Welcome to my newsletter! "Hope I'm Funny." Hey, Reader, For the sake of good cheer and smiling faces this time of year, I want to talk about writing comedy. Many of my writing students come to me with the question, “How do you write comedy?” How do you write comedic bits and scenes into a dramatic story? They’re worried because something they wrote wasn't funny. Or they couldn't think of anything witty. They put so much pressure on themselves to get it right the moment they start writing....
17 days ago • 1 min read
Welcome to my newsletter! "Why do people do what they do?" Hey, Reader, Have you ever asked yourself that question? Writers study people. It’s part of our job. To know people is to know your characters, and vice versa. At what point does an irrational act seem rational in someone's mind? How much pressure can a person take before desperation causes them to do something that can never be undone? How frightened can we become that giving up our reputation and moral center is justifiable? How...
24 days ago • 1 min read
Welcome to my newsletter! "Is That A Curse, Or A Propositioning?" Hi, Reader, That was my response one time when someone cursed at me. They weren't amused. I've noticed many people are more on edge these days. The phrase casual Observer doesn't fit here but I'll use it for the moment. For many weeks, I've stood waiting at a bus stop and casually observing the traffic patterns of both humans and vehicles. I noticed how people push past one another, how cars double park in bus zones so that...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Welcome to my newsletter! "Pssst! Over here. I got a hot tip for ya'." Look, Reader, In writing mystery and adventure thrillers, the conflict is a major element in the story. Somebody wants something, and what they're willing to do to get it can range from an exhibition of willfulness to an excuse for murder. When people decide they can do whatever they want, someone must step in to ensure they take responsibility, even if those responsibilities ultimately lead to their demise. Rob, con,...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Welcome to my newsletter! "When Someone Gets Iced, You Wind Up With A Stiff." Hey there, Reader: I know ... I'm a day late. Sorry. But I'm not "a dollar short." I promised to give you some tips on constructing a great mystery thriller, SO HERE WE GO. There are different ways of approaching creating such a project. You can come up with some character and a circumstance they're in and then build your mystery out of that. Or maybe you think of a very popular or rare item that is desired by...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Welcome to my newsletter! Hot Tips On A Cold Case! Hey there, Reader, I hope those of you actively participating in the short story writing challenge find it empowering. You're giving yourself an exercise that can be informative, skill-building, and fun. So that's a benefit worth working on. But I also hope you've participated actively because of the next phase. Between now and the end of the year, I'll be doing a three-part mystery/thriller writing series. Part 1. A seven-part email and...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Welcome to my newsletter! The Question: How Do you fix a problem story? Hi Reader, You must answer several questions to know how best to succeed. You might ask… Is the problem in the plot the concept on which I'm building this story? Is there a problem with the characters? Are they unauthentic or not running true to form? Is the problem in the structure? Is it is there something missing? Is it running too slow in the pacing? Or Are the elements of the story too chaotic and confusing? Is the...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Welcome to my newsletter! Hi Reader, I've got another question for you... What makes a solid story structure? There are several answers to that question. But here is the one I live by, and I share it with my students. To start, a story structure is a framework. It's a way of telling a tale, and it can be personal, professional, or instructional. The same basic rules apply whether it’s a screenplay, novel, cartoon, or comic book. Every story has three basic components. B.M.E.; Beginning,...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Welcome to my newsletter! Why the hell should we keep trying? Can you answer that Reader? What do we do when we face writer's block and other creative challenges? Why should we keep writing or creating when we're worried that it won't be good enough? Why should we do it when we fear what other people might say? Why should we even write stories with comedic throughlines or happy endings when the world is going through so much hell in a handbasket? And if we are supposed to do that, how do we...
3 months ago • 3 min read