The Writers Chat Room

Author: Sally Franklin Christie

  • Goal Setting

    I admit I am not good at long term goals but I am pretty good at breaking things into steps. Each step leads to another and if I celebrate each step I will eventually get to the first floor landing.

  • He Said, She Said

    What makes dialogue believable? Strong dialogue often makes the difference between stories that catch an agent or editor’s eye and those that don’t. You want your dialogue to be among the best, which means you need it to be believable. Join us on Wednesday and we discuss 5 TIPS ON WRITING DIALOGUE While you are […]

  • Settings

    Even if it only shows up in your notes there are some things to consider in your settings.

  • Plotting

    When I begin a short story or a novel I like to have a firm idea of the plot in my mind. Once my imagination is pre-loaded I flesh out characters and work through various outcomes. I do best when I have the rough draft of six major scenes. If I do not know some key things going into a story I usually fail to connect enough to finish it.

  • Interviewing Characters

    The Interview often unlocks a story. Just the simple ‘what’s up?’ is enough to get things started again. You may discover your ‘helper’ character is clueless about your ‘main’ character’s motives. Your ‘antagonist’ may be blissfully unaware of the ‘protagonist’s’ intentions.