Category Archives: writing craft

Short Stories Versus Novels

Posted on October 13, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

1. Do you think that some writers are inherently “short story writers” and others are inherently “novel writers”? 2. If you believe that’s true, are the writers of one form incapable of writing the other to a base level of … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, writing craft | 9 Comments

An Experiment in Second-Person Present

Posted on October 4, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

This is an old essay I unearthed from the depths of my laptop. # Point of view and tense have a dramatic effect on a story’s tone. The following excerpt comes from the first typed draft of my short story … Continue reading →

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Finish It. That’s All.

Posted on September 29, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Sometimes I think there’s only one piece of writing advice. “Finish it.” Finish the novel, finish the short story, finish something and then edit it or move on to the next thing and learn something new. I don’t care if … Continue reading →

Posted in writing, writing craft, writing process | 2 Comments

Lauren Dane Guest Post – Worldbuilding and Characterization

Posted on August 31, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Please welcome my guest, Lauren Dane! # Worldbuilding and Characterization The first book I wrote was a paranormal. I loved the freedom of building worlds. They were my rules, my world, the characters did what I told them to. Of … Continue reading →

Posted in guest, sf/f, writing craft | 22 Comments

Caroline Stevermer Guest Post – Digging for the Metaphor

Posted on August 24, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Please welcome my guest, Caroline Stevermer! # I’m Caroline Stevermer. In addition to A College of Magics and A Scholar of Magics, both available from Tor’s Starscape imprint, I’ve collaborated with Patricia C. Wrede on Sorcery and Cecilia, The Grand … Continue reading →

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Fabricating a Plot-Generating World

Posted on August 10, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

The novel I’m currently writing for Harlequin Spice, tentatively titled The Duke and The Pirate Queen, is a sequel to my first book for the line, titled The Duchess, Her Maid, The Groom & Their Lover. The books are set … Continue reading →

Posted in pirates, sf/f, the duke, writing craft, writing process | 1 Comment

Digesting Critique

Posted on July 17, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

I have a rule for myself. After I’ve attended my writers’ workshop and had a manuscript critiqued, I don’t work on that manuscript for at least a day or so, more sometimes. It might be tempting to go home and … Continue reading →

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Dissecting Critique, Dissecting Manuscripts

Posted on July 16, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Currently, I’m working on my third novel for Harlequin Spice, tentatively titled The Duke and The Pirate Queen. I’m about a third of the way through the first draft. I gave the first few chapters to my longtime writers’ workshop, … Continue reading →

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Tate Hallaway Guest Post – "If You Built It…"

Posted on July 13, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Please welcome my guest, Tate Hallaway! If You Built It… When Victoria asked me to write about world-building, I was stymied. What world-building? I didn’t invent Madison, Wisconsin, after all. It’s just this place, you know? I was particularly baffled … Continue reading →

Posted in guest, paranormal, writing craft | 2 Comments

Food in Fiction

Posted on June 24, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

I like to put food in my fiction. First of all, people eat. What they eat can say a lot about their character, and about the world in which they live, and about their interactions with other characters. Does Oscar … Continue reading →

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