Subscribe to Blog via Email
Search This Blog
Author Kristie Cook Facebook Page
Most Popular!
-
Recent Posts
Archives
- January 2019
- September 2018
- January 2018
- October 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- October 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
Meta
Tag Archives: craft
Last week, I gave a detailed account of the first half of my revisions process – the fun and creative but sometimes arduous task of making sure the actual story is just right. Plot and character development must be nailed down before I waste time on anything else. After all, it’s in that phase where I make the most profound changes and there’s no use spending a lot of time on perfecting the words of a sentence or a whole paragraph that might not be there later. We left off with my WIP in the hands of my first round … Continue reading
I’m not doing so well on my goal of reading one craft book a month. But it’s not that I haven’t been reading. I have! It’s just been a little slow going with life’s events and getting two books ready for publication. It also has to do with the book I’ve been reading – Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that it’s a bad book or boring or anything so horrible. Most of you have already read this book and know it’s actually quite the opposite. It’s one of the best craft books … Continue reading
Tagged book review, craft, outlining, plotting, Writer's toolbox 1 Comment
We’ve heard it time and again – “Kill Your Darlings!” It sounds like such a psychotic phrase. Kill my darlings? As in my babies? These sweet little things I’d give my life for? No, no, NO! Not your human darlings. Sheesh. So what darlings are we talking about? Your writing darlings. (Which can sometimes feel like our human babies, I know, but they’re not really. Human, I mean. You know that, right?) I’ve discovered over the years that this phrase has several different meanings. Killing the Darlings Everyone LovesI think the first time I ever heard “Kill Your Darlings” was … Continue reading
Tagged characters, craft, editing, revising, secondary characters, team writer, WIP, writing 9 Comments
The craft book I’m reading this month is Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell, part of the “Write Great Fiction” series by Writer’s Digest Books. I’m just starting Chapter 3, but have already learned some real techniques to apply to my writing. Chapter 2 is about the three-act structure and it got to me to thinking. You’re probably familiar with the three-act structure and this may be old news for you. But in case you aren’t – or, as in my case, don’t know as much about it as you think you do – here’s an overview of how … Continue reading
Tagged books, craft, writing 3 Comments
A few months ago, I made a goal for myself to read at least one craft book per month. Um, that’s craft as in writing craft, not as in arts and crafts. Unfortunately, I don’t have time for those kinds of crafts these days. Anyway, I started by trying to re-read Donald Maass’ Writing the Breakout Novel and the accompanying workbook, but they weren’t really grabbing me. I’d already read both a couple times and wanted something new, so I kind of fell off the wagon. But staying up on our craft is important. We can always improve, right? So … Continue reading
Tagged book review, craft, writing Comment