The Chopping Blog

"The best writing is rewriting"

August 12, 2019

A local theatre troop wrote a brilliant musical called Ride the Cyclone, which ended up on Broadway. A few years ago they held a fundraiser show in which they performed several numbers that had to be cut because they didn't end up fitting the story. This was an eye-opening experience for me. The songs they cut were amazing!

On the craft

Beyond Shrugged Shoulders: how to write gestures effectively

August 06, 2019

Gesture is one of those things that doesn’t get talked about enough in creative writing workshops or how-to books. I don’t know why. It’s a critical tool of character development and it’s a great way to enhance a scene and break up dialogue. As with most things, when it’s done well, you don’t notice it. When it isn’t, it sticks out like—well, like a shrugged shoulder.

On the craft

Word-count calculator

July 21, 2019

Enter your daily word-count values to calculate how many days you have left to go before your first draft is finished!

On the craft

Read more

Scofield’s Wall: a how-to reflection on outlining a novel

July 08, 2019

I have come to the conclusion that when it comes to planning, every project is different. Some are amenable to the detailed outline. Others are not.

On the craft

Read more

How to find inspiration: a guide for novelists

July 03, 2019

Refusing to work until inspiration shows up is not an option. Inspiration won’t put in an appearance if you aren’t there first, trying to get words down on paper. It needs to know where to find you.

On the craft

Read more

Questions to ask yourself – Part 4: Character development

May 06, 2019

Not every character needs to jump off the page, but it's still a good idea to people your manuscript with a memorable cast. If you have a clear sense of each character, their substance and personality will more easily translate.

On the craft

Read more

Questions to ask yourself – Part 3: The Antagonist

May 01, 2019

Although your villain or antagonist can be non-human or not even physical (such as society, a corporation, addiction, or the environment), many stories put a face to the evil. Either way, consider how your antagonist will challenge your hero. The hero's motivation drives the plot momentum, and the antagonist's opposition creates the obstacles that the hero must struggle against.

On the craft

Read more

Questions to ask yourself – Part 2: The Protagonist

April 27, 2019

Understanding your main character's primary motivation is key to creating an active protagonist who makes choices and takes risk – this will be the engine for your plot momentum. It's also important to make your protagonist memorable and life-like, which can grow out of unique life experience, a flaw, or a dash of quirkiness.

On the craft

Read more

Author 2.0 Blueprint: a great resource for independent writers

April 22, 2019

Hemingway said it best: “The first draft of anything is shit.” I derive a lot of comfort from the fact that one of the greatest writers of all time did not produce good first drafts. It’s something new writers need to hear and experienced ones need to be reminded of.

On the craft

Read more

Can creative writing be taught?

April 18, 2019

I would go so far as to say talent is an overrated component. If I was a gambler, I’d put my money on an average writer who knows how to work hard over someone who is supposedly talented but doesn’t know how to apply the AOC rule (Ass On Chair).

On the craft

Read more

Questions to ask yourself – Part 1: Worldbuilding

April 11, 2019

Fleshing out a new narrative? Fine tuning the physical and cultural landscape of your setting? Use this list of questions to firm up the scaffolding behind your story—a great exercise for writers of speculative and historical fiction.

On the craft

Read more

From Idea to Book: the story of The House of One Thousand Eyes

March 06, 2019

With a good editor, the editorial process is like a mini-MFA. I always come away having learned something important, not only about my own work but about the craft in general. There were a few important things happening off-stage in the novel that needed to have their own scenes. And I had to cut several gems—lines I was in love with that unfortunately weren’t appropriate in tone for the scenes they were in. Was this hard? Yes. Did I argue with my editor? Yes.

On the craft

Read more