7 tips to tighten the saggy middle of your story and keep readers engaged

October 28, 2023 Helena Fairfax 0

Another month, another writers’ Round Robin. And this month our topic is a question many novel writers have grappled with at some point. How do you fix a saggy middle? Imagine you’re a writer with a killer opening. You spend the next few chapters setting up your characters and the premise of the novel. You… Continue reading 7 tips to tighten the saggy middle of your story and keep readers engaged

#Writetip: Seven steps for creating a strong character arc in your romance novel

July 22, 2023 Helena Fairfax 0

Another month, and another authors’ Round Robin. This month the topic has been set by author Skye Taylor How important is character arc to your stories and how does it tie in to the plot or story arc? I write and edit romance novels. These novels are character-driven rather than plot-driven, and so for me… Continue reading #Writetip: Seven steps for creating a strong character arc in your romance novel

Appearance is everything – or is it? How much character description should a writer give?

September 24, 2022 Helena Fairfax 0

Another month, another authors’ Round Robin. And another through-provoking question in our writers’ group… What do you define in your writing about your characters and what do you leave to the reader’s intuition? Is there anything you never tell about a character? There’s a LOT to these questions but they got me thinking in particular… Continue reading Appearance is everything – or is it? How much character description should a writer give?

Making Readers Care: 9 Tips on Crafting Compelling Characters

July 31, 2022 Helena Fairfax 0

This month’s authors’ Round Robin is all about character, and the inspiration for the topic comes from author Connie Vines. Jane Eyre, James Bond, Harry Potter, Fagin, Bridget Jones and Anne of Green Gables – human beings are always interested in the story of other human beings, and we remember the characters in a story… Continue reading Making Readers Care: 9 Tips on Crafting Compelling Characters