The writer exploring the New World of Publishing needs a quiver full of arrows, including very short ones. The novel can take a year or more to go from idea to publication. In that year, dreams get dusty, bills come … Continue reading
Protagonist with a need. Check. Interesting setting. Check. Edge of your seat conflict and a twist to make things interesting. Double check. Antagonist with a need… hmmm… not quite a check. One of Holly’s students was working through her pre-planning … Continue reading
Ever since joining Holly’s Boot Camps, one of our members has worked very hard on an epic fantasy story that will span three or four books, but he’s run into some questions that don’t fall neatly into place. As he moves … Continue reading
Working with characters is always a challenge, and always interesting. After all, they’re what our novels are about! Some characters are a little more challenging than others, though. Have any of you written from the point of view of a child? … Continue reading
In our stories, just like in life, sometimes we have characters with a very good reason to keep out of the spotlight. Maybe they are hiding their past. Maybe someone is after them. Maybe they’re just anti-social. But whatever the … Continue reading
You’re responsible for your characters’ actions, just as if they were your kids. You don’t let them wreck the house (story)! You give them chores/goals and expect them to get them done. You expect them to carry their own weight … Continue reading
Dark hair cropped short, or long golden tresses. Drives a Mazzerati, or a classic Chevy, or a rusted out Dodge. Athletic. Bookish. Tall. Short. Conservative. Or flashy and extravagant. However you visualize your character, that vision needs to stay consistent. … Continue reading
Holly warns against letting a drop-in character take over the story or even a part of the story. h This Sideways student took Character Bloom to a whole new level. j Go here for the whole story. j k