From Our Blog
Including Native Americans in Writing
As writers we always hear, “Write what you know.” In light of that truth, it is important that any person writing about Native Americans know the people and the culture they are writing about. It is important to know the current situation of the Native American people one is choosing to write about. It is also important to recognize that some things cannot, or should not, be written about given…
The Scar’s the Thing: Tropes in Advanced Craft
Tropes, characters, and story What do you think of when you hear the word trope? Do you think of a story building block? Or an overused concept?
These days, we hear about tropes often, but the meaning is less specific. Some writers love them, while others loathe them. One constant is that tropes are a storytelling staple stemming from fairy and folk tales.
Tropes are valuable storytelling build…
Interview: Assuring the Authentic Voice in Modern Literature
In January 2020, the novel American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins hit bookstores after months of positive reviews and being selected to Oprah’s Book Club. Then Latinx critics called out the book detailing a Mexican bookseller crossing the U.S. border to escape a drug cartel as perpetuating harmful stereotypes. Cummins is not Mexican, although claims Puerto Rican heritage, and critics repeated what th…
Using Names to Develop Characters
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, By any other word would smell as sweet.” —Juliet
The naming of our characters runs the gamut. Our characters are “ours” and character names provide opportunities for authors to expand the emotion, impact, and resonance of their stories.
Or as Elizabeth Ann West, author of 25 books and a digital publishing professional for over a decade said, “A name…
All Things Being Equal…
Like many children, I (Nikoo) was a voracious reader growing up, and my favorite books were those in which I could see myself. I was born in Iran. My parents were Muslim, but we also had family members who practiced Judaism, Christianity, and Bahá’í, and we had our share of atheists. We respected and embraced all beliefs. My initial awareness of a lack of representation in literature happened w…
Generational Cohorts: Applying Gen Z Insights to Your Writing
If your contemporary fiction features teens and young adults, and you’re part of an older generation, you may benefit from insights into Gen Z.
Here, we’ll define current generations (specifically in the U.S.), what makes each unique, and how that can relate to your characters.
As with all generational insights, it’s important not to stereotype, or lump all people within a generation together. …