Tag Archives: plot

Did you hear…?


“People don’t live in a vacuum. What are your characters talking about when the reporter isn’t around?” That was my “duh” moment from last week’s critique group. I should have remembered that St. Mary Mead provides endless resources for Miss … Continue reading

Posted in My posts | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

It’s not about us


The neat square of sunlight in their front yard was all the sisters needed to enjoy the false spring day. The younger girl sprawled on a blue beach towel, her head bent over the pages of her chapter book, a … Continue reading

Posted in My posts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Falling in love again


When a friend recently said he had fallen out of love with his novels-in-progress, I could relate. There are days when I tire of Janelle or feel the plot is plodding. I want to tell the reporter to get a … Continue reading

Posted in My posts | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sweat the small stuff


We’ve all seen it – a bruise that moves from the left to right eye after a cutaway, a hat that flies off in one scene but is firmly in place in the next, a lamp broken during a struggle … Continue reading

Posted in My posts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Filling holes


We were leaving our critique group last week, comments and suggestions duly noted, when one of the members began asking me more about my main character’s motivation. Easy questions. I had written her back story before I started the book, … Continue reading

Posted in My posts | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ramping up the tension


Some people thrive on conflict. I am not one of them. Actual and imagined confrontations leave my stomach in knots. Although conflict avoidance can make the real world more pleasant, it is the kiss of death in fiction, which requires … Continue reading

Posted in My posts | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment