By Janice Hardy If you can’t explain why a scene exists, you probably shouldn’t write it Writers ask a lot of questions while drafting a...

By Janice Hardy Sometimes really great advice is anything but helpful. If I took a poll for the most common writing advice, “start with the ...

By Janice Hardy Are you too nice to your characters?  Do you love your characters? Do you wish nothing bad would ever happen to the...

By Janice Hardy A good story is more than a series of things that happen. It's all about the cause and effect. Way back in 2012,...

By Janice Hardy A great scene is a lot like a great meal.  Maybe it's because I'm married to a guy who loves to cook, but I think of...

By Janice Hardy How to spot and fix those sneaky repetitions that weaken your prose. Aside from a great one liner, a declaration of love...

By Janice Hardy Unique, stand-out characters have unique, stand-out voices, so it's important to consider how every character in you...

By Janice Hardy The opening scene of a novel walks a fine line between piquing curiosity and confusing the reader.  Opening scenes are und...

By Janice  Hardy Tension isn’t about what’s happening—it’s about what might happen next. Great stories keep us on the edge of our seats, b...

By Janice Hardy One of the more common reasons why a story isn't working is the lack of a strong conflict. Without conflict there i...