April Davila - Author
A few years ago a dear friend told me about how, when she knows she's going to travel to a place, she likes to get novels that are set in that place and read them before, during, and after the trip. I couldn't believe I had never thought of that. … [Continue reading] about Fiction Makes Travel More Delicious
I am embarrassed to admit that, eight years and countless drafts into writing my first novel, I finally came to truly understand a piece of writing advice I had heard countless times: Make your characters want something. Seriously, I thought? I'm … [Continue reading] about Make Your Characters Want Something
Today we wrap up my little 3-part series on writing flashbacks. In Part 1 we talked about why to use flashbacks (and why not). In Part 2 we talked about the differences between flashbacks and memories. Today I want to talk through some of the nuts … [Continue reading] about Writing Flashbacks
This week, for the second installment of my 3-part series on flashback, we're going to talk a little about how we give our characters backstory. (Click here to read Part 1: Flashbacks: Why Use Them?) The two main tools at our disposal as authors are … [Continue reading] about Flashback vs Memory
Flashbacks can be a powerful tool in fiction writing, but they can also be overused and distracting. As a writer, it's important to understand why to use flashbacks and how to write them effectively. There's a lot to cover here, so I'm breaking it … [Continue reading] about Flashbacks Part 1: Why Use Them?
Writing is a profession that can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be incredibly uncertain. There are times when it feels like everything is going according to plan, and other times when nothing seems to be going right. As an aspiring writer, … [Continue reading] about Dealing With Uncertainty
When we, as writers, set our expectations too high, it can create a sense of pressure and anxiety that can be paralyzing. I have found this to be true on the grand scale as well as in quieter, more nuanced ways (and it's one of the many things I … [Continue reading] about Check Your Expectations