Shhh! 3 Things Silent Movies Can Teach us About Storytelling

By Janice Hardy

You can learn a lot from the classics. 

My husband and I are big silent movie fans (well, fans of movies in general, really). But it's especially interesting to watch movies that are 90 to 100 years old, and even more interesting to see how storytelling hasn't changed all that much in all those years. What worked back in 1920 still works today.

What's even more fun, is that the first time many of the classic sight gags were done were in silent movies. These folks created them. 

Filmed in 1926, the Buster Keaton film, The General, is an excellent example of tight plotting and storyboarding. Nothing is wasted in this film. If you see a detail on screen, you can be sure it'll come into play at some point. And the best part? It still surprises you. I can't tell you how often we laughed over something we should have seen coming.

That’s the secret of great storytelling. 

What's the Best Way to Tell (and Write) a Story?

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Storytelling is more than just well-written prose.

No matter what anyone tells you, there is no "right way to write." It’s a process that varies from writer to writer and even book to book. What works for one writer doesn't always work for another, and might even squash their ability to write at all.

Which really stinks if you’re just starting out and looking for the right path to take, or you’ve been struggling to develop your storytelling style and nothing seems to fit you. 

It's a pain for all of us, really, because even if we do have a process that works for us, there’s always that one story idea that doesn’t fit with how we usually write.

If any of this sounds familiar to you, take heart that you are not alone.

How Do You Write a Great Story? Go Hot, Go Deep

By Dario Ciriello, @Dario_Ciriello 

Part of The How They Do It Series

JH: Skimming the surface of your story might work for an early brainstorming session, but it won't get you the novel you really want. Dario Ciriello shares tips on how to dig deeper for a strong novel. 

Many years ago, the legendary, multiple award-winning editor of Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, Gardner Dozois, was telling my Clarion West class about the magazine’s slushpile. Once you got rid of the garbage, he said, you were left with quite a few publishable stories. The challenge then was finding the one that stood out from all the “not bad” ones, the story that achieved greatness and would resonate with readers. A few years later, when I had my own slushpile for the Panverse series of SFF novella anthologies I edited and published, I discovered he was absolutely right. And in the several years since, working as a freelance editor/copyeditor, I find the same to be true.

3 Ways to Make Your Writing Come Alive

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Quick—what’s your favorite book from your childhood?

The first novel I remember sweeping me away and capturing my imagination was The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I don’t remember how old I was, but probably around ten or so. It was magical, filled with adventure and mystery and characters I cared about. It’s a story I love to this day.

Other novels came after that—A Wrinkle in Time, The Black Stallion, Earth Times Two, The Haunted Cove, Trumpet of the Swans. All novels I loved as a child, and these were the first titles I thought of when writing this post. They’ve stayed with me for decades.

The best stories are the ones that come alive in a reader's imagination. They pull them into the story world and sweep them away in the struggles and dreams of the characters.

Taylor Swift’s Lyrical Storytelling Provides a Perfect Revision Checklist

By Sarah Skilton, @Sarah_Skilton

Part of the How They Do It Series

JH: Great writing advice can come from the unlikeliest of places--including song lyrics. Sarah Skilton shares how studying Taylor Swift lyrics can teach a writer a lot about good writing. 

Like Taylor Swift, Sarah Skilton is a genre-hopper! That is where all similarities end! Sarah is the author of two critically acclaimed young adult novels, Bruised and High & Dry, and was a 2018 Edgar awards judge. For adults, she's written a murder mystery, Club Deception, set in a fictional underground magic club; and a romantic comedy, Fame Adjacent, about a former child star on a mission to confront her famous castmates at a 25th reunion show. Writing with Sarvenaz Tash, she is the co-author of Ghosting: A Love Story, which was published in seven countries and six different languages, and which Kirkus called, "An energetic romance that would make Nora Ephron proud."

Sarah’s first novella, “Mind Games,” will appear in the 2021 rom-com anthology Summer in the City, alongside authors Lori Wilde and Priscilla Oliveras. There’s nothing like summer in Manhattan. The days are long and the nights are even longer. But when the lights go out on the city, fireworks explode...! Pre-order Summer in the City.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram| 

Take it away Sarah…

Story Rulez: Two Things Every Novel Needs to Do

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

There are a lot of rules in writing, but only two you really need to follow.

I'm a big fan of the story. If I had to choose between a great story and great writing, I'd take story every time, because without a great story, who cares about the writing? I've seen wonderfully written manuals, but that didn't make me want to curl up with them in front of a fire. 

I've gotten myself into some debates over which is more important to a new writer. Should they focus on improving their writing or their story?

Knowing the rules is important. Writing is a skill, and there's only so far you can go with raw talent. At some point, you'll need to know what you're doing. But I also think that no matter how good a writer you are, if you're not also a storyteller, you won't go that far either.

Most readers don't pick up a book because the author is technically skilled--they pick it up because it sounds like a good story.

The Story on Your Heart Is the Story Readers Want to Hear

By Bonnie Randall

Part of The How They Do It Series 

JH: There are a lot of reasons not to write that novel you're itching to write. Bonnie Randall shares a lot of reason why you should.

“I had this really cool dream sequence in my story, but…dream sequences will make an agent stop reading, so I can’t.”

“I have a prologue but all the writing articles say they’re a no. So I can’t keep it.”

“I have this amazing plot on my mind, but the characters are all overdone—so I can’t write it.”

“I’ve sketched out this beautiful book of schedules, budget planning, inspirational quotes and lists, but there are so many already on the market. So I can’t write mine.”

I follow many writers on social media, and over the last several weeks this theme—I want to, but I can’t—has recurred, in variant forms, again and again. So much, in fact, that I want to scream:

“WHO TOLD YOU THAT?!”

4 Ways to Write a Better Novel

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Writing a strong novel is about more than technical skills. It’s about storytelling.

I’d gather most writers started writing because they love to tell stories. Characters speak to them, worlds unfold in the their minds, and they see struggles to overcome problems and want to explore those problems. They want to share the amazing things they imagine.

Luckily, this is also why readers pick up a novel. They want to see what adventures we’ve dreamed up and what exciting tales we have to tell. They want to lose themselves in our worlds and characters same as we did.

When those two goals align, a book becomes magic. When they don’t, it sits unread and unappreciated on a shelf, or even a hard drive. And nobody wants that, least of all writers.

Just Another Day: Writing the "Slice of Life" Novel

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Some stories are more challenging to write, and crafting a slice of life tale is one of them. Here's an updated look at what makes or breaks a day in the life of a character novel.

I have an uncanny ability to read a lot of the same types of books over a short period of time with no intention of doing that. Maybe I'm just in the mood for that type of story then and pick up books that are similar.

Because of that, I often get interesting perspectives on what makes stories of a certain type work and why they didn't.

This happened a few years ago with several slice of life stories. The ones where the focus is more on a character's journey through a period of time, and not so much about that one big bad problem that needs to be resolved.

Slice if life stories can be a lot harder to pull off than your typical plot-driven novel, because character growth isn't all that exciting in and of itself. It's the results of that growth, and the struggle to achieve that growth within a particular situation that's intriguing.

Why a Well-Written Novel Can Still Stink

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

A writer can do everything “right” and still have a novel that doesn’t engage readers.

I recently finished a novel by an author I like. Their previous series was wonderful and I eagerly dived into the new one, expecting to enjoy yet another exciting tale. Instead, I found a technically well-done novel that left me flat. From the reviews I later peeked at online, I’m not the only one who felt this way.

It was sad, because this author went from “auto-buy” to “wait and see the reviews” with one so-so book. And it didn’t have to happen.

Taste vary, of course (which is why I’m not sharing the title), but the first series was wonderful for several reasons:

Character Alignment: How Authors Keep from Losing Their Minds

By Damon Suede, @DamonSuede

Part of the How They Do It Series

JH: Keeping all the moving parts of a story together can be rough. One detail gets forgotten or remembered incorrectly, and it can throw off an entire story arc. Luckily, Damon Suede visits the lecture hall today to share some tips and insights and keeping your characters and your stories in perfect alignment.

Damon grew up out-n-proud deep in the anus of right-wing America, and escaped as soon as it was legal. Though new to romance fiction, Damon has been writing for print, stage, and screen almost three decades and just released his first craft book: Verbalize, a practical guide to characterization and story craft. He’s won some awards, but counts his blessings more often: his amazing friends, his demented family, his beautiful husband, his loyal fans, and his silly, stern, seductive Muse who keeps whispering in his ear, year after year.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter |

Take it away Damon...

3 Ways to Improve Your Storytelling

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

This week's Refresher Friday takes another look at three ways to improve your storytelling. Enjoy!

My high school creative writing teacher had the best definition of story that I’ve ever seen.

A story is interesting people, solving interesting problems, in interesting ways.

The genius is in its simplicity. Interesting is subjective and open to so many possibilities, which allows for everyone to approach it in their own creative way. But the core idea is solid. People solving problems. At the heart of every story is a problem to be solved (the conflict).

To improve our storytelling skills, all we have to do it focus on the three things that make a story a story.

Turning Real Life Events Into Novels

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Last week, a reader emailed me a question about fictionalizing real life events and people. It’s a topic I don’t think I’ve actually discussed here before, and one worth diving into, as writers pull from the real world all the time. But there is a difference between inspiration from a writer’s life, and basing a novel on real events.

Great events and people tend to inspire stories. We can’t help but imagine the inner workings of a situation, the twists of a potential plot, and the reactions of the people involved. It’s only natural for us to want to take that spark and develop a story around it.

Whose Story is It?

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Some story ideas come to us through a character, so we know exactly who the story belongs to. It’s that person with a problem and we start our novels with that in mind. Other ideas are more conceptual or based on a situation, and we have the entire problem figured out before we know the best person to dump that problem on.

In these novels, it’s not uncommon for us to lose sight of whose story is it—or not decide that at all before we start writing it. We’re more interested in the premise than the people that premise affects.

Developing a Great Story in Three (or Four) Steps

By Chris Eboch, @Kris_Bock

Part of the How They Do It Series

JH: Plotting is one of my favorite writing things, and I'm always happy to hear how other writers approach it. Please welcome Chris Eboch to the lecture hall today to share her process and how she develops her stories.

Chris writes fiction and nonfiction for all ages, with 30+ traditionally published books for children. Her novels for ages nine and up include The Genie’s Gift, a middle eastern fantasy; The Eyes of Pharaoh, a mystery in ancient Egypt; The Well of Sacrifice, a Mayan adventure. Learn more at www.chriseboch.com or her Amazon page.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Indie Bound

Take it away Chris... 

Writers: Make it Cinematic

By Paige Owen, @PaigeOrwin

Part of the How They Do It Series

I love stories of all types, especially movies. While movies and novels are different mediums, we can learn a lot about great storytelling and how to develop a rich story world by watching how great filmmakers do it. Paige Orwin visits the lecture hall today to share some cinematic tips on "filming" our stories.

Paige’s debut novel, The Interminables, puts a new spin on the classic tale of an immortal mystery man teaming up with the ghost of a First World War surgeon to save what’s left of the world after the end of the world. It’s due to release this July from Angry Robot Books.

Website | Twitter

Take it away Paige...

What “The Intern” Can Teach Us About Keeping Our Story Promise

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

My husband and I watched the movie, The Intern, the other night. The first half was great—funny, sweet, unexpected. Then it veered off track and turned into a different movie. Not so funny. Not so sweet. Only unexpected in that it made you say, “Whaa? What happened?”

It forgot the story promise it made to its viewers.

Note: Spoilers ahead, as I can’t talk about why this is an issue without giving things away. But it won’t really spoil the ending, because sadly, the ending, spoiled the ending.

Seasonal Affect, Not Disorders

By Bonnie Randall 

Part of the How They Do It Series

It’s the holiday season and I’m kicking around an idea for a Christmas-themed short story to hang up on my blog (I like posting free fiction there, it gives me the illusion that I’m building my readership ;) ) but I’m reluctant because I prefer for my fiction to have wide appeal—so while I’m a fan of seasonal stories myself, I confess I’m reluctant to read a Christmas story outside of December. Or a Valentine’s romance if it isn’t February.

Writers--Do the Hard Thing

By James R. Tuck, @JamesTuckwriter

Part of the How They Do It Series

JH: Sometimes we run into a writing wall and we're too scared (or lazy) to scale it. We might see the right path leads over the wall and into the scary woods, but it feels like so much work to get there. Scary, uncertain, finger-breaking work. One of my favorite people, James Tuck, is here today to share some thoughts on this, and what to do when you hit that wall. And I'm delighted to announce that we'll be seeing a lot more of James, as he's just joined us as a monthly contributor.

James was born and raised in Georgia and grew up drawing and reading a steady helping of Robert E. Howard stories, Golden Age comics, and books he was far too young to be reading. Combined with a very Southern involvement in church and watching horror movies, this became the bedrock of his creativity. He became a tattoo artist, and now writes dark fantasy. He's the author of the Deacon Chalk: Occult Bounty Hunter series, a variety of short stories and novellas set in the same world (and some outside of it), and the editor of the Thunder on the Battlefield anthologies. His newest series (co-written with Debbie Viguie), is Robin Hood: Demon's Bane.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Indie Bound

Take it away James...

What Makes the Best Story?

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

There’s a comedian who says doing whatever makes the best story is the secret to life. In writing, it works in a similar way. Whatever provides the best story is usually the way to go.

The TV show Nashville, recently had a good example of this (Minor spoilers if you haven’t seen the season finale yet). We can apply the same technique to our own stories to develop stronger plots and bring out the inherent tension our stories already have.

All season, one of the main characters (Deacon) has been battling cancer. His only chance to survive is to receive a liver transplant, but his estranged sister (Beverly) refuses to help. Finally, in the season finale, she’s pushed into agreeing by Deacon’s fiancé (Rayna) and they go in for surgery.