The Writer's Resource

Motivation for Characters In Fiction

2012-01-12T04:19:00.000-08:00

Creating Fictional Characters by A Writer's Words, An Editor's Eye
Motivation by WritingWorld.com**
Desire and Motivation by Story In Literary Fiction
The Psychology of Character by The Editor's Blog
Motivate Your Characters Like A Pro by Writer's Digest
Motivation: Attaching Character to Plot by Elizabeth Moon
Character Motivation: What Is It? by Creative Writing Site
What Thor Taught Me About Character Motivation by Matt Moore Writes
What's Your Character's Motivation? by The Dabbling Mum
What Motivates Your Characters by The Writer Magazine

Using Accents/Dialect In Your Fiction

2012-01-05T05:34:00.000-08:00

Using Slang and Accents When Writing Fictional Dialogue by Poewar
Writing Dialogue In Accents and Dialect by Daily Writing Tips
How to Write Dialogue for Fictional Characters with a British Accent by eHow
Writing Dialect: It's In The Rhythm by Fiction Addiction
Keeping It Readable by Beyond The Margins
Write The Right Dialogue In Your Women's Fiction by Women's Fiction Writers
Word Choices-Contractions and Dialect by Editor's Blog
The Uses and Abuses of Dialect by Just About Writing
The Very Best of British by EffingPot
Irish Slang

Holiday Schedule

2011-12-16T05:04:00.000-08:00

We're taking a blogging break for the holidays, but we'll be back Jan. 4, 2012!!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Transitions

2011-12-06T07:13:00.000-08:00

Handling Transitions by Terry Odell
Building Coherent Scene Transitions by Superhero Nation
Getting From Here To There: Transitions by Janice Hardy
Strong Transitions by Cheryl Wyatt
How To Write Great Transitions by Men With Pens
Mastering Scene Transitions by The Editor's Blog
Transitions by All Write Fiction Advice
Transitions: Filling In The Time Line by Darcy Pattison

Subplots

2011-11-29T11:29:00.000-08:00

The ABC's of Subplots by Why Stories Work
Testing the Middle: Subplots by edittorrent
5 Subplot Blunders to Avoid by Lynette Labelle
The Seven Shoulds of Subplots by Krisitn Bair O'Keefe
Subplots by All Write Fiction Advice
The Importance of Subplot by Novel Writing Help
Weave Subplots Into Your Novel by Fiction Factor
Subplots by Kaye Dacus
Subplots by Mystery Writing Is Murder
Choosing Subplots by Darcy Pattison
Playing With Subplots by Kay Kenyon
Making Plot and Subplot Work Together by Darcy Pattison
Subplots by The Writing Place

Tips For Writing In First Person POV

2011-11-22T04:37:00.000-08:00

Is Your First Person Narrator Overpowering Your Story? by K.M. Weiland
Why I Love First Person by Lisa Gail Green via Adventures in Children's Publishing
Describing Your First Person Narrator by Janice Hardy
Problems With Writing In First Person by Clarissa Draper
First Person Point of View: Understanding Variations by The Literary Lab
Writing Fiction In First Person by Advanced Fiction Writing
Tips On Writing First Person POV by Kathleen S. Allen
Writing In First Person: Pros and Cons by Vickie Britton
The Problem With First Person Point Of View by Megan Hart
First Person Point Of View by The Writer's Craft

Blog of the Week

2011-11-17T05:20:00.000-08:00

The Blog of the Week is.... Wordplay: Helping Writers Become Authors by K.M. Weiland. If you haven't visited her site, do so after reading this post. She also blogs on Authorculture, another fabulous blog for writers.

Visit her Popular Writing Tips page for info on everything from developing action in your novel to understanding theme.

She shares a wealth of knowledge on her blog so that other writers can become better at what they do. It's a site you'll return to. Trust me ;)

Maintaining Verb Tense In Your Story

2011-11-15T07:27:00.000-08:00

Verb tense is a stumbling block for many writers. Is it ever okay to switch tense? Of course. IF IT'S NECESSARY. You just need to know the rules and apply them.

Verb Tense Consistency by Towson University
Present or Past Tense Verbs by Writer's Relief
Beware the Shifting Tense by Daily Writing Tips
Ask An Editor: Verb Tense by Romance University
Consistent Verb Tense by Butte College
Sequence of Tenses by Purdue Online Writing Lab

Rules from Strunk & White

2011-11-10T06:20:00.000-08:00

An essential book for writers is Strunk & White's Elements of Style. (Click the image to purchase on Amazon)

It's so essential that I thought I'd begin twice a month posts featuring some of the basic rules shared in the book.

You'll want to memorize these :)

To show possession for a singular noun (no matter what the final consonant is) use 's:

Mary's purse
Alexis's car
the bird's tweet

2. Exception to the above rule: Pronominal Possessives like hers, its, theirs, yours, ours. Its is usually a culprit for error. It's means it is or it has. It's does not show possession.

its breath
its handle
it's blue
it's been horrible

3. Singular Indefinite Pronouns such as another, anybody, anyone, anything, everybody, everyone, everything, nobody, no one, one, other, somebody, someone, something require an 's to show possession.

anybody's business
everyone's money

______________________________________________________________

Next time: Comma Usage

Next Week: Blog of the Week and Maintaining Verb Tense In Your Story

Blog Of The Week: The Bookshelf Muse

2011-11-08T03:22:00.000-08:00

When I started writing again and joined the social networking universe, I had no idea where to look for good writing blogs. Google "blogs about writing" and you get 30,000,000 results. Not fun to dig through that, huh? So...I will begin sharing blogs I think are beneficial for new and old writers alike.

Today....I choose The Bookshelf Muse.

Whether you're just beginning or a seasoned writer, this site is priceless. Six different description thesauruses are listed, at length, in the sidebar of the blog run by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi.

Need a better way to show anticipation?? Hunger?? Stubborness??

Draw a blank on how to describe a bakery?? Bonfire?

Frozen tundra? Frost? Tornadoes? Colors and textures?

There's even a Symbolism Thesaurus for when you are stumped on how to

show a Fall from Grace or a Crossroads or even Superstition.

I live on this site and I highly recommend it to writers everywhere :)

Revisions Process

2011-11-03T07:02:00.000-07:00

How To Revise A Novel by Holly Isle
Revision Checklist by Nathan Bransford
Revising Your Novel by James Scott Bell
How To Form A Quick Revision List by Laura Pauling
5 Revising Tricks by YA Highway
5 Simple Questions for Revision by Darcy Pattison
When Editing Goes Astray by Janice Hardy
Revision Series by Clarissa Draper
Better Writing Through Revision by Writing Forward
10 Points To Revising Your Novel by Scribophile

Great Books On Writing

2011-11-01T06:49:00.000-07:00

I love books on writing and these are some of my favorites. I'm sure there are dozens of others out there...feel free to mention them in comments.

The Elements of Style by Strunk and White
On Writing by Stephen King
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
Stein on Writing by Sol Stein
Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master by The Plot Whisperer (Martha Alderson)
Hooked by Les Edgerton
Scene and Structure by Jack Bingham
Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell
Revision and Self-Editing by James Scott Bell
Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass
The Fire In Fiction by Donald Maass
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Save the Cat by Blake Snyder
Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing by Mignon Fogarty

Goals

2011-10-27T07:30:00.000-07:00

Writing Fiction: Story Goal by Rebecca Cornish Talley
Five Keys To Compelling External Goals by Why Stories Work
Constructing Your Story Goal by Advanced Fiction Writing
The Whole Story: Plotting Multibook Goals by Janice Hardy
Determining Your Protagonist's Goal by Story Fanatic
Goals Define The Plot by Martha Alderson
Goal Versus Need by Martha Alderson
Choosing A Story Goal by How To Write A Book Now
How To Create A Strong Character: Give Them Goals by Jami Gold
Your Protagonist Must Have A Goal by Jane Friedman
NaNoWriMo Boot Camp: Goals & Obstacles by Nathan Bransford
Character Goals by Girls With Pens
External and Internal Goals by Julia Darcy

Threshold Moments

2011-10-25T07:46:00.000-07:00

Can you identify Threshold Moments in your novel?

Key Story Elements: Into the Special World by Alexandra Sokoloff
Crossing Thresholds by Martha Alderson
Threshold Guardians at The Forbidden Door by Susan Sipal
The Hero's Journey Part 5: Crossing the First Threshold by Justus R. Stone
The Hero's Journey Part 7: Approach To The Inmost Cave by Justus R. Stone
Threshold Guardians by TVTropes
Significance of Crossing A Threshold by Martha Alderson
The Threshold by Books & Such Literary Agency

Suggested Reading: Secrets Of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master by Martha Alderson aka The Plot Whisperer. To win a free copy of the book, simply comment here to enter.

NaNoWriMo

2011-10-20T11:41:00.000-07:00

In case you don't know, November is National Novel Writing Month aka NaNoWriMo. Writers everywhere attempt the task of writing a novel in a month. I thought I'd provide some links to help acquaint you and even provide advice with Nano.

NaNoWriMo.org Official Site
National Novel Writing Month by Daily Writing Tips
Nail Your Nano by Storyfix - Series of Posts
NaNoWriMo: Quick Preparation Tips & Resources by Write It Sideways
5 Reasons You Should Do Nano by The Creative Penn
25 Things You Should Know About NaNo by Terrible Minds - Chuck Wendig
NaNoWriMo Boot Camp: Choosing The Right Idea by Nathan Bransford
NaNoWriMo Prep: The Index Card Method by The Dark Salon - Alexandra Sokoloff
6 Golden Rules of Nano by Victoria Mixon
NaNoWriMo: Wicked Trick or Awesome Treat by Julie Musil
NaNoWriMo by The Plot Whisperer - Series of Posts
Online Tools for NaNoWriMo by Lyla Campbell
Five Tips For A Successful NaNoWriMo & How Scrivener Can Help by Jamie Todd Rubin

How To Find A Critique Partner

2011-10-18T04:51:00.000-07:00

First...read these articles on how to select the right CP for you:

How To Find The Perfect Critique Partner by Jessica Andersen
10 Tips On Choosing A Critique Partner by Charissa Weaks
Critique Week: Finding The Perfect Critique Partner by Jami Gold
What A Great Critique Partner or Group Means by Kidlit.com

Places to FIND a CP:

Romance Junkies Find a CP
KidLit.com Critique Connection
Harlequin Find A CP Forum
Nathan Bransford's Connect With A CP Forum
The Literature Network Forum
Book Country
The Next Big Writer
2011 Love Connection by Maggie Stiefvater
Ladies Who Critique
Rom-Critters
Absolute Write
Agent Query Connect
Passionate Critters
CP & Beta Reader Match Up by Clarissa Draper
Authonomy by Harper Collins
Scribophile
Twitter - Connections made on Twitter can be invaluable.
Women's Literary Cafe #sharethelove on Facebook to meet new writers
Goodreads Beta Reader Group
Goodreads Struggling Writers Group

Best Of Luck and Happy Writing!!

XOXO

Charissa

Foreshadowing: Part 2

2011-10-13T06:58:00.000-07:00

Foreshadowing by Lighthouse Writing Tips
Foreshadowing In Fiction by Novel Writing Help
Writing Fiction: Foreshadowing by Rebecca Cornish Talley
Foreshadowing and Suspense by Anne Marble @ Writing World
How To Improve Your Story: Thou Shalt Foreshadow by StoryFix
The Author's Crystal Ball Of Suspense: Foreshadowing by The How To Write Shop
Foreshadowing by Bella Online
Balancing The Need For Foreshadowing by Darcy Pattison
How To Use Foreshadowing by Creative Writing Help
How To Hide Foreshadowing by Andy Shack
On Foreshadowing by Beth Revis

See Additional Links From Previous Post On Foreshadowing HERE.

Flashback

2011-10-11T06:40:00.000-07:00

On Flashbacks by James N. Frey
Using Flashback In Fiction by Pearl Luke
Storytelling: Writing Flashbacks by Delish Fiction
Flashbacks by All Write-Fiction Advice
What Makes A Flashback Sizzle? by Advanced Fiction Writing
3 Tips For Writing Successful Flashbacks by Writer's Digest
The Dreaded Flashback by edittorrent
When To Use A Flashback by The Plot Whisperer
Using Flashback in Storytelling by Brooke Monfort
Flashbacks - How and When To Use Them by Vickie Britton
Cover Me, I'm Going Back: Writing Flashbacks by Janice Hardy
Writing-Flashback Into Character Development by Magical Words
Flashbacks In Writing by Novel Writing Help
The 5 Rules of Writing Effective Flashback by Write To Sell Your Book
Flashbacks Effective In Deepening Novel by Darcy Pattison
Anatomy of a Flashback by Peter Selgin
Story Elements: Flashback by The Writing Place

Coming Up On Thursday....Foreshadowing.

Taste

2011-10-06T06:22:00.000-07:00

This is the last topic in the sense series, and my favorite. But, remember that though we often relate the sense of taste to food, it can encompass much more. Skin, blood, paper, glue, exhaust, cigarette smoke, a kiss, tears, lip gloss, etc. Don't limit yourself by only describing food and drink.

Describing Food by World Food & Wine
Using the Senses in Fiction: Taste by Dorothy Love
Story Elements: The Sense of Taste by The Writing Place
List of Words That Describe Taste by Today's Words...As They Spill
How To Describe Flavor by Forme of Cury
How To Describe Aroma and Flavor by Spicelines
Descriptive Words for Taste by Descriptive Words.com

Happy Writing!!

Tactile & Olfactory Senses

2011-10-04T06:28:00.000-07:00

Two Links I consider a MUST:

The Texture Thesaurus by Bookshelf Muse
The Settings Thesaurus by Bookshelf Muse (includes sense descriptions for a variety of settings)

Additional Links:

Story Elements: The Sense of Touch by The Writing Place
Using The Senses In Fiction: Touch by Dorothy Love
Sense Words by Tutorial Services of El Paso Community College (Contains a section on Touch/Smell words)
Writing About Place: Imagery & The Senses by Writing Fiction
Scent Descriptions by Scentit.com
Using Smell To Improve Your Fiction by Write For Your Life
Writing With Your Nose by Poynter.org
Story Elements: The Sense of Smell by The Writing Place
Using The Senses In Fiction: Smell by Dorothy Love

And don't forget this Descriptive Word resource by msgarrettonline.com

Additional Links on Writing the Senses:

The Art of Description: Eight Tips to Help You Bring Your Settings to Life by Writing World.com
Use All Five Senses by Writing Fiction
3 Strategies for Snaring the Senses by Cat Rambo
Stir Up Your Setting: Use All Five Senses by Kaye Dacus
The Language of the Senses by edittorent

Sound: The Hearing Sense

2011-09-29T06:26:00.000-07:00

We all know to consult the five senses when we write. I thought I'd do a few posts on the senses to remind us all how paying attention to our senses can drastically improve our writing.

Sight often claims the most of our attention, but sound, touch, smell, and taste can take a description levels deeper by evoking a response by the reader. The cinnamon soaked scent of baked apple pie...just reading that makes you think of a piping hot slab of dessert, doesn't it? You remember the scent and maybe the taste even tickles your tongue. Description is an important writing tool because of how it connects the reader to the words on the page. That's why it's so important that we carefully select what is of value to be described in the first place.

Today I thought I'd start with sound.

Definition you should know: Onomatopoeia: A word that imitates a sound.

And I don't just mean Thwack! Bam! Whap!

We hear sounds constantly. Even in the quiet we pick up audible creaks and pops, the steady pumping rhythm of a heart, a sigh. Sound is critical, because just like the other senses, it can place us deeper into a scene. I urge you to place yourself in one of your scenes and think about what sounds would be present.

PLEASE REMEMBER: Use your descriptors in moderation and with purpose. Just because a bird might be tweeting in a tree doesn't mean the POV character's ears will notice it. We don't pay attention to EVERY sound around us at all times. We fine tune our hearing. Choose sounds that mean something to the scene in which they live.

Here are some links for further reading on the topic:

Psychology In Writing: Adding Sound Effects To Your Writing by Nouveau Writer
Alphabetical List of Onomatopoeia Examples
What's That Sound by Writing.com
Describing Sound - A Glossary by HeadFi ** (One of my favorites)
How To Describe Sound - 200 Words for That Special Sound by Bukisa.com

Part III: Threads of a Novel - Thematic Significance

2011-09-27T05:49:00.000-07:00

Today ends Threads of a Novel. As we've learned, the three threads are Character Emotional Development, Dramatic Action, and Thematic Significance. When plotting your novel or when going back through that first draft, these three things should be visible. If not, you now know what to work on.

So what is Thematic Significance?

**Read this article by Martha Alderson over on Blockbuster Plots and this article by Northern Virginia Community College on considerations of theme.

Thematic Significance is the underlying meaning of a novel. It's the essence of what your character's journey means to the reader. Well developed themes resonate. Theme is how the author communicates his/her perception of the character's deeper understanding of human existence that comes about from their journey.

Remember...there can also be sub-themes!

I thought I'd re-post the links from the Theme Topic for additional help on developing theme:

What is Theme In Literature? by Novel Writing Help
Does Your Fiction Novel Have A Theme? by Men With Pens
Do Stories Need A Theme by Jami Gold
Theme Me Up: How To Develop Your Theme by Janice Hardy
The Theme Devil by Charissa Weaks
Writing Tips: Themes by Writing Workshop
Dig Deeper With Your Novel's Subthemes by Fiction Factor
101 Common Book Themes by About.com

Happy Writing!! XOXO

Part Two: Threads of A Novel - Dramatic Action Plot

2011-09-22T08:38:00.000-07:00

Tuesday we talked about Character Emotional Development - how a character changes between the first sentence and the last. Knowing the path your characters will take is a critical step in understanding how to develop scenes and situations that will bring forth the changes you desire for your characters.

So what exactly IS Dramatic Action?

The best definition I could find, and the one I use, comes from Martha Alderson.

Dramatic action is the outer journey the character takes that forces the character's inner transformation. Dramatic action provides the excitement on the page. The Dramatic Action gives the character something to be emotionally affected by and/or to emotionally affect.

The Dramatic Action consists of A) goal B) obstacles to attaining goal and C) what's at stake.

I relate outer conflict and obstacles with Dramatic Action. Dramatic Action and Character Emotional Development are directly related. The struggles and encounters they meet while trying to attain their goal changes the character through the book.

That being said, it is important that we craft scenes and situations that show the character striving to meet their goal, the obstacles the character faces in that effort, and the stakes/consequences if they don't meet their goal.

Dramatic Action is what causes and interferes the journey. Dramatic Action is a question: Will she make it? And it's answered at the climax of the novel.

Connie Flynn has three very clear-cut worksheets that will help guide you:

Now...since novels and movies follow similar forms, writers often use screenwriting methods and tips to help plot their novel and the Dramatic Action. One of the best tools is called a Beat Sheet.

To see an actual Beat Sheet of a movie, visit Beat Sheet Central. There are hundreds of movies broken down for you to study.

Come back Tuesday for more on developing Thematic Significance.

Happy Writing!! XOXO

Additional Links:

Are You A Character-Driven Or Action-Driven Writer? by Martha Alderson
The Hunger Games: A Lesson In Plot by Meghan Ward
Blockbuster Plots by Threes by AbsoluteWrite
Dramatic Action by Gordian Plot
Plot Lines Test by Blockbuster Plots

Part One: Threads of a Novel - Character Emotional Development Plotline

2011-09-20T05:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday on my blog, I posted about Martha Alderson, aka the Plot Whisperer. Her blog and resource page on Blockbuster Plots helped me early on in this journey to understand the three main threads of a novel:

Character Emotional Development Plot
Dramatic Action Plot
Thematic Significance Plot

Now...we all know there are other threads in a novel like the Romantic Plot or sub-plots that often develop as we write, and I may post about those too by the end of this series. But for now, I want to focus on the big three.

Today we start with Character Emotional Development.

Step one is to actually get your characters formed. Use this character worksheet by Adventures in Children's Publishing to guide you:

Character Worksheet

For more in depth info on the worksheet read these posts:

Once that is done, think about how you see each character changing through the novel.

These are the questions I asked myself when planning my character arcs:

Who is my character at the onset of the story?
How do I see her changed by the end?

Two simple questions that aren't really simple at all. We have to take into account a character's history, back story, morals, beliefs, fears, flaws, etc. It's a pretty hefty task. But once you can answer those two questions, you can see the path of each character much clearer.

Use this brilliant worksheet by Connie Flynn to plan out your character arc and scenes that show change.

We all like to see characters evolve. The progression in which that happens is crucial. Remember that it has to be natural.

Read this great post on Character Arc by Learn the Elements of a Novel

Little by little our characters are altered by the events of the story we create. The degree of change is different for every character. Sometimes it's a subtle change, and sometimes a character is the exact opposite of the person they were when they started their journey. The important thing is that the reader sees it, that we weave it into the novel.

Sentence Flow and Structure

2011-09-15T05:48:00.000-07:00

I can't begin to emphasize the importance of Sentence Structure. Readability is crucial. The easier it flows, the better. Check out these articles to get a good grip on how to improve sentence structure and flow.

Smooth Sentence Fluency by Teaching That Makes Sense
Common Grammar Errors by Tameri Guide for Writers
Sentence Structure Oopsies by Book View Cafe Blog
Strategies for Sentence Variation by Purdue Online Writing Lab
Style: The Rhythm of Prose by Fiction Factor
Understanding Sentences by All Write - Fiction Advice
Making Your Writing Exciting At Sentence Level by KidLit
5 More Ways To Kill A Sentence by Grammar Divas
10 Tips To Balance Parallel Sentence Structure by Daily Writing Tips
Fixing Flat Sentences by Edittorent
Simple Sentence Edit by Edittorent
7 Dos for Dangling Modifiers by Daily Writing Tips
5 Ways To Reduce Use of Prepositions by Daily Writing Tips
What Writers Mean By Flow by Writer's Digest
5 Examples of Sentence Fixes by Grammar Divas

Happy Writing!

Editing Software

2011-09-13T05:28:00.000-07:00

There's a little controversy over whether or not "machine" edits are sufficient for writers to depend on when editing their novel. (For this article, I use Autocrit).

I think most anyone from the writing community will give you a resounding "no."

But why?

These programs are fabulous tools, especially for beginning writers who need to see their tendencies in bold letters. However - they are just that. Tools.

A nail gun doesn't build the shed. You do. One nail at a time. Granted...you could use a hammer, but that's a lot more work and takes a lot more time.

Same goes with editing software. It's just faster than our own human editing. But...you can't depend on it to guide you to that pristine and perfect manuscript because what it does not and cannot check for is style. Voice. Tone. And if you're not careful, you could end up editing all that right out of your work.

For example, I ran a piece of dialogue through the wizard and after editing per the software, you couldn't even tell it was my MC speaking anymore. You have to remember... it's a machine. You, the writer, have the final say so.

That being said, once you learn to use the software as a tool and not a Bible, editing software does have advantages other than making edits faster.

Even for the experienced writer, it's nice to be able to plug in your manuscript and see a report on how many times you began a sentence with a conjunction. Or how many times you used the word had. You can also check the rhythm of your sentences since it gives you a word count breakdown by sentence.

Here is an example of reports based on the first page of my MS:

Now...keep in mind that it gives me suggestions. I still have to work through the document, read the sentences, and decide whether an overused word can be changed or not.

Here's another report: Sentence Length Variation

Again...this is just a report. Have I varied sentence length? Yes. Can I break up some of the longer sentences? That's for me to decide. Just because I have a long or short sentence doesn't mean I need to edit it. I have to take into account sentence structure, simple, compound, and complex sentences, and fragments.

Next up: Cliches and Redundancies

Luckily I had no cliches or redundancies. If I had however, I would definitely go back and double check whether they worked or needed to be removed.

Now...keep in mind that these three reports are all free on Autocrit. For additional reports, you have to pay. You can enter up to 500 words at a time 3 times a day at no cost.

So...bottom line: Don't depend on Editing Software to "fix" your novel. It can definitely help you see your tendencies and point out potential issues, but in the end, it's all on you.

Happy Writing!!

Knowing Your Genre

2011-09-08T05:28:00.000-07:00

Genre is important. When you walk into a bookstore, where would you go to find your book? Agents and publishers will ask the same question. My advice? Find a book similar to your own, (Yes...there is one out there). Look at every book on the shelf beside it. THEN READ AS MANY OF THOSE BOOKS AS YOU CAN. This is your market. Know your target audience. Know what they like.

First...Where does your book fit? Is it Literary, Genre, or Mainstream?

What is Literary Fiction by Novel Writing Help
What is Genre Fiction by Novel Writing Help
What is Mainstream Fiction by Novel Writing Help

Now...The Different Types of Genre & Sub-Genre

Choosing Our Path: Genre Matters by Kristen Lamb
Types of Novels by Novel-Writing Help
Exploring The Different Types of Fiction by Dummies.com
Know Your Genre by Kay Kenyon
Big fat Fiction Genre List by CM Stewart
Where Does My Book Fit? Figuring Out Your Genre by Janice Hardy
How To Pick The Correct Genre For Your Book by BubbleCow
Fiction Sub-Genre Listing by Fiction Factor
Identifying Your Fantasy Novel's Sub-Genre by YA Fantasy Guide
Science Fiction Sub-Genres by Cuebon
Sub-Genres by Worlds Without End
Romance Literature Sub-Genres by Romance Writers of America
A Short Guide To Historical Fiction Sub-Genres by WMRLS.org
Mystery Sub-Genres by Cuebon
From Cozy to Caper: A Guide To Mystery Genres by Writing World.com
Horror Sub-Genres by Paula Guran

Happy Writing!

Strong Verbs

2011-09-06T04:37:00.000-07:00

We're told all the time to use Strong Verbs in our writing. But what are strong verbs?

What Is A Strong Verb? by BrightHub

What are some examples of Strong Verbs?

1000 Words To Write By by Deanna Carlyle
Choose Active, Precise Verbs by Janice L. Hewitt, Ph.D. Includes a list of strong verbs
Action Verbs for Writers by Nuts and Bolts of Filmmaking Includes Word and PDF lists
Strong Verb Replacement List by Therese Stenzel
Action Verbs List by Pepperdine
Thesaurus.com

You can now define a Strong Verb and you have the tools needed to build a Strong Verb Vocabulary, but then what?

Editing for Strong Verbs by IUPUI - University Writing Center
Sharpen Your Writing: Choose Strong Verbs by Archetype
Strong Action Verbs by Creative Writing Juices Includes good examples
Writing With Strength and Specificity by Carolyn Jewel
Verbs by Bob and Jack's Writing Blog

Writing What You Don't Know: Firearms

2011-09-01T05:26:00.000-07:00

I decided to start this post topic because let's face it ... We writers don't know everything and research can be daunting. I am experiencing this firsthand in my WIP. For me, the focus is motorcycles and guns. For you, it could be antique furniture or wine. The list could go on and on. I'm going to attempt to pick some of the more common topics, like guns. Many of us write about them, but writing accurately is key. Have you ever watched a movie where someone is shot, they clasp their shoulder, and then die on impact? It's annoying. Though you might not be 100% sure what the response should be, you know death on impact from a non-lethal shot is not it. This post is for all writers, but especially those writing crime or mystery, who have a gun-wielding character.

Happy Writing!!

**And leave a comment if you have a topic you'd like to see featured here!!

First, read this article by Kenyon College/Sergei Lobanov-Rostovsky: Guns, Drugs, and Elvis: A Guide to Research for Fiction Writer

Ten Tips For Writing About Guns by Fiction Matters
Seven Things Guns Cannot Actually Do by Superhero Nation
Fiction Writers Need To Know Their Weapons by Writinghood
Don't Shoot Holes In Your Credibility by Writing World
Author Lori L. Lake: Guns, Guns, Guns on The Graveyard Shift
Writers and Guns by The Write Tuition
Stupid Gun Mistakes Every Writer Makes by Dixonverse
Gun Terminology Cheat Sheet by Little Details
Firearms Dictionary by Hallowell & Co.
Cops & Guns: Are You Using The Wrong Words To Describe Them? by The Graveyard Shift
Handgun Tips for Writers by Ben Small
Firearms for Formulators of Fiction by Author R. Doug Wicker

Grammar Rules

2011-08-30T05:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday on my blog, I touched on the importance of grammar checking when you're editing. Truth is, brushing up on those grammar skills before writing a rough draft can make the whole process smoother. But ... English grammar can be tricky. THERE ARE LOTS OF RULES. So, I've compiled some helpful links for you guys for those moments when you just don't know what to do. :)

Happy Writing!!

Sites You Should Bookmark & Frequent:

Daily Grammar
The Grammar Book
The University of Northern Iowa's Dr. Grammar Website
Grammar Girl at Quick an Dirty Tips
Purdue Online Writing Lab
The Grammar Nazi

Writing Scenes & Sequels

2011-08-25T04:49:00.000-07:00

Scenes are units of action in a novel. Sequels show reaction to the previous scene. These are the basic components of each:

Another great visual aid by The Wasted Poet: (click the image for a breakdown of components)

Great Articles On Understanding Scene & Sequel:

Writing The Perfect Scene by Advanced Fiction Writing
Using The Structure of Scene To Give Your Book Power by Robin Perini
Scene Checklist by Darcy Pattison
4 Steps To An Engaging Reaction Scene by Girls With Pens
Pitfalls With Scene & Sequel by Janet Dean
Scene & Sequel Balanced by Linda Clare
Scene Writing: Sequel by Linda Clare
Scenes & Sequels by Pearl Luke
Scenes & Sequels by Les Edgerton
On Writing Technique: Scene & Sequel by Unstressed Syllables
Taking The Scenic Route: Scenes & Sequels by Janice Hardy
Creating Realistic Scenes by Hollie Snider of Colorado Springs Fiction Writers Group

Non-Verbal Communication For Writers

2011-08-23T05:14:00.000-07:00

So what is Non-verbal Communication? Watch the video below:

For more video instruction on non-verbal communication, watch the following video by Tracy Goodwin. The link will take you to YouTube where you can watch a series of her videos on the topic.

Fabulous Links:

Table of Body Language for Various Emotions by Writing Genre Fiction: A Guide To The Craft
The Nonverbal Dictionary
Body Language Cheat Sheet For Writers by Archetype
Writing Body Language and Dialogue Cues Like a Psychologist by Routines For Writers
Flesh Out Your Writing With Body Language by Fiction Fix
Using Body Language In Writing by Archetype
Alpha Male Body Language for Writers by Mary Buckham
Gender Differences: Female Body Language by Learn To Write Fiction
Speech Mannerisms and Body Language by Julie Musil
Using Body Language To Create Believable Characters by The Fiction Factor
Eleven Senses: Who Knew? Worksheet from RWA 2010 Workshop by Marilyn Kelly
Using Body Language by Changing Minds

And as always, be sure to visit Angela and Becca over on the Bookshelf Muse for an in-depth look at body language via their Emotion Thesaurus.

Idea Generators

2011-08-18T04:38:00.000-07:00

One of the hardest things about being creative is always being creative. Sometimes our brains just refuse to help us out.

And sometimes, we writers just need a flow of ideas to ignite some spark hiding in the recesses of our minds.

The following generators are a fantastic way to get the ideas flowing. Check them out! Whether you need a creative name or an interesting character description, these are wonderful.

Links via Serendipity :

Names:

Characteristics:

Detailed Character Generator
Generates short profiles with both physical details and background information.
Character Description Generator
Short physical descriptions.
Fantasy Character Generator
Names and brief profiles geared toward a medieval fantasy setting.
Magician Generator
For those days when you just need a legendary magic-user fast.
Ethnicity Generator
Requested here and there. Creates a description of the dominant physical traits of a group.

Mizzy:

Marie-Suzette Generator
Instantly create an obnoxiously romantic original character.
Anti-Marie-Suzette Generator
Nauseated from the results of that one? Try this for a dose of cold hard realism.
Frenchboy Generator
Supplies a given name, appearance, and personality for your revolutionaries.

Places:

Place Name Generator
Vaguely Latinate names for countries, continents and cities.
City Generator
Roll up a teeming metropolis or three for your next fantasy setting.
Stronghold Creator
Instantly create a one-of-a-kind castle full of colorful characters and landmarks.
Community Name Generator
Names for quaint rural villages, or housing developments that wish they were quaint rural villages.
Fantasy Place Name Generator
Similar to the Community Namer, but with a more fantastic theme.
Interesting Site Generator
For those blank spots on your fictional maps.
Chinese Restaurant Name Generator
Now that you've named the town, name the token Chinese restaurant in it as well.
Room Description Generator by zlana
A guest star! Generates descriptions of interesting interiors.

Things:

Fantasy Novel Titles
Ever feel like most fantasy authors generated their book titles at random? Now you can, too.
Dragon Name Generator
Pern-style dragon names. What you do with them is up to you and Anne McCaffrey's lawyer.
Clothing Style Generator
This one describes the clothes of a population in general -- useful for world building.
Fantasy Gown Generator
Fantasy Outfit Generator
By request, random clothes for males as well.
Treasure Generator
Generate objects rare, beautiful or bizarre for your adventurer to find.
Fictional War Generator
For those dark periods in your imaginary history.
Cuss-O-Matic by zlana
Lurid imprecations at your fingertips.
Color Name Generator
Generates sales-catalog types of colors. Some make sense... some not so much.
Palette Generator
Gives you a randomized set of colors and corresponding hex codes.

Stories: (generates plot ideas)

Les Misérables Improv Generator
Quick fic challenges.
Westmark Improv Generator
For the Lloyd Alexander trilogy that I love so much.
Les Misérables Fanfic Plotter
Instant storyline! With crossover and Mary Sue functionality!
Ficcinator
Includes characters from Les Miz, Westmark and Phantom of the Opera, if you're into that sort of thing.
Fantasy Plotter
Generates a brief, if often zany, premise for a fantasy story.
Plot Twist Generator
Wacky developments to jump-start that stalled story.

Travesties:

Plebey Review Generator
When you need inane, yet incoherent netspeak commentary and don't want to injure your brain.
Bloody Awful Furre Description Generator
Instantly create a *cough* "poetic" *wheeze* anthropomorphic animal character.

Additional links:

via Archetype...A Fiction Writer's Guide To Psychology:

Other great generator sites:

Seventh Sanctum : Here you'll find a collection of generators that make random characters, plots, ideas, and more to use in your writing, games, art and more. Fabulous must-visit site.
Chaotic Shiny : Fun, fantastic site.
Squid.org : Very cool...includes cultural
The Forge : Fantasy name generator, includes: spells, character names, creature names, etc.

Especially For Romance People:

Seventh Sanctum Romance Generator
Cheap Peeks: Great Plot Generator
Chaotic Shiny's Paranormal Romance Generator

Other fun stuff:

Elements of the Three Act Structure for Novel Writing

2011-08-16T04:22:00.000-07:00

The following are all Links to Alexandra Sokoloff's website which I turn to frequently during plotting. Even though I am a pantser by nature, (aren't we all?), I am a plotter by necessity. But...even if you don't want to follow an outline or plan, understanding structure will still help make the process of writing your novel much easier. So if you've ever asked... "What goes where?" or "Should there be a method instead of madness?"....this is for you. Alexandra breaks down each Act and what they should contain.

Coming Up On Thursday.... Generators: Tools for When You're Brain Just Won't Work

And Next Week: Description: Non-Verbal Communication & Understanding How To Write Body Language

Premise & Theme

2011-08-10T06:20:00.000-07:00

What is Theme In Literature? by Novel Writing Help
Does Your Fiction Novel Have A Theme? by Men With Pens
Do Stories Need A Theme by Jami Gold
Theme Me Up: How To Develop Your Theme by Janice Hardy
The Theme Devil by Charissa Weaks
Writing Tips: Themes by Writing Workshop
Dig Deeper With Your Novel's Subthemes by Fiction Factor
101 Common Book Themes by About.com
What's In A Premise & How Do I Write One by Charissa Weaks
What's Your Premise by Alexandra Sokoloff
Developing A Premise For A Story by Les Edgerton
Premise-Foundation Of Storytelling by Bill Johnson
Start With A Solid Premise by ScribblePlay
How A Strong Story Premise Sets You Up For Success by Pearl Luke
The Premise by James Hudnall
Theme and Premise by Anthologies Online
Knowing The Difference by Headdesk
Premise, Theme and Moral by Just My Type
Premise by Marcella Kampman
Writing The Story Premise by Katie Ganshert

Welcome To The Writer's Resource!

2011-08-01T18:16:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! Thanks for stopping by The Writer's Resource.

Though the site is up and ready for you to navigate, please bear with us as we are still under construction. We have hundreds more links to add to help make your writing journey a little easier.

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