Monthly Archives: August 2014

Help! My characters suck. How to write a novel — part 5

It happens sometimes. A character you think has potential turns out to be a white bread bore. And as we all know, boring is bad. You might be able to write flawless prose; your descriptions might be crisp and insightful; … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Who are these people? How to write a novel — part 4

It’s not just a question of who they are, it’s also about where they came from. And just who am I talking about? The players in your book. They come in all flavors and sizes, but there’s a general breakdown … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Don’t need no stinkin’ genre! How to write a novel — part 3

We left off last time with a “what if” after sketching a quick look at a couple primary characters in a contemporary, non-fantasy setting. (Okay, the lingerie model issue may have been a bit of fantasy.) Point is, one of … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Putting meat on the bones. How to write a novel — part 2

Motive, action, consequence. Is that all there is? Well, actually, no. But it’s a start. Watch carefully now. And see? There’s nothing up my sleeves…. Okay, let’s say you’ve got a character in mind. Let’s call him Al. Fair ’nuff? This … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

How to write a novel — part 1

Since I’ve finished ten novels, I have a pretty clear idea how it’s done. And, with the exception of my first effort, which now resides in a landfill somewhere, I fully believe the books I’ve written are worth reading. Those … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Between the comfort zone and “There be Madness”

Because my wonderful bride took the time to be with her sister while the latter recovered from elective surgery, I had the house and dogs to myself for over a week. I also had a deadline for my work-in-progress. Failure … Continue reading

Posted in Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments