Are You A Passive Writer?

I'm not referring to your demeanor, I'm referring to your word choices. I was reading a blog about improving your scenes the other day and one thing it said was 'did you notice the author didn't use any passive verbs?' Then I thought: "Hmm. Did I use any in my book?" So I hit my…

Characters v. Stories

Everyone who reads has certain pleasure points when it comes to a good book. Some like to curl up with a romance novel while in their stocking feet holding a big box of tissues. Others like to sit out on the screened-in porch with a tall glass of ice tea and a good mystery novel.…

Manuscripts: Focus, focus, focus

One thing I have learned, and continue to learn, about putting together a manuscript is that it is not like writing a letter about something that happened to you or someone else. It is structured -- whether you intend to do so or not. It has a beginning, middle and end of course, but there…