Tag: tension

  • So You Want to Write a Novel: Obstacles

    So You Want to Write a Novel: Obstacles

    Every good story needs an interesting and compelling character, centered in a riveting set of events that force her or him to reveal their best, and worst qualities. What do we call these set of events that push and prod the major character to show her or his mettle, their tenacious and persevering personality? Obstacles.

  • No Escape

    No Escape

    Writing is exhilarating. Crafting stories holds a rare type of excitement. And yet it can, and often stirs a fair amount of discomfort within the writer. Much of the angst we experience when writing relates to the aspect of revising, choosing the write word and phrasing, re-ordering paragraphs, re-scripting and re-organizing scenes.

  • Inhabiting Your Character: Journeying to the Ends of the Earth

    Inhabiting Your Character: Journeying to the Ends of the Earth

    Crafting a novel requires a major character with whom the author is willing to spend at least the next year. Much of the time spent with that character requires inhabiting her or his skin, living inside their situation that we have created. As writers we expend a significant part of the energy of our imagination…