@DiAnnMills What drives a character to take risks, break laws, and become an antagonist? Are the traits listed on a compilation of bad-guy behaviors? Are the roots hidden in a deep hurt, possibly unrelated to actions in the present? Why is betrayal a common theme? These questions plagued me until…

@DiAnnMills Writers of all genres explore techniques to reveal their character’s inner traits. Observing the character’s behavior in action and dialogue shows the reader behavior patterns without telling. The writer is also able to create memorable scenes, endear the character to readers, and move along the plot. But what about…

@ADGansky Seems every writer has a set of “rules” they like to follow, or rather, they like to insist other writers must follow. I’ve always fancied myself a “rule-follower,” but when it comes to fiction, we need to be aware of what “rules” are there for our own good, and…

by Aaron Gansky @adgansky When an idea for a novel pops into our minds, the first thing we like to do is flesh out a few major plot points, which is fine. But, it can become a problem when we race our characters from one place to the next simply…

by Lindsey Brackett @lindsbrac When I first started teaching at writers’ conferences, I represented Splickety Publishing Group, a company entirely devoted to the art of flash fiction. But before I began attending conferences, I didn’t even know flash fiction existed. Once I discovered it, though, working in this form of…

by Aaron Gansky @adgansky Here’s a question more people should ask me about my writing, but don’t: Why do you write speculative fiction? What’s the point? What possible good can it do, especially for a Christian audience? The likely reason people don’t ask me this is because I tend to surround…