One of the most reliable ways to capture a reader’s attention from the very first line of your manuscript is to show a character doing something unusual. Not necessarily dangerous or dramatic, but unusual enough to make the reader pause and ask a simple question: Why...

Many writers I consult with believe that their greatest struggle, their most common problem, is time. They worry about deadlines, how long research will take, unfinished manuscripts they wish they had already completed, future success, and past mistakes that haunt...

For the Grits 4 cups chicken stock 1 cup whole milk 1 cup stone-ground grits (quick grits work if needed) 1.5 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese 2 tablespoons salted butter .5 tsp black pepper 1 tsp salt For the Shrimp 2.5-pound shrimp, peeled, deveined, and detailed...

One of the most valuable assets a writer can develop is a recognizable voice. Not a style alone, not vocabulary, but a voice. Voice is the presence readers feel when they encounter a piece of writing. Included in voice are tone, rhythm, attitude, and a unique world...

Many writers dream of seeing their work adapted into film, and, honestly, after working in the film industry for many years, I can attest that book writers are more likely to see their work produced in Hollywood than screenwriters. It’s understandable to want to see...