Flash Tip: You Only Get Two
Alida discusses pet words and how they can damage your prose. The answer? Kill them. Kill them all…but two.
SWRT 9: Story Ideas
Where do story idea’s come from? Can you cultivate ideas or do you have to wait for inspiration? We talk about travel, dreams, visions and how the writing process truly is one of discovery. Do you need an idea in order to write? And is creativity a limited well or a muscle you can whip into shape? What if someone else steals your ideas? You will be surprised where some of our inspiration comes from!
Hooks & Endnotes
This week, Alida discusses the common problems of writing past your hooks & killing your endnotes. Not sure what a hook is or why you need one? Watch & learn!
SWRT 8: Active Protagonists
What is agency? And how do you keep your protagonist active? Do coincidences and natural disasters take away character agency? What is they try/fail cycle and what does Alida have against it? What is the difference between a reaction and a response? When should you plan your characters agency? And how do you handle reaction scenes? In the end just ask yourself: “did my character lose a hand?”. If he did, then you have a pretty good chance – he’s active!
Going Up? Stakes & Tension
In this week’s Word Essential 60 Second Writing Tip, Alida defines stakes and tension. She explains how they work together to affect both your character and your reader.
I'm Alida
I help people express their gifts to the world.
I do not believe in formulas. I believe that the stories we are compelled to tell the world make demands on us, and it is our privilege to meet those demands in order to reach the most people in the most authentic and compelling way possible.
