(Yet another in the series of Twitter threads I’m translating to blog posts! Enjoy.) So I know I talk a lot about how you need compelling conflict and stakes to have a gripping story. But on a line-by-line and page-by-page level, what keeps me reading is their more nebulous cousin, dramatic tension. Basically, dramatic tensionContinue reading “Dramatic Tension”
Tag Archives: Writing Tips
Drives and Goals
(This is another lightly edited Twitter writing craft thread which I’m posting on my blog for reference and so people can find it more easily. I hope it’s helpful!) When I’m shaping a character arc for a book, I try to pay attention to both drives and goals. It’s crucial for a character to haveContinue reading “Drives and Goals”
Editing Process for THE UNBOUND EMPIRE
I just turned in my second round of edits on THE UNBOUND EMPIRE! During the first (structral) round of edits, I posted a Twitter thread about the process. Here’s a lightly edited version of that thread: When I was young and foolish, I thought revising/editing was just what I now understand to be line editsContinue reading “Editing Process for THE UNBOUND EMPIRE”
Let’s Talk Agency
Every first draft I’ve ever written has had agency problems. Which sounds like a bunch of guys in suits with dark glasses should be pulling up in a black van and hustling my draft into the back, but it’s nowhere near that exciting. In fact, it’s kind of the opposite of exciting. Agency is, basically,Continue reading “Let’s Talk Agency”
Floon and Flying
My second published book, THE DEFIANT HEIR (sequel to THE TETHERED MAGE), is now out! YAAAYYYY!!!!!!!!!!! I absolutely love this book and am so thrilled to share it with the world. I am super proud of it! The process of writing it was very different from my previous (usual? former?) writing process, mostly because deadlinesContinue reading “Floon and Flying”
So Many Notes
I just finished my first full draft of Book 3 of Swords & Fire last night (yay!). This morning I’m making an edit triage doc, and I thought it might be fun to make a quick writing process post on how many notes I make while drafting. (Spoiler: A LOT.) For this draft alone (andContinue reading “So Many Notes”
Isolating Plot Arcs for the Win
People often ask if I’m a plotter or a pantser, and the truth is I plot like crazy in advance, but also am always rethinking and editing my outline as I go. As I’m working on Book 3 there are a couple of tricks I’ve found really useful for refining my outline in mid-draft, andContinue reading “Isolating Plot Arcs for the Win”
Writing Female Characters
I’ve now had a few variants on the question, “How do you write such strong female characters?” This always makes me blink a bit, because you know, they don’t ask people “How do you write such strong male characters?” BUT! It occurred to me that maybe I should actually answer this question in a blogContinue reading “Writing Female Characters”
So Many Drafts
Hey there, writers in the trenches! Let’s have a little talk about tweedle beetles drafts. Specifically, numbers of drafts. I know that when I started out writing novels, I had no idea how many drafts a book went through before it got published. Thinking back on it now, I get all Ming the Merciless andContinue reading “So Many Drafts”
Reset to Save
I just turned in the first draft of THE DEFIANT HEIR, Book 2 of Swords & Fire, to my editor today! YAY!!! BUT WAIT! Let’s walk that back. While this is the first draft Lindsey is seeing, this is not even close to the first draft I wrote of this book. In fact, I couldn’tContinue reading “Reset to Save”
Melissa Caruso 