Big Brain Club

Writing Tip: Talking With Props

I spend a good portion of my writing workshops discussing the importance of dialogue, and how it drives the emotion of a story. That means you must keep your dialogue interesting, and I've found that props are a good writing trick to do that. Here's what I'm talking about...

Writing Tip: Read Like a Writer

This one might sound a little tricky, but with just a bit of practice you'll get it. We all read for enjoyment, and we love the way a writer pulls us into a story. But have you ever really thought about how the writer did that? Here's what it's all about...

Writing Trip: Descriptive Language

We've discussed the idea of not relying on adverbs too much in order to color your stories...but that doesn't mean you shouldn't paint pictures in the mind of your reader. This month we'll focus on language that does just that...

Writing Tip: Point of View

  

You might be tempted to allow your readers access to every character's thoughts, but please don't! Read on to learn about point of view...

Writing Tip: Oh, those adverbs!

This month's writing tip is almost controversial, and I'll admit that not every writer agrees with me. But I'll say it anyway: Get rid of your adverbs! Here's why...

Writing Tip: Do You Hear It?

Although it can be overdone, I find a particular joy when I discover an author who incorporates sound into their stories. So, take a few moments to see how sound can affect your writing, too...

Writing Tip: Storyboard

In Hollywood, before a director begins to film a movie, he/she will often sketch a rough layout of how the scenes will fall into place. They call it a storyboard, a collection of pictures in sequence. You can do the same thing with your writing. Here's how...

Writing Tip: Character Biographies

Your characters obviously supply your story with most of its emotion, which means you're putting a lot of responsibility in their hands. The question is: Do you know your own characters that well? Here's a tip to help you understand not only what your characters look like, but what makes them tick...

Writing Tip: Dialogue That Moves!

When you create dialogue in your stories, remember to include character movement and activity. It's important for many reasons, two of which we'll cover in this month's tip...

Writing Tip: Zag Zig

It's easy to write what other people expect, and to never surprise anyone. But the next time you sit down to compose a story (perhaps the monthly assignment on this site), why not question yourself? Why not zag when everyone else is zigging? Here are a few thoughts on that...