Category Archives: Writing tools

An exercise by Donald Barthelme Assignment: Write a sentence with some attention to the notes below. What can we reasonable expect, or even demand, of the sentences in fiction? The first thing I want a sentence to do is surprise … Continue reading →

The Oulipo Group uses mathematical principles to generate experimental texts. Larding is one of the exercises they suggest.

Consider Janet Burroway’s discussion of theme.

Here are three examples of what can be done at Wordle. Try it. You’ll like it. (I’ll repost the draft of the plan once I’ve finished it.)

In October, NPR’s “All Tech Considered” included an interview of Cory Doctorow. Doctorow discusses new ways of publishing and marketing books and stories. Here’s a link.

One aphorism by Jerome Stern A scene that seems to happen nowhere often seems not to happen at all. and five by Janet Burroway. Like dialogue, setting must do more than one thing at once, from illuminating the story’s symbolic … Continue reading →

I’m thinking of this as part of revision, but it might be useful in other ways as well: highlight text in Word, go to View, then Toolbars, then Speech. Click on Speak Selection in the small window that appears. Listen … Continue reading →

According to Pixar (in part), Once upon a time there was ___. Every day, ___. One day ___. Because of that, ___. Because of that, ___. Until finally ___.     Jim Shooter, Introduce the character Little Miss Muffett Introduce … Continue reading →

Scene Setup Time and place: Props: Five senses (sight, smell, sound, touch, taste): Characters: Dialogue: Actions: Large: Small: Inner life: Motives, agendas, wants, choices: Conflict/tension: Exit line: Causal relationship with the next scene: (This is a variation on Robert J. … Continue reading →

Jerome Stern’s Making Shapely Fiction is full of good advice. Here’s an excerpt that will save you years of work.