The Deep Thrill

The Deep Thrill

Mystery. Thriller. Romance. Science Fiction. Horror. The publishing industry uses these labels for what are called “genre” novels. Literary critics often dismiss genre novels as lightweight, even trivial. But are they? After all, it can be argued that even classic...
The Writer: Body and Soul

The Writer: Body and Soul

I was delighted by the many replies I received to my article a while ago on Why Writing is Good for the Soul. There was enthusiastic agreement about the joy of tapping into that transcendent “zone” where the currents of creation flow. However, although we...
5 Questions Writers Ask

5 Questions Writers Ask

When I mentor writers, the same questions come up quite regularly. So let me share with you five questions I’m asked most often, and my answers. 1. What’s the difference between a story’s “hook” and its “inciting incident”? A story’s “hook” is simply its opening...
Your Story’s Pacing: The Goldilocks Principle

Your Story’s Pacing: The Goldilocks Principle

(Painting: Katharine Pyle) A writer sent me this intriguing question: “Barbara, I’m told my writing is too fast paced. How do I slow it? – Robert L.” It’s an ironic predicament because so often a novel is praised for its fast pace. A thriller, for example, or a...
Only Your Writer Friends Understand

Only Your Writer Friends Understand

My dear friend Laurie recently fell and broke a bone in her right hand. That’s a nasty experience for anyone, but especially Laurie because she’s an artist – a right-handed one! She can’t paint for at least six weeks. I called her to sympathize and offer to help in...