by Charlotte Carter As a writer, we all want to write a satisfying ending that will leave the reader sighing with pleasure. So here are a couple of tips to help you get to The End. The ending of a story starts at the beginning of the story. 1. A character’s weaknesses and fears are […]

Laura Drake We all have them.  Things that make us crazy, whether we’re reading a novel for pleasure or critiquing a colleague’s work.  We’re readers first, and I believe these peeves are forged by what we’ve read; like Chinese water torture they fall, drop by drop, until you notice them and continuing until you can’t […]

By Charlotte Carter In every writing class, students are taught to enrich their storytelling skills by using the 5 senses to draw readers into the scene. SIGHT SOUND TOUCH TASTE SMELL Old hat? Hm, not when it’s done right. Look what Lori Wilde, NY Times best selling author, has done with SMELL in one short […]

By Charlotte Carter Both Linda Seger (Creating Unforgettable Characters) and Robert McKee (Story) talk about using Image Clusters and Image Systems. Here’s my take on using images. 1. Use images that represent the individual’s character or his values. A wealthy heroine may well wear designer jeans, drive a BMW and have beautifully manicured nails. In […]

by Sharla Rae The first thing writers learn about Point of View or POV is that it refers to whose perspective through which the reader experiences the sounds, smells, actions and emotions of a story/scene. Seems simple, but sometimes knowing which character’s head to be in isn’t simple.  Most of us in the romance genre […]