Madeleine L’Engle was an inspiring writer. Most people know her as the author of A Wrinkle in Time and other “juvenile fiction.” But those books for children are inspirational for adults, as well. Why? Because she challenges her readers, young and old. L’Engle was an Episcopalian, a woman of strong faith and convictions who wrote several […]
It may seem obvious that a writer should write with the senses, but many new writers neglect that aspect of storytelling. Others overdo it, writing about every wrinkle and twitch to the point where we lose focus of what is happening in the story. Meg Gardiner writes with great control, a necessity when writing thrillers. […]
Writers are fortunate when they encounter someone in real life who has “character potential,” someone who fills a page with story without effort. A man who has traveled the world hunting rare animals is such a character. A woman hiding with her children during a riot is another. For readers, these characters and their stories […]
I once read a description of how to relate to someone with a motor disability. Put your hand, palm down, on a table. Make a tight fist with that hand. Put out your ring finger from the fist so it is the only finger not a part of the fist, while continuing to keep the […]
Mine Your Memory
When you’re writing characters, it’s always good to use dialogue to create the character. You can say how they walk (if it’s part of their character), or what they look like, or provide some background, but if you infuse your character’s language with clues, you’re reader will have a better image and understanding of that […]
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