Writing Ideas | Donna L.H. Smith

Plotting 4 Pantsers — Part VII

Posted on November 7, 2018 Leave a Comment

External character struggles revolve around character survival or solving a large problem. How will that problem be solved? That’s what the reader wants to know. #Plotting4Pantsers #ExternalCharacterStruggles #MeghansChoice @donnalhsmith @a3writers TWEETABLE

Plotting 4 Pantsers — Part VII

Posted on October 31, 2018 Leave a Comment

They are the glue that unites the internal with the external. The internal deals with our feelings. External deals with our relationship with others. Interpersonal struggles are the “bridge” between internal and external struggles. #Plotting4Pantsers #InterpersonalCharacterStruggles @donnalhsmith @a3writers TWEETABLE

Plotting 4 Pantsers — Part VI

Posted on October 24, 2018 Leave a Comment

Three kinds of struggles should come into play for your protagonist: Internal, Interpersonal, & External. Using all three makes your story richer without plotting a single scene. This week: Internal #Plotting4Pantsers #InternalCharacterStruggles @donnalhsmith @a3writers TWEETABLE

Plotting 4 Pantsers — Part V

Posted on October 17, 2018 Leave a Comment

Choose from three types of story beginnings without plotting a single scene. The protagonist 1) has it all, but it’s taken away, 2) dangle what they most want in front of them, 3) make them face their greatest fear. #Plotting4Pantsers #StoryBeginnings @donnalhsmith @a3writers TWEETABLE

Plotting 4 Pantsers—Part III

Posted on October 3, 2018 Leave a Comment

We’re continuing our discussion of plot twists today. Turn your story on its head. By using the four basic elements of a stunning plot twist last week, let’s look at five different types of plot twists: identity, awareness, complexity, peril, & cleverness. Choose at least one then build a plot twist based on it. Plotting4Pantsers […]

Plotting 4 Pantsers – Part I

Posted on September 19, 2018 Leave a Comment

There are “outliners” or “plotters” in fiction writing. And then, there are “pantsers.” Plotters/outliners write out the essence of every scene and chapter before they write the first sentence. Pantsers, on the other hand, may have anywhere from a general idea to an informal “outline” of a few plot points they’d like to have in […]

Getting Inside the Romantic Hero’s Head—Part III

Posted on July 11, 2018 Leave a Comment

Have you ever wondered what the opposite sex is thinking while you’re thinking? Men, as a rule, think in fewer words, phrases, emotions, than women generally do. The key to dialogue in romance writing is to keep it natural and consistent. Click to Tweet #InsideHerosHead #donnalhsmith #writingromance101

Getting Inside the Romantic Hero’s Head—Part II

Posted on July 4, 2018 Leave a Comment

In our romance we’re writing, we’ve sketched out the two main characters, Tovah and Judah. Tovah is a rabbi. Judah is the CEO of a multi-national family-owned corporation. The male POV in a romance escalates the romantic tension with the heroine. Click to Tweet #InsideHerosHead #donnalhsmith #almostanauthor #writingromance101

Plotting the Romance—Part I

Posted on June 13, 2018 Leave a Comment

We’ve begun to build characters for our contemporary romance between Tovah, a rabbi, and Judah, a CEO of a multi-national corporation. The first thing to do is they must meet. The more unusual the meet, the better. Click to Tweet #amwriting #writingromance #donnalhsmith #PlottingtheRomance

Crafting the Romantic Hero––Part VI

Posted on June 6, 2018 Leave a Comment

Last time, we interviewed our romantic hero, Judah. This time, we’ll talk to Tovah. Interviews are a great way to learn more about your character and show their thought patterns. Click to Tweet #amwriting #writingromance #donnalhsmith #CraftingtheRomanticHero