Victoria Grefer's Blog, page 10
January 28, 2014
How to Keep a Bit Character From Wearing Out His Welcome
Bit characters: they really do matter, even if they don’t seem to at first glance. That’s something that’s been on my mind lately; while I’m editing my next Herezoth novel, I’m getting stuck on the important bit characters. To be … Continue reading →
January 25, 2014
A Reminder of the Reason We Write Fiction
As we close the first month of 2014 (wow!) and are beginning to get into our writing groove, or perhaps lose sight of any resolutions (writing-wise) that we made at the end of December, I definitely need to remind myself … Continue reading →
January 21, 2014
Three Writer “Illnesses” (and how to treat them)
This post is about those pesky bugs we authors come down with: that writer-itis that strikes us down when we feel we’re doing okay, or we think we’re recovering from our last bout of writer’s block. It can feel as … Continue reading →
January 18, 2014
5 Ways Authors Can Recycle Their Discarded Material
As a writer, it’s never fun to scrap a passage, let alone one hundred pages or even a finished but flawed draft. Today’s post is a reminder to all of us that, frustrating as that situation may be, all is … Continue reading →
January 14, 2014
What Makes Readers Invest In a Frustrating Character?
Characters come in all shapes and sizes, as authors know well: including frustrating and unlikeable. Today’s post is about character and characterization: because sometimes characters annoy us, even get on our last nerve, and we’ll still read about them (or … Continue reading →
January 11, 2014
Shocks and Surprises in Fiction: All in Good Fun, or a Gimmick?
Today’s post is about twists, turns, and surprises in fiction, and what can make them feel “gimmicky” as opposed to delighting readers in the way we authors expect and hope. We all know “gimmicky” when we read it: something feels … Continue reading →
January 9, 2014
Meet Middle Grade Author Jeanne E. Rogers: She writes about Australia, but doesn’t live there
Today’s post is very different from the normal: all about animals, and dreams, with some solid advice about publishing thrown in and a new and exciting author to meet. I’m really excited about today’s guest post by middle grade author … Continue reading →
January 7, 2014
3 Things Authors Shouldn’t Mistake For “Reader Interest in a Character”
One of the most important–and perhaps toughest– aspects of writing good fiction is crafting characters that have a life of their own, that feel believable as people in the world they inhabit, and that genuinely can catch and hold the … Continue reading →
January 4, 2014
Three Parts of the Writing Process That Get Authors Stuck: And How To Work Through the Halts
One of the toughest things about writing fiction is getting stuck. We get stuck SO OFTEN as authors…. One of the keys to success is simply finding ways to overcome the doubt about our stories and our abilities that getting … Continue reading →
January 1, 2014
AUTHORS: Three ways you can focus the final line of your novel or short story
At the start of this New Year, I wanted to buck expectations and common trends (mainly because I already gave in to them by giving 4 tips to craft a good writer’s resolution) and talk about the END of things: … Continue reading →
