Over half of our communication is done with body language, not words. I study it so I can characterize the people in my books–their actions, hand gestures, facial expressions–and it has taught me a lot about reading people’s interior monologue–those ideas they don’t want to share, but inadvertently do. Even the best speakers have a … Continue reading
This is the next in the occasional “How to Write Descriptions” series. If you’re a writer, you know what I mean. You can’t just say, The dog laid down at my feet and fell asleep. That’s boring. It tells the reader nothing about how cute the dog is, how innocent his sleep was, how you … Continue reading
When you read your story, does it sound off, maybe you can’t quite put your finger on it, but you know you’ve done something wrong? Sometimes–maybe even lots of times–there are simple fixes. These writer’s tips will come at you once a week, giving you plenty of time to go through your story and make … Continue reading
This is the ninth in the “How to Write Descriptions” series. When you’re writing about your protagonist, you want the reader to see them–their clothes, shoes, the scarf they wear, that old-fashioned belt buckle that shines in the sunlight. These images will engage readers in the plot as they watch a movie inside their brain, … Continue reading
When you read your story, does it sound off, maybe you can’t quite put your finger on it, but you know you’ve done something wrong? Sometimes–maybe even lots of times–there are simple fixes. These writer’s tips will come at you once a week, giving you plenty of time to go through your story and make … Continue reading
This is the third in a series “How to Write Descriptions”. As writers, we have only words to communicate some of the most complicated images in life. The trick for writers is, how to pick just the right words. That’s what I share here: inspiration for succeeding in your quest. Most of the following descriptions … Continue reading
I mean from a writer’s perspective. If you had a character who was a hacker (or a cracker), how would you make him convincing. To be believable, you have to enter their mindset. Here are some ideas I’ve gotten from my computer friends and The New Hacker’s Dictionary: Though it’s a common stereotype that programmers … Continue reading
When you’re building a character, you need to know the characteristics that make him the person your reader will get to know. It’s a lot more than physical–it’s what motivates his/her actions. What inspires him/her? What causes this character to be a good Samaritan or look the other way? That essence is what makes him/her … Continue reading
Emotion, as much as any other part of a story, must be shown, not told. How much more effective is it to say He clenched is fists until his fingernails dug painfully into his palms rather than He was so angry, he saw red. I’ve collected a list of actions characters display and participate in … Continue reading
Emotion, as much as any other part of a story, must be shown, not told. How much more effective is it to say He clenched is fists until his fingernails dug painfully into his palms …rather than He was so angry, he saw red. I’ve collected a list of actions characters display and participate in … Continue reading
