Sue Bradford Edwards's Blog, page 8

Character Generation

I despise shopping, but when I am forced to shop I see various products and wonder who would buy that? For example, who would buy 6.6 pounds of Nutella? I know it is for commercial use, but imagine the 9 year-old who would save up to buy this. Perhaps it is a gift. Who would … Continue reading Character Generation →

Outlining a Project

Last week, I turned in an outline for a new project which just happens to be an encyclopedia. This means that instead of having to outline 8 or 9 chapters, I have to outline 87 spreads. Each topic can encompass up to 8 spreads. I generally turn in very detailed outlines. This means that a … Continue reading Outlining a Project →

Tell Hard Stories by Focusing on the Small

Recently Lauren Rinalli sent out an email that has really had me focusing on what I read. Do writers really do this? Rinalli described a technique for writing about hard even violent scenes. She had seen it in an Instagram post by Fidan Meikle. You can find Meikle’s Instagram here. The idea was that you … Continue reading Tell Hard Stories by Focusing on the Small →

Pears and New Experiences

I love to learn and experience new things. Maybe this is why I am a natural as a nonfiction writer. Pull out a shiny new fact and watch it attract my attention. It doesn’t even have to be shiny. It can be small and green. We are taking care of the neighbor’s yard long term. … Continue reading Pears and New Experiences →

How to Choose and Install Fonts

Since I am trying to get my book out by the end of the month, I spent some time early this week on book design. I had already chosen fonts, assuming that if I paid for Microsoft Word I had paid for the right to use the fonts even if I self publish something. Although … Continue reading How to Choose and Install Fonts →

Books for Every Reader

Is there a classic book that you have never read and have no intention of reading? I have several but the one that I generally trot out when I need an example is Gone with the Wind. I’ve never read it and I’ve never seen the movie and neither of these things is likely to … Continue reading Books for Every Reader →

Why Would You Want to Write about That?

I’m super excited about my upcoming book! Admittedly, I put off sharing the cover with everyone. Why? Because I have a second book on a similar topic and I wanted to announce them both at the same time. But I’ve waited and waited and the second cover still hasn’t dropped. Honestly I’m not sure I … Continue reading Why Would You Want to Write about That? →

16 Ways to Add Tension to Your Story

Last week I read Janice Hardy’s post about how to add tension to a scene. That set me on a quest to brainstorm all the ways you can increase the tension. Other Characters Someone is in competition with your character. They both want the same thing such as winning a prize. Someone wants something that … Continue reading 16 Ways to Add Tension to Your Story →

Try, Try, Again: When a Project Doesn’t Come Together

Two weeks ago, I made and posted a video of hand exercises for creatives. You can check out that post here. Sometimes when you try something new, it falls together fairly easily. Yes, it took me more than one try to make the video but I didn’t write a script ahead of time. I didn’t … Continue reading Try, Try, Again: When a Project Doesn’t Come Together →

When Someone Hasn’t Read the Book

I don’t think I’ve ever pretended that I read something. I’m honest about the books that I only made it through with the help of Cliff Notes. Ulysses, I’m looking at you. I read Gulliver’s Travels once with Cliff Notes and once without. I didn’t get any of the underlying political commentary without the Cliff … Continue reading When Someone Hasn’t Read the Book →