If you’re a writer, then you’ve faced this question before: “Where do you get your ideas?” Well, the idea part is easy. They pop up all the time. Ideas are like atoms, easy to discover and there are only so many to choose from. It’s how you combine these ideas that matters. Creativity is chemistry, constantly rehashing the same core concepts to create something new.
Tag: fiction
Crafting Subtext for Your Character
Creating subtext for your character is a crucial tool in a fiction writer’s arsenal. It adds depth, complexity, and intrigue to your characters and plot. Subtext is the art of saying one thing on the surface while conveying deeper, hidden meanings underneath.
The Five Commandments of a Scene According to The Story Grid
The five commandments of a scene, as outlined by Shawn Coyne’s revolutionary Story Grid approach, will bring any scene to life. These commandments — Inciting Incident, Turning Point, Crisis, Climax, and Resolution — are the pillars that sustain the drama, tension, and satisfaction in any given scene.
Time Dieting: Maximize Writing Time
Writing is my passion. I’ve been at this crazy endeavor since I penned my first “story” about a battle between a chimera and a swordsman (big D&D nut here). But now, decades later, I have a full time job and a family. Oftentimes, my writing time each day is a scant fifteen minutes. But I’m on a mission to change that and maximize writing time.
Writing a Compelling Scene Part 2 (The Sequel)
Scenes are the beating heart of any gripping tale, captivating readers with their relentless action and unyielding tension. Yet we writers often neglect the aftermath. When the dust settles, it’s time for the sequel to shine — the final part to writing a compelling scene.
Write Compelling Scenes with Goal, Conflict, Disaster (The Dwight Swain’s Approach)
Picture this, fellow writers: you’re immersed in a writing session, yearning to craft a tale that grips readers with an ironclad hold. Yet the scene falls flat. Enter Dwight V. Swain’s Scene with his goal, conflict, disaster method for building a solid scene. Find out how to infuse your writing with tension, action, and an irresistible forward thrust. Swain’s ideas show you how to write compelling scenes that will truly captivate your readers.
The Flame of Willpower (Writers Should Embrace Rejection)
Does this sound like a familiar scenario? You start up a new writing project and after a few pages or chapters a new, even better idea comes along. So you shift gears and start work anew. Yet after months or years, you’ve never completed a single thing? This relates to the fourth weapon for writers: willpower. Graphic artist and writer Alan Moore believes that most writers shy away from completion for a simple reason: if you never finish, then you can never be judged. Yet writer should embrace rejection because putting your work out there is the only way to get published.
Weapons for Writers: Compassionate Water
Writer and comic book creator, Alan Moore, has a unique view on writing. He thinks writers should equip themselves with four weapons before trekking into literary battle. Previous posts covered the first two weapons, the sword of discernment and the pentacle of earthly knowledge. His third weapon related to the Tarot suit of cups and the core element of water. He encourages everyone to take up these weapons for writers and fully immerse themselves in the mindset and emotions of their characters, even if those characters are vile and depraved.
Weapons for Artists: The Sword of Discrimination
Comic book legend Alan Moore (known for V for Vendetta and The Watchmen) talks about how artists and writers need weapons to be successful. The first weapon (featured in the last post) is represented by pentacles in the Tarot. The second, more vital weapon, is the sword, which represents intellect. It is this sword of discrimination that allows us to differentiate a good idea from a lousy one.
Creativity is Like Pulling Teeth: 6 Ideas to Write Your First Draft
If you never get started, your ideas will only exist in your head. You need to start somewhere. Here are six ideas to write your first draft.
