In Today’s Journal * Chapter 3, Part 3 * Of Interest Misplaced Modifiers When you’ve written something that’s meant to be humorous and the reader cracks up laughing, that’s wonderful. But if he busts a gut smack in the middle of a tense scene while reading your murder mystery, high-stakes thriller, or other more somber work, not so much. Misplaced modifiers are almost always humorous. They will bring a smile, if not a chuckle or an outright belly laugh, to your reader. Just as most of us can’t help laughing when a buddy slips and falls in mud, most readers … Read more

In Today’s Journal * A Brief Interlude * Of Interest A Brief Interlude Like all human beings I have personality flaws. My worst flaw is entertaining unbidden thoughts. And the worst of those occurs whenever I hear any version of “The reader will know what I mean” from a writer. When that happens, an image leaps into my mind. The Braying Jackass The image is of an imaginary, heinous, gargoyle-looking creature with a dullness about the eyes. Its slathering jaws hang slack, its blistered tongue protrudes, and its upper and lower teeth are exposed in a pretentious, self-righteous grin. It … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Chapter 3: Misplaced Modifiers—At Least They’re Funny Chapter 3: Misplaced Modifiers—At Least They’re Funny Wow. I used to really be cynical. These days, I’m more stoic. Still, I feel a responsibility to pass along what I’ve learned about writing over the past 60-plus years. My target is the fiction writer who is serious about learning the craft, and my hope is that my advice will land on the ears of those who want to hear it. To that end, I thought an article I posted on my author website several years ago would serve as a … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Chapter Two, Part 2 * Of Interest Chapter Two, Part 2 State-of-Being Verbs When addressing this particular topic, faux instructors will tell you point-blank to avoid the state-of-being verbs. In almost every case, they say you should avoid them “to avoid writing passive constructions.” Some of those faux-instructors will even tell you outright that using a gerund or past-progressive tense verb creates passive voice or a passive construction. It doesn’t. They probably believe it does because the past-progressive form is composed of a gerund preceded by “were,” a state-of-being verb. But as you’ll see in a … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Chapter Two: The Problem with Faux Writing Instructors Note: Breaking this chapter into three parts destroyed the flow, so Part 1 will run long at a little over 1700 words. But again, you have my permission to save it and/or print it to read at your leisure. Chapter Two: The Problem with Faux Writing Instructors If you’ve attended any presentations or “programs” at your writers’ organization or at writers’ conferences or in seminars, you’ve probably heard at least one faux writing instructor hold forth just as if he knows what he’s talking about. And there are … Read more

In Today’s Journal * My Quote of the Day * The Bradbury Challenge Report * Reader Preferences * More About Author Intrusion * * * Of Interest My Quote of the Day “The most common comment readers make on my stories is that they feel as if they’re ‘in the scene’ with the characters. And since the events take care of themselves, that comment is down to the description of the setting and the dialogue.” The Bradbury Challenge Report Participating in any challenge is a great way to have fun and grow as a writer. The requirement is to write … Read more

In Today’s Journal * My Quote of the Day * Chapter One, Part 2 * Of Interest My Quote of the Day “In the short story or novel, character dialogue equals action. It forces the reader to lean into the story and to participate as an eavesdropper.” Chapter One, Part 2 What You Want from Readers The most common comment readers make on my stories is that they feel as if they’re “in the scene” with the characters. That’s what you want from readers. And since the events take care of themselves, that comment is down to the description of … Read more

In Today’s Journal * My Quote of the Day * Chapter One: Using the Physical and Emotional Sense Verbs * Of Interest My Quote of the Day “In the short story or novel, dialogue equals action. It forces the reader to lean into the story and to participate as an eavesdropper.” Chapter One: Using the Physical and Emotional Sense Verbs The Goal: Never use the physical and emotional sense verbs when writing fiction. For now: Try never to use the physical and emotional sense verbs when writing fiction. After you’ve read this chapter, if you put that “For now” thought … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Fiverr Book Promo Pre-Results * I Might Have an Audio-Book Guy * Update on the Author Intrusion Book * Of Interest Fiverr Book Promo Pre-Results A few days ago I mentioned I’d be working with a guy from Fiverr to promote Writing Better Fiction. The initial cost (Standard Package) was $55. The last two items in the list below were add-ons that raised my total to $115. He’d promised to get the week-long promo up by May 8, fourteen days from the date of my request. Not only did he get the promo up early—it started … Read more

In Today’s Journal * Author Intrusion: A Dual Introduction * Of Interest Author Intrusion: A Dual Introduction About Me—Credentials If you seriously want to learn to write fiction—or if you’re already a fiction writer and you want to improve your craft—it only makes sense to learn from those who’ve actually written a lot of fiction and who have the ability to teach. Fortunately, I possess both of those attributes. As I’ve said to many copyediting clients, mentoring students, and attendees while teaching in college classes and in private seminars and writers conferences over the past few decades, my own number … Read more