Blog Post
Storytelling on Screen: Would Your Novel Work for Film or TV?
Last month I was a guest at a book club where my second novel, Blindspot, was the selection of the month. It’s the story of an ambitious district attorney who hunts down the stalker harassing her and her teenage daughter, then finds herself arrested for murder when he turns up dead. Turns out, she’s got…
Read MoreThe Art of the Start: Four Different Ways to Begin Your Novel
This month I’m beginning my third novel, and I face a familiar, nerve-racking challenge: deciding how to start. The opening of a novel sets the tone for everything that follows, and I’m torn. Should I go back in time and give the reader a sense of how the conflicts playing out in the present spring…
Read MoreMoving Beyond “Write What You Know”
The adage “write what you know” has been a cornerstone of writing advice for decades. It encourages writers to draw from their own experiences, lending authenticity and depth to their work. But this approach can also be limiting. Confining yourself to only what you know can stifle your creativity and lead to repetitive themes and…
Read MoreFrom Subtle Unease to Heart-Pounding Thrills: The Use of Tension in Fiction
For my second novel, Blindspot, I ventured into a new genre, that of psychological suspense. It’s the type of book I gravitate to as a reader and I’m a long-term fan of anything in the mystery realm (I devoured the entire Agatha Christie oeuvre when I was sixteen) How hard could it be? Insert hubris…
Read MoreWhy I Write
I spin tales, conjure up characters, and bleed ink on the page (metaphorically, of course, although I’ve had a few paper cuts in my day that made my pages a bit more “colorful”). Since my go-to question when writer’s block strikes is always why, it seems only natural to turn that same lens on myself.…
Read MoreBrainstorming Characters That Leap Off the Page
BlindSpot, my second book and first psychological suspense, releases in May, so before the whirlwind of marketing for that one starts up in earnest, I’ve been spending time ruminating about my next one – my favorite part of the process. My first step is always to purchase a new Moleskine lined notebook where I can jot…
Read MoreHow Genre Can Drive Your Book’s Success
It’s a common lament among writers: Why is genre important? Can’t I just write whatever I want and let the marketplace figure out how to classify it? Or perhaps: My work is a mix of genres. I don’t want to be pinned down. I like to mix it up. Let’s look at why genre is…
Read MoreWhat The Great British Baking Show Taught Me About Writing
It All Begins with Preparation One of the first things you notice about the show is that all the ingredients and the equipment the baker will need for the challenge is already there at their table. That prep work helps the contestants stay focused. No scrambling for cream or flour – it’s at their fingertips.…
Read MoreFrom Sidekick to Scene-Stealer: Making Your Secondary Characters Memorable
When crafting a novel, it’s easy to focus primarily on the development of the protagonist and the primary characters. But remember, your protagonist does not live in isolation. The true mark of a skilled writer lies in their ability to breathe life into secondary characters as well—and in fact, these are sometimes the characters who…
Read MoreFrom Clash to Catharsis: The Role of Conflict in Novel-Writing
One of the first tenets of successful novel writing is that without conflict, you’ve got no story. Conflict is what keeps the reader turning pages. Without it, your story comes to a halt while you clear your throat, meander around aimlessly, and stare at the wall. In his craft book Conflict and Suspense, author James…
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