Process
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End your novel with hope
A while back I mentioned in a post that I preferred my horror stories to end with hope. This actually applies to just about everything I read, with the exception of books that lay in the middle of a series. Right now this isn’t a very popular method, especially in horror. At the end of Read more
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Where do you get your ideas?
If you are a writer you have heard this question. I used to struggle with answering it. Ideas for stories are a dime a dozen. They are all around you, and even more so, they are so prevalent within you, they overflow, right out of you into a page. Then one day I was talking Read more
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When a story writes itself
I have spent many nights glaring at a computer screen typing and deleting the same paragraph, willing my characters to move, trying to force a story to happen. Every writer has. When it happens, sometimes you might be lucky and some read-overs can compel your hands, or a google search can make the story lurch Read more
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Writing YA for adults who are young
I recently read an article that criticized love and first sight and anything beyond “pure” romance in YA novels (I guess that means anything beyond chaste kissing?). It made me a little angry. Not as a writer. As a former young adult. I remember being a teenager. Do you? The writer claimed the best YA Read more
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Working out of order
“Fate of a Princess” is out in the world, sorta. This weekend after numerous attempts to finish my second round of edits and clean up the end I sent it to my beta readers (my bffs) as is. I wouldn’t normally recommend this for several reasons. 1. When you do have it cleaned up, you’ll Read more
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Your character is your new bff
Sometime a story gets started with the concept of a really awesome character. When this happens what unfolds around them is secondary to who they are. You know this person well. They live on every page. Sometimes the character is who gets cast in the conflict you have created. When this happens, sometimes it’s necesary Read more
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Reblogging – Six Plot Excuses No One Wants to Hear
This week is the kind that no kind of discipline will allow you to write during but I came across this article and thought it was very important. I’ve spoken before about respecting your readers by establishing a plausible motivation. This is along the same lines, but gives some great examples of cheap ways out. Read more
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Writing Horror: Elements of Terror
I have a question I’ve been asking people for a couple years, keeping the results stored away for a story that hasn’t formed its premise just yet. The question is this: What is the scariest thing ever? Yes, this question lacks eloquence, but I’m just in the research phase right now. It’s direct, to the Read more
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When things are at their worst, Make them laugh
It’s certainly a decision of style to add humor to a serious story. Many many authors do not. I, personally, find those books harder to read. Probably because I’m the kind of person who tells fart jokes after a funeral. Read more
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Why did you do that?
every time a character does anything you, as a writer need to ask them why. And they need to be able to tell you. Read more
LC W. Allingham 