by Stephanie Dethlefs | Mar 29, 2023 | Uncategorized
We all know that writing a novel takes a village. But there are things to consider before asking your friends and loved ones to give you feedback, especially if you are still writing your first draft. These three considerations will help you decide if now is the right...
by Stephanie Dethlefs | Mar 29, 2023 | Uncategorized
In the pilot episode of the television show Lost, which aired in 2004, main character Jack opens his eyes to discover that he has survived a plane crash and is currently surrounded by chaos. He immediately jumps up and into action, helping other survivors. Once things...
by Stephanie Dethlefs | Apr 19, 2022 | Character Development, First Draft, Planning your book, Uncategorized
How do we create primary characters that are nuanced and complex without being stereotypical, flat, or strange caricatures of themselves? The key is to know them. Like, really know them. And it’s more than knowing things like their favorite sandwich or where they grew...
by Stephanie Dethlefs | Oct 12, 2021 | First Draft, Planning your book, Revision, Uncategorized, writing craft
It’s a really common problem that a writer will be writing along, discovering what comes next as they write, and before they know it they have taken a path they weren’t expecting and wound up in some plot territory that they don’t really want to be in. Today...
by Stephanie Dethlefs | Aug 17, 2021 | Uncategorized
Time is one of the biggest issues that writers grapple with, especially when we try to squeeze writing into a busy life. And most of us don’t feel like we’re writing “enough.” We compare ourselves to what we hear others – usually...
