Life lessons on the craft

The Blue Square Writer

Blue Square

Writer

Life lessons

on the craft

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Oct 1
3 min

Because I Like It

I gave myself full permission to stop writing. I wasn’t going to write any more that night and I wasn’t going to write any more the next day

Sep 1
4 min

It's About Story

That’s why, to me, the worst Jeffery Eugenides book will always be remarkably better than the best Dan Brown book.

Aug 1
3 min

Thinking 4th Dimensionally

There are less-discussed and less-understood Time factors, such as the past perfect verb tense or the order of phrases and clauses.

Jul 1
3 min

Grammatical Time Travel

When you use a verb tense without fully understanding it, you’re essentially sticking your reader into the Delorean and stepping on the gas.

Jun 1
3 min

Subtracting Time

Many writers add more words in an effort to explain or justify. The more effective solution is to go back to fix. More is not always better.

May 1
4 min

The Immediate Flashback

The most misused and dangerous use of Flashback is – what I have come to call – the Immediate Flashback or interrupting backstory.

Apr 1
4 min

Suspending Disbelief

Character's unique abilities put them in strange places, but if you include too many details about abilities, you bore the reader.

Mar 2
3 min

Word-Time & Real-Time

The ratio is simple: the amount of words used to show the action is inversely proportional to the time that action requires.

Feb 1
4 min

Struggle Happy

In life, we want to avoid conflict. However, what we often fail to see is that conflict, though difficult, is the best path toward success.

Jan 2
4 min

Trusting Implications

You must trust your skill, of course. But more than anything, trust your readers. They’re a lot smarter than you might think.

Dec 1, 2019
3 min

Want to See More

What do these comments even mean? How is a character believable? How is writing forced? They want to see more of what exactly?

Nov 1, 2019
4 min

Forcing Characters

Don’t be fooled – characters will not suddenly become real people, capable of reaching out from your computer to type their own story.

Oct 1, 2019
3 min

Write What You Know

When you fake that truth or over-/under- sentimentalize a truth, it comes across as bad writing.

Sep 2, 2019
3 min

Writer's Block

If you’ve been writing for even a short time, you’ve sat down to write and you've struggled.

Aug 2, 2019
3 min

Rate of Reveal

We start our readers with easy level walking – introducing our characters, giving a brief show of what their world is.

Jul 2, 2019
4 min

Small Nuances

The difference between good writing and Good! writing is not in the major issues.

Jun 2, 2019
3 min

Choosing Equipment

Motivations for writing can differ far more than types of skis. But no matter what the goal, every writer needs to use the right equipment.

May 2, 2019
4 min

Writing Fearlessly

I needed to go big or go home. If you want to be a better writer, you need to be brave or put down the pen.

Apr 2, 2019
5 min

To Be Basics

The biggest mistake I see with beginning writers is their paucity of knowledge when it comes to mechanics and grammar.

Mar 2, 2019
3 min

Right & Wronger

What works for one writer may not work for another. One writer may be able to break rules that another cannot.

Feb 2, 2019
4 min

The Voices in my Head

Pick one character or action and explain its importance to yourself. Ask yourself over and over again those important writer questions.

Jan 1, 2019
3 min

Copying Originality

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. But it’s also a lot like copying.

Dec 1, 2018
4 min

Physical Descriptions

I don’t like to include physical descriptions of my characters in my writing. I’m often accused of this fault.

Nov 1, 2018
3 min

Amateur Expectations

On a Thursday night, I listened to a poet read his newest stuff.

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