Margie Lawson Hello Everyone! I’ll SHOW then TELL: “Goodbye LA, G'day Australia.” She wiggled her hips and Beyoncéd into the hall. That fun example was written by multi-Immersion grad Elaine Fraser.   Now I’ll TELL: Allusion is a rhetorical device. It’s a quick reference to a famous person or event that includes the trait. BEWARE: Allusion […]

If you follow me on Facebook you know I'm the Queen of Pinterest (and if you don't, why not? Beauty pics, cat memes, inspirational quotes, odd Victorian photos — COFFEE! It's a sea of happy in a chaotic world. LauraDrakeAuthor). When I saw this the other day, the photo caught my eye first. Then the message slammed […]

  As a copy editor, I've learned a lot about improving the flow of my own writing as I've tweaked the manuscripts of others. Today I want to share four easy edits you can make yourself that invite the reader deeper into the story and provide the impact you want to have. 1. Eliminate crutch […]

The final post in this series will explore the ways your characters can be derailed by consumption and comfort. If you missed Part 1, which explored the need for control,  you can read it here. If you missed Part 2, about conceit and coveting, you can find it here. As a reminder, while reading The […]

Donna Galanti I’ve learned so much about suspense since writing my first book. One thing I’ve learned in fiction, and movies, is that surprise can be overrated. Surprise is two seconds of “Boo!” Suspense is ten minutes of “Oh, No! Will she die or not?” We’ve all heard go for suspense when you can--and for a reason. It keeps the […]