1. Don’t leave your readers wondering, say what you mean e.g. ‘Under the circumstances, he hesitated.’  What are the circumstances?  Try this: ‘He’d exceeded his credit limit and didn’t want to apply for a loan, therefore he hesitated.’ We’ve added details. Explaining what the circumstances are gives more information to the readers. This additional information leads them to wonder about the reasons he is in so much debt. Wondering about your character’s motives and seeking answers will keep them engaged and satisfy their curiosity. You’re drawing them deeper into the story. 2. Pump up your sentences with strong words. His voice was low.   Weak, not much action. It is a comment describing action. He spoke in…

If you’re thinking of creating a family history, don’t wait another day. Start where you are with what you have. You probably have more information available than you realize. Here are some resources you may already have: (1) Older relatives, (2) family friends, (3) school records, (4) birth certificates and death certificates, (5) funeral programs, (6) information on cemetery headstones, (7) old photos, (8) memories of what you think someone said to you, (9) real estate records, (10) employment documents, (11) year your family members joined the Great Migration. Discovering your family’s past is empowering. It’s like opening the door on a mystery or solving a puzzle, while giving strength…

Characterization: Part 1 Characters tell the story. They should be memorable. The reader should be able to visualize them in all their moves. A writer must know her characters. Everything about them is important in developing their actions in the unfolding story. When the author knows her characters, they will take the lead and only act in ways that are true to their natures. It is wise to know as much about them as feasible at the very beginning of the project. For each of the main characters, these questions must be answered. Where was she born? What is she like? Who are her family members and friends? Where did…

The power of observation is an important tool for all story tellers. For instance, when describing such things as colors, shapes, feelings or sounds, if the writer has carefully learned to observe these phenomena, she is then able to layer her descriptions. Observing nature is an excellent method when studying appropriate colors and shapes. A leaf is not just green; it may be dark green, pea green or apple green. Heighten a color with vivid imagery by tying the color to an object with a more brilliant shade. I remember her because of her ruby red nails. By using ruby red instead of just plain red, the writer has layered the description and made it…

As promised, this blog is for book lovers. Today I’m blogging about an essential tool for writers. Writers have many tools. One of the most important is a handy notebook. A serious writer should never be without her notebook. Its purpose is to note ideas about future projects, creative flashes into the current project(s), useful words and phrases, where to find research materials, insights into characterization, thoughts about significant locations and anything else that adds depth to the work. We think we may remember a point, however we are likely to forget these creative flashes if they’re not recorded for future reference. It takes disciplined effort to keep a notebook,…