Musings

On the Road Again

September 8, 2011
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Hello, LiveJournal. I’ve missed you.

Things have been a little crazy. I’ve moved three thousand miles. I’ve realized I cannot have children (though adoption is definitely on the list). I’ve gained and lost weight. Celebrated my fifth wedding anniversary. Opened a successful web design business for authors and artists. Learned that I can cook after all. Discovered my limits, tried to cross them, and sometimes succeeded. Grown a few prickly, much-needed boundaries.

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What Makes a Compelling Story, Pt. 3

July 25, 2011
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(Part One: Character Development || Part Two: History & Geography || Part Four: Tension)

A Sense of Culture

Oh, this is a tough one.

It affects YA authors, who tend to be considerably older than the people they’re writing about.

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What Makes a Compelling Story, Pt. 2

June 8, 2011
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So how’s that worldbuilding going?

Unlike the character concepts in part one, you may think this doesn’t apply to you. “Oh, I’m writing in the real world,” is an excuse heard often around the halls of writtendom. But this isn’t correct. Even a modern, magicless YA has world-building, and if you do it wrong, your readers can tell.

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What Makes a Compelling Story

April 29, 2011
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What happens when you read a good story? What makes a good character? A good world? I’ve compiled this list as a guide. It’s by no means exhaustive. Think of it as an outline, and if you’re able to fill in the blanks, then you’re on your way to building an excellent story.

A good story sticks with you. A good story becomes PART of you, making you think, making you give a damn about the world, the characters, everything involved. And, most importantly, a good story makes you forget the technique used to make it.

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