“If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” ― Toni Morrison
Last week I wrote a post about Mary Sues and why people write them. Today, I want to give you some unsolicited pointers on how to avoid writing a Mary Sue, or even a Gary Stu (the male equivalent). Enjoy! Start with a real person. While it may not be a good idea to base a… Continue reading How to Mary Sue Proof Your Characters
For some people creating new worlds is easy. For others it's a bit more difficult. Here are a few things I've learned from experience: Write more information about this world than you will use in the story. Get out a notebook and write down as much about this world as you can: the landscapes, the… Continue reading The Short Guide to World-Building for Noobs
Hello, men. I am a woman. Today I am going to give you some tips on how to write female characters. Keep in mind that women are human beings and no woman is exactly the same as another. However, I'm hoping to give you at least a general idea of how to pull off a… Continue reading How to Write Women: a Guide for Men
The Crooked Pen 