by Christina Miller, @CLMillerbooks Have you noticed that secondary characters sometimes serve little purpose beyond being props in the scene? While we don’t develop walk-on characters, we can use secondary …
The Art of Understatement
by Angela Ruth Strong, @AngelaRStrong There’s a scene in The A-Team where the guys are inside a tank that’s parachuting from an airplane, and they fire a cannon to push …
Writerly Wisdom From a Reformed “Was” Nazi
by Mary A. Felkins, @MaryAFelkins Conventional writerly wisdom urges us to avoid using “was” in our stories wherever possible. In its place we’re taught (ad nauseam) to select strong, descriptive verbs. Use …
4 Ways to Handle Critical Feedback About Your Writing
by Heidi McCahan, @HeidiMcCahan We’ve all been there. Maybe you’ve received harshly worded feedback from an anonymous judge in a reputable contest. Perhaps your critique partner’s suggestions have left you feeling …
How to Know if You’re Overwriting: Tips to Trim the Fluff
By Mollie Joy Rushmeyer, @mollierushmeyer I debated calling this “Learn From My Mistakes: How to Avoid a 10,000-Word Trim Down in 72 Hours,” but it seemed a mouthful. But know …