How She Writes

Is it just me, or are the quirky characters the best characters? I mean come on, don't we all love that side character who always has something sarcastic to say?  Or how about those characters who walk onto every page with a new flavor of tea and a notebook tucked under their arm? Aside from how absolutely awesome quirks like that make characters, they also make them likable, unique, and memorable. Like all aspects of character development, not all quirks will work for every character, but the right one can give a character new dimension.  To help you find the right one, I have come up with a long list of character traits to give your characters, or to inspire you to come up with your own. Biting their lip An addiction to coffee Sarcasm Daredevil tendencies Plays with their hair Fidgets Daydreamer Pessimistic Optimistic A love of tea A love of puns Good with technology Disorganized Music preference A morning person Constantly adjusts their glasses Fear...

The other day, as I was working on a short story, I realized that the reason I used to struggle so much to finish stories was because I didn't know how. Sure, I looked for advice on how to do it, read countless articles on writing short stories in five simple steps, and maybe the steps were too simple, or maybe five was still too many steps because none of them ever worked for me. So, I'm going to tell you what I truly wish someone had told me a long time ago: how to write a short story and finish it. 1. Start with the concept What is the concept of your story? A venture into space? Being stranded on a desert island? The first day at a new school? This concept will be the backbone of your story. If you don't already have a concept in mind, check out writing prompts. There are plenty of great ones that can get your creativity going. Or, if you, like me, already have unfinished stories on hand, rewrite one of those. 2. Consider your characters Before you c...

One of the core elements of a story is the conflict. The conflict not only pushes the plot forward, and gives your character a battle to fight, but using conflict is one of the best ways to introduce emotion into your story. If you look closely at your characters, you will find that each one has a backstory and a wound. That wound can be used to create conflict and problems that pack a powerful emotional punch. What is a wound? A character's wound is a point of pain from something in their past. Usually, it stems from a small event, which tends to be the point in your character's story when a much bigger problem comes to the surface.  For example, if I start with a character who failed in some way, or disappointed someone whose opinions matter to them, their wound might be failure. That character will now do whatever it takes to protect their wound, even if it means developing flaws such as being an extreme perfectionist or avoiding all situations that could result in ...

I have to be honest, I tend to be overly optimistic when it comes to remembering ideas. I'll have some great idea, and think to myself that there is no way I could forget something that great. Well... I can. That's why I keep something I call a writer's notebook. That notebook is one of my favorite writing tools. Basically, it's a place to jot down all those great ideas before they're gone. Why do you need one? Having a notebook makes sure I write down my ideas when I get them. I know from experience that even though I have all confidence in my ability to remember that idea, I usually don't. Having a place to write things down has saved me from a lot of wasted time trying to remember things. It also keeps a great deal of inspiration in one place, making it easy to find ideas for new stories. Where should you keep it? To place the notebooks effectively, you need to understand where you'll be most of the time, and when you get the most ideas. I...

I f you asked me a year ago how I felt about outlines, I would have told you that I didn't particularly like them and never used them. I didn’t finish very many projects either. I decided it was better for my creativity that I not be constrained by an outline. Well, my creativity did fine until the middle of a piece, when it just became too hard to figure out what was going to happen next. At that point, I would decide to set that aside and work on a different project. You have no idea how many half-written drafts I have lying around from this. Since then, I have become a strong supporter of outlines. I still don’t enjoy making them, though it has gotten easier. I wouldn't write them at all except that I can finish things now. I can write an entire piece, and know exactly where I’m going the whole time. It’s really quite wonderful. Outlines help organize your thoughts. When I don’t use outlines, I tend towards rambling. I will repeat myself several different t...

Every so often, I find myself sitting in front of a blank page, watching the cursor blink, and wondering how necessary that project really is. If you don’t know how to deal with it, writer’s block can be paralyzing. It can make it hard to write anything and even harder to enjoy the process of writing. So, I have put together a list of things to help you work through writer’s block, and get back to enjoying your work. Get outside Spending time outside relaxes you and puts you in a better mood. I always find I feel refreshed after some time outside, making it easier to write. Get moving If you can’t get outside moving around is the next best thing.  Writing tends to keep us stationary for long periods of time, which isn’t healthy. Getting some exercise makes you feel more awake and invigorated. Change your posture Lay back and sit in a relaxed position, it may help to sit in bed. This gives your body cues to relax, and in that relaxed state, you will find th...

When I first began to write, my writing habits were sporadic. I wrote a little here, a little there, whenever creative inspiration hit. I enjoyed it, and the time I spent writing felt inspired, but I didn’t accomplish a lot. If you want to be productive when you write, good writing habits are a must. When you make a habit of writing consistently, it makes it sooo much easier to stay on track when you’re writing on a deadline. If you don’t have a deadline, then it makes sure that you are constantly immersed in your writing, and constantly moving forward A key piece of writing habits is routine. When something is part of your routine, it is a lot easier to remember to get it done. So, if you choose a time and place, and amount of time that you write, and stick to it, you will find it easier to make it a habit. If you have specific projects you will be working on, I would totally recommend giving yourself a deadline and planning out how much work needs to be done in a day to fin...