A cat looks at a mouse

What Every Character Needs

Have you ever read a story and thought it was lacking something? Written a first draft and felt it meandered hopelessly? I know I have, on both counts. Sometimes, whether I’m reading or writing, I find stories that just don’t fit, don’t ring true. Even deep believable characters and an intriguing plot in place may not be enough. To solve this there is one essential element that every character needs for a story that satisfies the reader. I’m nearing the climax of my current WIP (working title ‘Pain & Gain’), and I just wrote a scene where one of the characters ask my protagonist why he’s carrying on. I’m not sure whether the question was really directed to the protagonist or to me, …

We All Tell Stories

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always loved to tell stories, and I’m not the only one. As humans we seem to have this innate desire to tell stories. We’re never satisfied with just the simple relation of facts. We revel in those extra details, like the herbs that spice up an otherwise bland meal. We add emotions and feelings to what we say. Whether we are consciously aware of it or not, we all do it. We tell them in many ways, and the more aware we are of this, the better the stories we’ll tell. If you’re a writer, these are stories your characters tell too. Here are four stories we all tell: What We Wear Whether we …

A picture of a chalkboard with E=MC2 written on it

Lessons From Week Three of NaNoWriMo

We’ve now reached the 21st of November, three weeks into NaNoWriMo. The highs of week one, the doldrums of week two. and the whatever happens in week three. Now, with the final stretch underway and the finish line in view, I’m sharing three lessons I’ve learned after three weeks of NaNoWriMo. Writing Space A good writing space is essential. Where you write can make a huge difference to how much you write. I’ve found that even though I do all my writing on a laptop, having a set room where I write has helped immensely. Setting up a writing space can be a lot of fun, but it can also be an opportunity to make your writing as easy as …