by Judith Couchman Writing is one way of making the world our own, and . . . walking is another. —Geoff Nicholson Long before doctors claimed physical movement as heart healthy, walking and writing joined hands. Writers have traipsed miles to stretch their legs, clear their brains, and feed their creativity. Walking enhanced their ability to form ideas and solve dilemmas. The poets William Blake and Henry Wadsworth walked to explore their imaginations. Charles Henry Miller explained, “Most writing is done away from the typewriter, away from the desk. I’d say it occurs in the quiet, silent moments, while you’re…
Category: Writing craft
This is our archive pageOnce Upon a Time – The Craft of Storytelling: Basic screenplay writing excerpted from HOW TO SUCCEED IN HOLLYWOOD (WITHOUT LOSING YOUR SOUL) Part VIII
A story is a connected narration of real or imagined events. There are many types of story, including science fiction, romance, myth, fairy tale, tragedy, and adventure. The full range of storytelling is limited only by the human imagination, yet there are key principles that apply to all stories, and all stories can be classified in different categories or subgenre. Stories have an internal logic driven by a premise acting through characters and conflict to move the plot from a beginning point of attack, through one or more crises, to a climax that resolves into a resolution. There is a…
Sailing Along … But Something Feels Wrong
by Judith Couchman You’re sailing along with a writing project, but something within gently nags you. It’s probably your gut, your inner writer, raising a red flag about your manuscript. You could need to check a fact, strike a sentence, reconsider an opinion, edit a paragraph, or research more information. Or you might need to change direction, throw out pages, and rewrite. Whatever the case, it’s time to listen. One author describes this process: “I genuinely liked everything I’d written. That’s what made it so hard, that subtle, sickening feeling that somewhere, somehow, the book was just fundamentally not right.” She…
Conflict That Lifts The Bar by Gail Gaymer Martin
Wishing you blessings from Gail Gaymer Martin and the Christian Author Network. As always, I’m busy working on a new novel, and that always reminds me of the many techniques and elements it takes to write a salable book of fiction. Today I will talk to you about conflicts and why lifting the bar and presenting strong conflicts is important in any kind of fiction from thrillers to romance. Problems, crises and conflicts need solutions, but the conflict needs to be strong. It can’t be running out of wine at a party or disagreeing on what movie to see. You all…
Editing Tips #55
Hi! I’m Kathy Ide. In addition to being a published author, I’m a full-time professional freelance editor. For CAN, I’m blogging about tips for writers based on the manuscripts I edit.
Pray, Write, Pray
Hi Everyone, it’s Judith Couchman. My assignment for this year focuses on blogging about writing: technique, practical pointers,encouragement, and such. I hope this helps you. If you want to improve your prayer life, try writing. If you want to improve your writing life, try praying. —Ed Cyzewski If any profession produces anxiety, it’s writing. Writers fret about deadlines, the quality of their work, if they’ll publish, whether readers will buy their books, or if they’ll earn income. Potentially, the anxiety can paralyze getting the work done. Two thousand years ago a writer working under duress suggested an antidote for…
Novels With All-Important Hooks by Gail Gaymer Martin
Welcome to the CAN Blog on Fiction Writing. I always enjoy stopping by to share with you my many years of writing Christian romances, romantic suspense and women’s fiction. You can find more about me and my books on my website at www.gailgaymermartin.com Today I want to talk with you about hooks. Hooks are an important technique to arouse a readers interest in a story and to keep them reading. Reader or writers, these techniques are excellent for both. Who doesn’t want to read a gripping story that tugs you to the end? I think we all do. Every novel…
Editing Tips #54
Hi! I’m Kathy Ide. In addition to being a published author, I’m a full-time professional freelance editor. For CAN, I’m blogging about tips for writers based on the manuscripts I edit.
Every Word Counts
Hello from Crystal Bowman, writing from sunny Florida where the air is getting warmer every day. I’ve been writing for children for more than twenty years and am still learning. When it comes to writing for children, the more you learn and the more you know, the harder it gets. I write mostly for the preschool market, but also write devotions for beginning readers as well as for kids ages 6-10.
Start a Writing Ritual
Hi Everyone, it’s Judith Couchman. My assignment for this year focuses on blogging about writing: technique; practical pointers, encouragement, and such. I hope this helps you. If it’s hard to just plop into a chair and start writing—and many of us can’t—a morning ritual could effectively and meaningfully initiate your work day.
