Fiction Writing: Dialogue Part 2 – Pacing
Do you know many people who speak with this type of evenly-spaced monotone? Probably not many (which is what makes this scene so funny). The truth is, people speak in different tones, volumes, and speeds depending on their personalities and situations. When writing dialogue, you need to know how to [...]
9 Quick Fixes for Writing Contest Entries
I love judging fiction writing contests. It’s not because I enjoy pointing out other people’s mistakes, but because I enjoy reading the worlds others have created, and I want to help them identify their weaknesses so they can improve their stories. The first time I judged, I expected synopses and [...]
Fiction Writing: Dialogue Part 1 – Making It Realistic
You can tell a lot about people by how they speak. Whether it’s an accent (a southern drawl, New England nasal, or Canadian vowels) or sentence structure, you can tell everything from education to age to gender. Some people may sound alike – using similar pet phrases or slang - [...]
Book Review: Heart on the Line by Karen Witemeyer
Grace Mallory is tired of running, of hiding. But when an old friend sends an after-hours telegraph transmission warning Grace that the man who has hunted her for nearly a year has discovered her location, she fears she has no choice. She can't let the villain she believes responsible for [...]
Author Interview: Toni Shiloh
How long does it really take to write a novel? Can do you it with kids underfoot? What's the best way to learn how to write a novel? Today I'm excited to introduce inspirational fiction author Toni Shiloh, who will answer these questions and more about her path to publicaction Toni, [...]