We’ve all heard of them: breezy novels that are a must for any vacation to idyllic and often coastal destinations. The beach read has been a staple for decades of lovers of sand and salt air. But what exactly is it?
Tag Archives: word choice
Fact or Fiction: Rules versus Guidelines in Writing
Telling fictional tales gives us permission to break a few conventional eggs for the sake of making a delicious literary omelet, but writer beware; the limit does indeed exist.
Kill Your Darlings
Writers are artists, but the good ones are also cold, ruthless killers. Here’s how to commit literary murder―and get away with it, too.
Book Production and Marketing Dos and Don’ts
Writing a story is one thing; putting a book together is another. Here are some insider tips for book production and marketing that will help make the publishing process easier to swallow if you take them with a grain of salt—and some ibuprofen.
Showing vs. Telling (or, When to Creatively Beat around the Bush)
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but how many words does it actually take to paint said picture? Showing rather than telling can make a few go quite a long way.
Man or Monster: Unmasking Villains
The fairy-tale villain is dead. Long live the character with many different faces lurking behind their most sinister mask.
Writing and Implementing Character Backstories
Everyone has history, even if nobody reads about it. Character backstories are the writer’s inspiration, cheat sheets, psychological evaluations, and vindication, all rolled into one.
Writing Action Sequences
Actions speak louder than words―until they don’t. Contrary to their more obvious nature, writing action sequences is a delicate art.
How to Appreciate the First (Sucky) Draft
Lesson the first for every writer everywhere: the first draft almost always sucks. But that’s okay. In fact, sometimes that works to your advantage.
Join the Conversation: Reexamining Dialogue
When it comes to dialogue, writers really do need to say what they mean and mean what they say.
K. Watkins 