by Zoe M. McCarthy | Feb 22, 2018 | Writing
I recently read insights I’ve heard before but were worth hearing again as I prepare to write my next romance: Ask myself what matters to me, stirs me, and bothers me; look into my personal life for experiences that accompany these three things; then write...
by Zoe M. McCarthy | Dec 14, 2017 | Writing
If your character acts in real time, the reader will move along with and feel closer to, the character. This means the author never tells actions before they happen. In the paragraph below look for five instances in which the author tells an action before it happens....
by Zoe M. McCarthy | Mar 16, 2017 | Writing
What’s Important to Consider in Writing a Short Story? Writer’s Voice Establish a strong, yet controlled, voice from the first line. Setting Limit the length of days or weeks the story covers. Research to find (or create) a distinct setting that supports the...
by Zoe M. McCarthy | Feb 9, 2017 | Writing
Archetype is defined here as a type of person whose typical behaviors are the same as those of others of the same type. For example, cowards exhibit some typical behaviors. They fear danger, lack courage, and avoid or quit dangerous situations. Before I list 79...
by Zoe M. McCarthy | Jan 7, 2016 | Writing
“A story without a theme is little more than a list of events.” —Grace JolliffeNever again, in a novel proposal, during a pitch, or at a social event, stare blankly when asked, “What is your story’s theme?”Get a handle on what theme is.Expert 1James Scott Bell gives...