Each blog contains 1 idea, 2 quotes, and 3 questions to ponder.

1 WRITING IDEA

Here’s a quick trick for developing a character. Ask yourself: if they were to carry a purse or a bag, what would be inside?

Maybe it’s lipstick. Or credit cards. But push it deeper….

What about?

A miniature harmonica
A pair of antique opera glasses
A book of poetry
A set of lock-picking tools
An opened condom pack
A set of foreign coins
A foldable boomerang
A spy pen with invisible ink
A fossilized shark tooth
A tiny brass telescope

You get the idea.

Throw one of those bad boys in there and suddenly you’ve got an interesting character.

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2 WRITING QUOTES

“Respect your characters, even the minor ones. In art, as in life, everyone is the hero of their own particular story.
”

— Sarah Waters

“It’s the characters. That’s what I spend most of my time with. Once I’ve done that, character will speak to plot and story.
”

— Craig Borten

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3 Writing Questions

1. What do your characters want in the story? What are they searching for? 

2. What is standing in their way, and what are they willing to do to remove the obstacles?

3. How do your characters respond to failure, stress, and other emotional situations?

What if a trip to the Amazon resulted in an amazing discovery?

WATCH THE BOOK TRAILER:

About Me

Hey, I’m Brian. Born a Tar Heel but now a Virginian, I’m a father of five and the husband of one amazing lady. My family has a thing for Golden Retrievers. Given the right circumstances, I can do a smooth moonwalk on a slick kitchen floor. I’ve also written a book called The Jungle Within.

Each blog contains 1 idea, 2 quotes, and 3 questions to ponder.

1 WRITING IDEA

As a writer, you’re not alone in your frustration with perfectionism. It’s a real problem for most of us who put “pen to paper.” I know, it stinks.

Here’s the secret: when you truly understand your target market, it changes the way you write. If your audience loves $10 words, then write $10 words. But if your readers prefer lean language ($1 words), then give ‘em those dollar specials.

Once you get inside the head of your target reader, the right words flow much easier.

And while we’re at it… save the heavy editing for when you’ve completely finished your first draft. Yes, your draft will be sandpaper rough. But that’s okay.

Let all your ideas flow onto the page using the creative side of your brain, then do your spelling/grammar/structure corrections by using the analytical side of your brain.

When you’re writing/creating, sometimes you must command the analytical side: “Stop! It’s not time for you yet!”

Trying to do both at the same time is like trying to clean a dog that’s rolling in the mud. Good luck with that.

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2 WRITING QUOTES

“I think I did pretty well, considering I started out with nothing but a bunch of blank paper.”

— Steve Martin

“You write to communicate to the hearts and minds of others what’s burning inside you. And we edit to let the fire show through the smoke. ”

— Arthur Plotnik

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3 Writing Questions

1. How do you determine target audience preferences, especially with choice of language?

2. What strategies help your ideas flow freely during the initial stages of writing?

3. Have you ever edited too early in the writing process? How did it affect your work?

What if a trip to the Amazon resulted in an amazing discovery?

WATCH THE BOOK TRAILER:

About Me

Hey, I’m Brian. Born a Tar Heel but now a Virginian, I’m a father of five and the husband of one amazing lady. My family has a thing for Golden Retrievers. Given the right circumstances, I can do a smooth moonwalk on a slick kitchen floor. I’ve also written a book called The Jungle Within.

Each blog contains 1 idea, 2 quotes, and 3 questions to ponder.

1 WRITING IDEA

The big idea: watch out for the “weasel words” in your manuscript.

What are weasel words? Words that clutter your manuscript and/or words you repeat without realizing it.

• Weasel words show a lack of focus and may point to a narrative needing more work
  (Two main culprits: “That” and “It” — but there are plenty more: see my list of common weasel words)

• For most situations, choose active voice over passive voice
  (Passive: The dog was hugged by Suzy; Active: Suzy hugged the dog)

• Consider removing adjectives, especially the weak ones
  (Weak examples: Awesome; Good/Terrible; Big/Small; Pretty/Ugly; Tall/Short; Young/Old; Beautiful)

• Avoid the obvious phrases
  (“He clapped his hands”; “She sat in the chair”; “They stood to their feet”)

• Adverbs usually aren’t your friends
  (“I’m pregnant!” she shouted excitedly.)

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2 WRITING QUOTES

“If a novel is 100,000 words and is 99.9 percent perfect, it still contains 100 errors.”

— Alton Gansky

“Writing without revising is the literary equivalent of waltzing gaily out of the house in your underwear.”

— Patricia Fuller

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3 Writing Questions

1. What words or phrases do you repeat the most?

2. What are some exceptions to using passive voice over active voice?

3. How do you know which adjectives and adverbs to keep or lose?

What if a trip to the Amazon resulted in an amazing discovery?

WATCH THE BOOK TRAILER:

About Me

Hey, I’m Brian. Born a Tar Heel but now a Virginian, I’m a father of five and the husband of one amazing lady. My family has a thing for Golden Retrievers. Given the right circumstances, I can do a smooth moonwalk on a slick kitchen floor. I’ve also written a book called The Jungle Within.

Each blog contains 1 idea, 2 quotes, and 3 questions to ponder.

1 WRITING IDEA

The big idea is… there are definite ways to supercharge your writing.

Yes, even if you’re a “slow” writer, you can bump up your productivity by doing some (or all) of the following:

• Outline your chapter and/or scene FIRST

• Brainstorm “must-have” words and phrases before your write

• Embrace the daily discipline of writing

• Write during your best time of day

• Choose a dedicated writing space

• Free your space from interruptions

• Consider using headphones

• Match music with a specific scene or chapter

• Set a timer

• Determine a word goal

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2 WRITING QUOTES

“If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn’t brood. I’d type a little faster.”

— Isaac Asimov

“Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without that exercise, the muscles seize up.”

— Jane Yolen

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3 Writing Questions

1. How can outlining increase your writing speed?

2. How does a daily writing discipline help speed up your writing?

3. How does a dedicated writing space help supercharge your writing process?

What if a trip to the Amazon resulted in an amazing discovery?

WATCH THE BOOK TRAILER:

About Me

Hey, I’m Brian. Born a Tar Heel but now a Virginian, I’m a father of five and the husband of one amazing lady. My family has a thing for Golden Retrievers. Given the right circumstances, I can do a smooth moonwalk on a slick kitchen floor. I’ve also written a book called The Jungle Within.

Each blog contains 1 idea, 2 quotes, and 3 questions to ponder.

1 WRITING IDEA

Writing can often feel like assembling a jigsaw puzzle, with ideas not always fitting neatly in order.

Enter Scrivener, your software sidekick that does more than help you write a book… you’ll build a story.

Imagine a digital workshop where you can:

📁 Organize every idea, image, and doc in ONE place
🔄 Drag, drop, and shuffle sections fluidly
📚 Juggle between your manuscript and character bios simultaneously

Regret making a bold edit? No sweat! With Scrivener’s Snapshots, revisit older versions and keep your literary gem safe.

And remember the good ol' days of index cards on storyboard walls? Now you can go digital – in the corkboard feature.

Need to format files for digital or print? Easy-peasy. From name generators to laser-focused writing with Focus Mode, Scrivener is every writer's dream.

And… myth-busting time. Scrivener isn't hard. Give yourself an hour. Dive in and push buttons. You’ll be up and running in no time.

Crafting your masterpiece just got a lot easier.

Hop over to literatureandlatte.com for a free trial and tutorials.

*By the way, I’m not a Scrivener salesperson or affiliate. I just dig the software.

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2 WRITING QUOTES

“You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.

”

— Jodi Picoult

“There is a ruthlessness to the creative act. It often involves a betrayal of the status quo.”

— Alan Watt

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3 Writing Questions

1. What are the fundamental differences between merely writing a book and building a story?

2. What writing advantages come with the ability to organize every idea, image, and document in one place?

3. How does the concept of a "digital workshop" redefine traditional writing methods?

What if a trip to the Amazon resulted in an amazing discovery?

WATCH THE BOOK TRAILER:

About Me

Hey, I’m Brian. Born a Tar Heel but now a Virginian, I’m a father of five and the husband of one amazing lady. My family has a thing for Golden Retrievers. Given the right circumstances, I can do a smooth moonwalk on a slick kitchen floor. I’ve also written a book called The Jungle Within.