Category Archives: story

Thrill Ride: Nine Questions for Jump-Starting a Novel

Posted on September 11, 2014 by SharonJoss

Here another useful tool I use when I’m dancing around, trying to find my plot. I find that once I’m able to answer the following 9 questions, the story has pretty well coalesced and I’m ready to start outlining and/or … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014, character development, developing plot, extraordinary, Getting Into Character, goals, hook, interesting characters, jump-start, making stuff up, novel, opening scene, Openings, plot threads, Sharon Joss, Starting a novel, story, story concept, structure | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Feathersight and Inspiration

Posted on June 20, 2014 by SharonJoss

One of my Beloved Sisters, a biologist, told me once that there are two kinds of people in this world: feather finders, and everyone else. She says feather finders cannot help themselves—they find feathers wherever they go. I don’t know if … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014, extraordinary, family, fantasy, Feather, fiction, idea, ideas, images, in the beginning, inspiration, magic, omens, Sharon Joss, story, story ideas, story prompt, synchronicity, writer, writers write, writing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Turning Points

Posted on March 25, 2013 by SharonJoss

As I mentioned earlier, I attended a Robert McKee ‘Story’ seminar this month.  Although his focus was geared toward screen writers, many of his ideas work for the novelist as well.  Fundamentally, McKee insists that every story is a series of choices … Continue reading →

Posted in character, pivot points, Robert McKee, scenes, story, turning points | Leave a comment

Subtext: It’s Always There

Posted on March 12, 2013 by SharonJoss

I’m back from Los Angeles, where I spent four intensive days in a Robert McKee ‘Story’ seminar.  Even though I’ve read his book (twice), the live lecture shook loose some new-to-me concepts which I plan to incorporate into my current … Continue reading →

Posted in Casablanca, emotion, Robert McKee, scene, seminar, story, subtext, writer | Leave a comment

The Magic Word

Posted on November 11, 2012 by SharonJoss

I’m up in lovely, lively Bellevue Washington this week, attending a Story Masters seminar with Christopher Vogler, James Scott Bell, and Donald Maass.  All three men have decades of experience in the practice and theory of writing, all are best-selling … Continue reading →

Posted in Christopher Vogel, Donald Maass, James Scott Bell, plot. structure, story, Story Masters, writing | Leave a comment

What’s Your Superpower? What’s Your Kryptonite?

Posted on September 16, 2012 by SharonJoss

I’m back from a week-long Novel Re-Writing Workshop taught by David Farland.  I was one of eight students in the class, and we spent at least two hours a day critiquing each other’s work.  We’d each submitted the first 20 pages … Continue reading →

Posted in character, David Farland, FATE, jazz, kryptonite, plot, story, super-power, tools, workshop, writer | Leave a comment

Bad Hair Days

Posted on January 31, 2012 by SharonJoss

There are days when it certainly seems as if the universe is conspiring against the working writer.  I’m not paranoid, but the last several days have been filled with trips (3) to the vet for regular inoculations, emails from old … Continue reading →

Posted in bad hair days, Crafting Scenes, fantasy, revisions, story, writer | Leave a comment