Comments on: Why Tough Choices Create Stronger Stories

By: Esther O'Neill

Esther O'Neill — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 11:20:55 +0000

Great post, love Sterling's name. Sometimes wonder, after brown tabby Matilda's latest crime, if I should have held out, waited for the silver I really wanted. Ridiculous, she needed a home, all tabbies are amazing, fascinated Turing too. Conflict ? Deny thy father and refuse thy name ? The book I'm working on involves the other side of estrangement, initiated by the parents of two brothers. In silent retaliation, their new and far happier lives are under another name, until a shocking phone call. -

By: Janice Hardy

Janice Hardy — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:09:07 +0000

In reply to Jenny Hansen. Thanks! It's actually a much-expanded version of my "Narrative Nugget" emails. I do twice-weekly story-based writing tips. I figured they made good starting seeds for longer guest posts :) Wow, five months??? That's rough. And true love for sure! Totally worth it.

By: Janice Hardy

Janice Hardy — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:06:31 +0000

In reply to Barbara Strickland. Thanks! They do indeed. :) Hopefully meds help you with your allergies and your visits are too tough to manage.

By: Janice Hardy

Janice Hardy — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:04:57 +0000

In reply to denise. Interesting that they're not the same. Intriguing.

By: Janice Hardy

Janice Hardy — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:04:11 +0000

In reply to Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt. Sounds very twisty ands complicated! Lots of choices there.

By: Janice Hardy

Janice Hardy — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:03:15 +0000

In reply to Tracy Brody. It's not, he's a silver tabby. But we couldn't find a photo with one, and Sterling didn't want to lay on my keyboard for a photo shoot (grin). It really was. It made a big difference in my life. Thanks, and I'm glad the article found you right when you needed it.

By: Barbara Strickland

Barbara Strickland — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 07:39:42 +0000

Wow. Great article. I am also allergic and believe it or not, it was a duplicate of yours but belonged to my daughter and her family. My choices are limited. I can't not visit them as they live in another state as it is. Subsequently it adds another dimension to this story whether about writing or not. I still don't know what to do. Tough choices are tough choices but it does make for some drama in the plot.😁

By: denise

denise — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 07:35:09 +0000

My FMC will have to chose between her dream of dreams job and the dream career--not the same thing--and, of course, there's an inciting incident which makes the choice for her. Or does it?

By: Jenny Hansen

Jenny Hansen — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:07:58 +0000

In reply to Janice Hardy. I love seeing you at WITS, and I especially love that started with a story. :) Also, I had a cat named Sugar who I ADORED. I had a sinus infection for 5 months, until I got the meds dialed in, but MAN I loved that cat.

By: Jenny Hansen

Jenny Hansen — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:06:08 +0000

In reply to Terry Odell. That's an awesome quote, Terry!