'It was EXTREMELY difficult for me to take in the suggested cuts and edits. At times I wasn't sure I could sustain the mental or physical energy needed to see it through...
A writing mentor can help you understand your work and your practice in new ways, and help you navigate the often tricky emotional terrain of writing a book.
Theme. Plotlines. Characters. Backstory. Point of view. The artistry in developing work for publication lies in understanding how these elements work together to create your story design.
The central event is the one event the book cannot do without; it is central to and creates the story. Without it, the book collapses like a house of cards.
To develop your work and create a strong story structure, it is crucial to understand the major dramatic question that lies at the heart of your story.
When you are crafting your ending, think about whether you have said what you wanted to say. Are there any loose ends? Are there story questions posed that aren’t answered?
Listening to the written word helps us understand the effects we create through word choices. Read your own work aloud. Edit with your ears. You'll ‘hear’ things that you may not ‘see’ on the page.
The function and roles of subplots are important principles to understand, but there is no golden rule. That’s what makes the creative endeavour of writing fiction so alluring and at the same time so terrifying.
Recently I’ve been prompted to consider why a fat, pink heart may say more to us than the word ‘love’ or ‘xx’, and what this tells us about writing good dialogue.
Trimming and tightening text is a little like pruning in the garden to increase the quality of flowering and fruiting, to remove deadwood, and to improve the overall structure and shape.
