Category Archives: Writing How-To Books

How-to books on writing

Lessons Learned from The Dance

Posted on June 24, 2020 by Linda W. Yezak

Monday, I reviewed this wonderful novel, The Dance, and gave my impressions of the context. Today, I want to go back and illustrate what I learned through Walsh and Smalley’s writing. I classify this novel as Christian Fiction because if you … Continue reading →

What Book Reviewers Want

Posted on May 16, 2018 by Linda W. Yezak

In “Critical Thinking,” a March-April Writer’s Digest article, Paul Goat Allen explains just what it is he looks for when reviewing a book. Paul is a freelance book critic for BarnesandNoble.com, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and the Chicago Tribune, so learning what he … Continue reading →

Posted in write tips, Writing, Writing How-To Books, Writing Tips | Tagged book reviews, immersion, Paul Goat Allen, readability, reviewer's hierarchy of needs, reviewers, Writer's Digest | 5 Comments

Conflict in Romance

Posted on May 7, 2018 by Linda W. Yezak

Romance. Boy meets girl. Boy loses girl. Boy gets girl back. Whether comedy or drama, whether he’s getting her or she’s getting him, that’s the basic format, but not all three components have to be involved in the novel. Boy … Continue reading →

Posted in write tips, Writing, Writing How-To Books, Writing Tips | Tagged conflict, genre, romance writing, tension | 2 Comments

Starting a New Project

Posted on March 14, 2018 by Linda W. Yezak

While I wait for my critique partner’s edits on Ride to the Altar, I’m brain-storming other ideas, conducting research for a western romance, and reading the how-to best seller, Save the Cat: The Last Book on Screenwriting That You’ll Ever Need. … Continue reading →

Posted in Reading, write tips, Writing, Writing How-To Books, Writing Tips | Tagged Blake Snyder, elevator pitch, log line, one-line, one-liner, Save the Cat, Writing | Leave a comment

Character Emotions

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Linda W. Yezak

During my revisions yesterday, I reached a critical scene, one that should’ve popped and sizzled and made my hair stand on end. It didn’t. Don’t you hate it when that happens? I wrote notes all over the page, scratched out … Continue reading →

Posted in editing, write tips, Writing How-To Books, Writing Tips | Tagged character emotions, Creating Character Emotions, editing, revising, The Emotion Thesaurus, Writing, writing emotions | 13 Comments

Authors Emote!

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Linda W. Yezak

You’re likely getting a tad tired of me writing about Donald Maass and his Writing 21st Century Fiction, but it’s the writer’s guide I’m studying right now, so . . . well, deal with it. Besides, if you read it yourself, … Continue reading →

Posted in write tips, Writing, Writing How-To Books, Writing Tips | Tagged action, action-driven, character driven, emote, emoting, emotions, novel writing | 9 Comments

Revisions: Transforming Sand into Castles

Posted on January 22, 2018 by Linda W. Yezak

For authors, this is one of the most encouraging quotes around, along with all the ones that remind us our first draft is supposed to be imperfect. Rough. Bird-cage worthy. As professional authors know, you can’t edit a blank page. … Continue reading →

Posted in editing, write tips, Writing, Writing How-To Books, Writing Tips | Tagged edits, James Scott Bell, revisions, Revisions & Self-Editing, self-editing | 7 Comments

Writer’s Block Busting

Posted on January 17, 2018 by Linda W. Yezak

What stage are you in with your writing—getting the first draft written, or revising the mess you made of your first draft? Either way, there may come a time when you’re stumped and unable to go forward. Best thing to … Continue reading →

Posted in editing, write tips, Writing, Writing How-To Books, Writing Tips | Tagged Donald Maass, editing, K.M. Weiland, Outlining Your Novel, revision, The Fire in Fiction, Writer's Block, writers blues, Writing, Writing in the 21st Century | 4 Comments

2 Tips for Genre Mash-ups

Posted on January 10, 2018 by Linda W. Yezak

I’m starting the new year with two truths about my writing: (1) I finished the first draft Ride to the Altar in late December 2017, and (2) it’s a mess. A colossal mess. One of the reasons it’s so messy is that … Continue reading →

Posted in write tips, Writing, Writing How-To Books, Writing Tips | Tagged Donald Maass, genre, genre mash-ups, Writing 21st Century Fiction | 13 Comments

Reader Manipulation, a Lesson from Steven James

Posted on January 18, 2017 by Linda W. Yezak

Loved this post from a few years back, and decided it needed to resurface . . . Reader manipulation is a writer’s tool for the experienced author, and Steven James illustrates just how experienced he is in his recent release, … Continue reading →