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 their story. They sit down at their keyboard, and it just sort of “flows” out. Many of us fiction writers are a combination. I figure I’m about 30% plotter and 70% pantser. I must know what story I’m going to tell and have a few general plot points to get the story where I want it to go. But how it gets there is all the fun. Are you a plotter or a pantser? #amwriting #plotting4pantsers @donnalhsmith @a3writers Tweetable
Tag: writing
Writing Romance 101––Part VI
We’re still building a heroine named Susie. We don’t know too much about her yet. Here’s a good tip: use little flaws or imperfections to make your heroine someone your readers can identify with. Click to Tweet #amwriting #writingromance101 #craftingtheheroine
Writing Your Story from the Middle––Part IV
We’ve been discussing writing your story from the middle, by pinning down the protagonist’s “mirror moment.” It’s a moment of self-reflection to determine what their next move is. They consider where they’ve come from, so they can plan where they’ll go from here. Click to Tweet #amwriting #writefromthemiddle
Continue reading “Writing Your Story from the Middle––Part IV”
Writers’ Conference Prep 101––Part III
Attending a writers’ conference is almost mandatory in order to advance yourself personally, and professionally. But you need to know what to expect. That’s why I’m writing these posts. I’ve attended numerous conferences, from a local one-day, to a multi-day conference far away. I’ve learned a lot, and hope to pass some of that along to you. Click to Tweet #amwriting #conferenceprep101
Writing Romance 101––Part I
So, you think you want to write a romance? It’s a great genre. We all love fairy tales where the prince and the princess live happily ever after, right? That’s probably where romance got its start. A story with a happy ending, where guy meets girl. They get together. Live happy. Click to Tweet #amwriting #romancewriting101
Keeping the Middle Moving––Part I
You’ve heard of it––in more than one way. That awful, sagging, middle. In fiction, a sagging middle will bog down your story. Click to Tweet The reader may decide to stop reading. Not what you want. #keepmiddlemoving #amwriting
Writing Scintillating Scenes––Part XII
They key to writing a page-turner novel is creating scintillating scenes––they shine, they’re dazzling, unforgettable, and brilliant. Writing sparkling scenes make the story something the reader can’t put down and will read long into the night. Click to Tweet #amwriting #scintillatingscenes We wrap this up with another scene model: reading scenes in context.
