Writing Rules for you to break. Here’s something I’ve been doing over the past year, and the results have been fantastic. I took a break from working on a novel and cobbled together some short stories. My goal was to finish at least one per month. Attainable and measurable. At the same time, I tried […]
Compelling characters In general, it’s wise to describe your character when they first enter your story. (There are exceptions, of course, and all rules here can be broken. ) You want your reader to be able to picture your character as early as possible. Just like grounding the reader with your setting, showing some detail […]
I was just a kid when my uncle’s wife went missing one winter. When I got my license, he asks me will I work for him. In his house, there’s two of everything. “His & hearse,” he says. Except there’s only one shovel. “Broke mine,” he tells me. “Ground gets hard ’round these parts.” He […]
Personal example for this week’s tip. When your characters speak, use the attribution “said.” A kind agent who asked to read my manuscript told me I had a character who “uttered” when she should have “said.” The agent was right. “Said” becomes invisible in your story, but “uttered” or anything else calls attention to itself. […]
Act I We were in love. Hadn’t admitted it yet, but there it is. I arrived late—that is, fashionable—for her party. Toured her apartment. Her highlight: Chekhov’s gun on the mantle. Framed certificate of authenticity just below. Act II Twice, we made eye contact across the crowded apartment. Smiled. Grinned, even. In the kitchen, I […]
The blustery attorney rolls his eyes. “My client is incapable of perpetrating such a crime. He’s only pleading guilty to save the victim’s family from going through a trial. I’d like you to recognize that in the sentencing, Your Honor.” The judge leans in. “His fingerprints are on the murder weapon.” “Circumstantial,” says the blowhard. […]
How’s that for an alliterative title? Continuing with my favorite writing rules. This should have been #1, but I forgot about it last week. This tip is courtesy of Elmore Leonard, the brilliant and prolific crime writer (yeah, yeah, formerly western writer too — 3:10 to Yuma, anyone?) and his 10 Rules of Writing. Barely […]
A horn blares on the nightstand. Frain’s wife, standing beside the bed, hits the alarm to silence it. Frain rolls over. Looks up through one eye. “You know what’s funny?” “What’s that?” He grins, half asleep. “Last night, in your sleep, you said you were going to drown me. Crazy, huh?” “That was your imagination, […]
My Favorite Writing Rules (All of which can be broken) This is my all-time favorite because of its simplicity and the aha moment you have when you realize its truth. This rule is born from the idea to respect your reader. They don’t need backstory. If your scene has four parts in your mind, leave […]
Frain settles into his home office. Flips on his laptop. Searches for his website. After an hour, his wife wanders in. “What are you doing?” “I’m making a comeback.” “Don’t you have to be gone first to make a comeback?” The author looks up from his laptop. “Haven’t you noticed—” “I can help with that […]
JD Frain 