August 27th, 2021
Tremendous, Terrible, Triumphant
Posted In:
Inspiration | Writing Craft
by Laurie Schnebly Campbell
For starters, three creates a pattern which isn’t feasible with just one or two.
Books that feature only two people are enjoyable, sure. But when you add a third character, like a loyal sidekick or a rival or a mysterious neighbor, the trio is all the more entertaining.… Read the post
April 23rd, 2021
Showing Emotion: When, Why & How
Posted In:
Blogging Guests | Writing Craft
by Laurie Schnebly Campbell
Some people read strictly for information. How to make a catapult or cassoulet. What dinosaurs evolved into. When to get the best deal on a new phone.
They don’t care about emotion in a book. So we don’t care about them, either, by golly.… Read the post
February 26th, 2021
Why Character Motivation Matters
Posted In:
Blogging Guests | Writing Craft
by Laurie Schnebly Campbell
We all know your main character can’t suddenly stand up and dance around the room without having SOME motivation for doing that. Maybe a red laser-dot just revealed there’s an assassin trying to get a clean shot through the window, or maybe somebody just announced “you inherited three billion dollars” or their favorite song just came on the radio.… Read the post
October 30th, 2020
Why We Love (and Resent) Alpha Males
Posted In:
Blogging Guests | Writing Craft
by Laurie Schnebly Campbell
Alpha males sell books.
No matter what else they might be good at -- and we’ve all seen them be good at LOTS of things! -- they’re fabulous at selling books.
But that doesn’t mean every reader, much less every writer, adores those classic alpha males.… Read the post
August 26th, 2020
Following Your Heroine Beyond the Hero’s Journey
Posted In:
WriterStrong | Writing Craft
by Laurie Schnebly Campbell
Ever since Joseph Campbell observed that the world’s great legends all contain 12 steps a hero must take to grow and triumph, writers have enjoyed using that structure as a storytelling tool.
It’s a perfectly good structure for tales of adventure, and Christopher Vogler made it even more useful with The Hero’s Journey.… Read the post
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