Really Good, Actually is … not bad, actually. I can see why its rating on Goodreads is 3.14, but I rounded my 3.8ish up to four stars. Partway through, I was tempted to put the book down and move on — the main character is grating and completely self-obsessed, with a friendship group that rubsContinue reading “Book Review: Really Good, Actually – by Monica Heisey”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
What does the viewpoint character know?
I’m reading Writing The Cozy Mystery by Nancy Cohen. Here’s a reminder she gives to writers using the first person or a close third: Avoid out-of-body experiences, such as “If I knew what was going to happen, I’d never have walked through that door.” Who has knowledge of the future? The Author, that’s who. CertainlyContinue reading “What does the viewpoint character know?”
Every Writer Needs a Support System
Writing a book isn’t a solo journey. If you’ve ever read an author’s acknowledgements, you’ll know how many people quietly help bring a story to life. Editors, coaches, beta readers, agents: they’re all part of the village.
Writing Tips: When Actions Overlap
What is false simultaneity and how do I avoid it in my writing?
How do the books we read in school shape us?
Here’s a short extract from Reading Lessons by Carol Atherton – a reflection on the books we studied at school and the way they quietly shape us. And now I’m going to be nosy: – Are there school books that still echo in your mind or your writing? – Have you ever revisited one andContinue reading “How do the books we read in school shape us?”
What a first draft can teach you that a published book can’t. (A writing coaching win!)
Discover how using an unedited manuscript in a writing coaching session helped a client spot craft techniques and grow as a fantasy writer.
Let’s Talk Editing – What Every Indie Author Should Know: Join us on Zoom, June 8th 2025
An invitation to join Claire and Vicky for a chat about all things editing (for indie authors)
The Cook and the Cupboard: Lorrie Moore’s metaphor on writing from life’s ingredients
See what Lorrie Moore thinks when people ask if fiction is autobiographical.
A change of scenery can do you good: read and write in other places.
I needed a change of scenery today, so I took myself off to the library. Do you work in libraries, coffee shops, parks? I’d love to know. Head to the comments.
What’s the difference between a scene and a summary?
What a Scene Isn’t. This excerpt is from James Scott Bell’s Plot & Structure: [Start of quote —] Summarizing is when the author tells us what has happened “off scene.” Think of this as the stuff that is not unfolding for the reader in linear time, beat by beat. A scene is like this: JohnContinue reading “What’s the difference between a scene and a summary?”
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