Tips for writing compelling and realistic dialogue

Posted on 09/08/2020 at 11:18 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

We’ve all been at a loss for words (some of us more often than others). How about your characters? Do...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Writing advice, Zara Altair

Zara Altair: Use detail judiciously to bring your story's setting alive

Posted on 07/21/2020 at 10:21 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

The setting of your story may seem as real as the room you’re physically in, as you’re writing. But how...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Writing advice, Zara Altair

Zara Altair: Six keys to a successful scene

Posted on 06/27/2020 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

If you’re like us, you’ve been doing much more cooking nowadays than six months ago. So, fittingly, we have a...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Plot / narrative, Writing advice, Zara Altair

What to have and avoid in your story's opening

Posted on 06/17/2020 at 11:17 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

The most compelling part of Zara Altair’s post on starting your mystery, for us, might have been the section on...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: First lines and first chapters, Mystery, Zara Altair

Zara Altair: Don't muzzle your characters

Posted on 06/05/2020 at 10:21 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

You may be hesitant to share your own opinion, as a writer, on topics that don’t directly relate to the...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Writing advice, Zara Altair

How to plant clues about your mystery's villain

Posted on 02/21/2020 at 10:41 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

The villain or culprit in your mystery should make sense once his or her guilt is revealed. But how do...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Mystery, Writing advice, Zara Altair

Character descriptions: How much is too much?

Posted on 02/12/2020 at 01:01 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

When you create a character, you’ve likely formed a picture of him or her in addition to coming up with...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Writing advice, Zara Altair

Zara Altair: Know your character's context

Posted on 01/29/2020 at 03:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Vivid, developed characters are a key factor in how compelling your story is. But don’t add characters just because you’ve...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Plot / narrative, Writing advice, Zara Altair

Alternate proactive and reactive scenes to keep your story moving

Posted on 12/18/2019 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

“Formulaic” is often tossed around as an insult. We’re not suggesting that you make your novel as predictable as can...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Plot / narrative, Writing advice, Zara Altair

Zara Altair: Share your characters' backstories sparingly in a mystery

Posted on 11/26/2019 at 04:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Your characters’ backstories don't just serve your readers — they serve you, the writer. But, says Zara Altair, that’s why...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Mystery, Writing advice, Zara Altair