Fiction Writing Articles

by Ardath Albee

The ABC Story - When you're stumped, this is a good exercise to loosen up and get going.

Dialogue in Fiction is Not Real - It just feels that way. See the difference.

Real Time and Gaping Holes - A book usually covers a lot of time in a few pages. Find out how to make it real.

Trouble vs. Conflict - Trouble is related to circumstances. Conflict is something that blocks a character from achieving a story goal. Do you know the difference between the two?

Critiquing Scenes - You can't write in a bubble. But, critiquing is a talent. You cannot just tell someone their "baby" is ugly. You need to think about critiquing from a helpful, value-add standpoint. Here are some tips.

Developing a Story - If you've wondered where stories come from and how to flesh out an idea into a story, here's how I go about making it happen.