We’ve all read that story. You know the one with independently moving body parts, right? This is called disembodied motion, and it’s an issue that can worm its way into the writing of even the most seasoned of authors. But is all disembodied motion bad? Of course not. As with most things in the English language, there’s an exception to almost every rule. But this...
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Writing Conferences 2016 (July – December) Be sure to check back often as I will continue to add to this list when I find new writing conferences. Please note that this is not an all-inclusive list, so if I missed your writing conference, e-mail me the particulars at contact@writedivas.com or leave a comment below and I’ll add it. For events scheduled for the first half...
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Writing Conferences 2016 (January – June) Be sure to check back often as I will continue to add to this list when I find new writing conferences. Please note that this is not an all-inclusive list, so if I missed your writing conference, e-mail me the particulars at contact@writedivas.com or leave a comment below and I’ll add it. For events scheduled for the second half...
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I’m about to let my inner nerd loose… I LOVE STAR WARS! I still remember the first time I saw Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. I was in the fifth grade and my older sister suggested we go see this new movie called Star Wars that was supposed to be really good. So we drove to the closest theater, which was an hour away. We...
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Have you ever read a book that had strong characters, a great plot, and unexpected twists and turns, but you still felt ambivalent about it? You know, that resounding meh when you read the last page and closed the back cover? It’s quite possible that the author failed to fuse an emotional connection with you through his or her writing. Now before anyone gets upset,...
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If you’ve ever heard of deus ex machina and wondered what it is, have I got an article for you. Deus ex machina is Latin and means “God from the machine.” It refers to a plot device that results in a miracle that saves the day when all seems lost and there’s no way out. This is used when the author has written themselves into...
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Yesterday my son reminded me that November is almost here, and I realized it’s almost time for NaNoWrimo aka National Novel Writing Month! I know, some of you are thinking I have such a thoughtful son, right? Hah! He’s more concerned that I don’t forget his school play and less about me being ready for NaNoWriMo. But I digress. November sneaked up on me. I’m still...
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You know when you’re around that one friend who speaks in an accent (Southern, British, Spanish, etc.) and after a while you find yourself using the same words and phrases or speaking with a similar accent as that friend? This is called voice drift. It happens in writing too. Have you ever read a book where the characters all sounded the same, the narrative (especially...
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I have found that the old adage actions speak louder than words is especially true in writing. One of the more difficult elements for a writer of fiction is the use of subtlety to show who your characters are. Especially when it’s so much easier to simply have your character say, “Derek is a jerk! Can you believe what he said to Sharon?” Then there’s the...
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Writing a book is hard work. I’m sure there aren’t many who will disagree with that statement. Having your book edited is tough too. In fact, it can border on painful because your editor isn’t going to love every scene or character you worked so hard to create. There are a few things that can help you improve your writing. I mean, really, wouldn’t you...
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