. TV shows are done in the studio, but most radio shows are accomplished by telephone. Usually novelists are asked to call a short time before the interview so they can get mentally prepared as they listen to the style of the radio show. Once they hear their [...]
Characterization – Making It Better
Many posts on characterization are available on this Writing Fiction blog, but authors can never learn enough. It’s the characters who bring your story to life and draw readers into their journey. The deeper the characterization, the more the readers’ interest and concern will be invested. Your goal as an author is to lure readers [...]
The Story In the Story Within the Story
As authors, awareness comes each time we begin a novel. We bring to the story a reflection of ourselves. This doesn’t mean a memoir or autobiography. It’s far more subtle than that. Our attitudes, values and beliefs come from who we are, our past experiences, family, friends, lifestyle, education, and values. Our writing voice, our [...]
Where’s the Ringadingding In Your Novel?
Have you ever thought your fiction scene was excellent on the first read through, and later when you come back to it, you’re disappointed. All that seemed to glow and glitter is dull and dim. This isn’t a problem only for new authors. Most novelist at one time or another while editing, jerk back [...]
Every Genre Needs. . .Suspense
There’s suspense, and then there’s suspense. We all expect it when we read a thriller, adventure or mystery, but what about family sagas, romance and coming of age? The truth is all novels need a form of suspense. Even romance, known for its happy ending, keeps readers turning pages to learn the heroine’s secret, understand [...]
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Thanks for stopping by my website. That means a lot to me. I hope you enjoy getting to know me better through my blogs and learning more about my journey in this amazing career. Writers can visit my Writing Fiction blog where I like sharing what I've learned from writing the many novels I've been blessed to have published. If you enjoy food and cooking, as I do, I hope you find new useful recipes to try from Gail's kitchen.
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- Gail
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