by lauralizbuckley | 18 Jan, 2022 | Writing
Your characters should lose more often than they win. That might sound mean! You’ve poured your heart and soul into the characters on the page, and now I’m telling you to torture them, basically. But there are good reasons why defeat is more interesting than victory...
by lauralizbuckley | 11 Jan, 2022 | Writing
The three-act structure is a way of structuring a story. It essentially breaks down plots into their beginning, middle and end, with some recommendations for what goes in each section. What are the parts of the three-act structure? The three acts in question can be...
by lauralizbuckley | 4 Jan, 2022 | Writing
We all know that writing and reading will make you a better writer. At least, assuming you’re practicing both with the intention to learn and grow your skills. But what if I told you there are so many more ways you can improve your writing abilities? Honestly, I think...
by lauralizbuckley | 14 Sep, 2021 | Writing
I’m always on the lookout for a good character arc while reading. I like to see a character change and grow in response to what they’re going through. But what is a character arc, and how do you write one into your story? What is a character arc? When we’re talking...
by lauralizbuckley | 7 Sep, 2021 | Writing
I feel like I don’t always hear people talking about tone in writing, but it’s hard not to notice it when you’re reading. It’s even harder not to notice it when it’s inconsistent or somehow jarring. What is tone? Tone in writing is similar to the mood or feel of the...
by lauralizbuckley | 31 Aug, 2021 | Writing
Everyone knows what you need in a first chapter, right? You just need it to be an absolutely perfect sample of writing that intrigues readers without looking like it’s trying too hard. No big deal. Let me just whip one of those up this morning. There’s a lot riding on...
