Weekly Words - a quote, a tool, and a tip for writers

"I start with characters, and then I start writing, and then, if I'm lucky, things start to happen." Susan Choi

A Writing Tool

Do you want a fun new habit that will improve your writing? Check out the Grammar Girl podcast Quick and Dirty Tips. The weekly podcast usually runs about ten minutes and has been on the air since 2006. Each week Grammar Girl, Mignon Fogarty, tackles a grammar issue with humor and clarity. "Grammar Girl’s punctuation, style, and business tips will make you a better and more successful writer."

Craft Tip

Dialogue and pacing go hand-in-hand. Dialogue slows down the momentum of the story and zooms the reader in close to the characters. Dialogue isn't just about the words the characters say, it is about what they "say" through subtext, body language, and the reader's knowledge of a character's agenda. Think of dialogue as a functional part of the story - a close-up way to move characters from point A to point B in the scene.

There's a Story Here: Arles, France 2006

What story would you write about this photo?

Next Step Book Coach - If you're ready to start your novel, are stuck in the middle, or have finished and need to know what to do next - we can help.