Category Archives: Novels

Writing and Age

Posted on September 14, 2023 by knlistman

As writers get older and improve at their skill, they sometimes bemoan the lost years of youth—time when they had more energy and yet were not writing. There are excuses that we give ourselves. Getting an education, working to pay … Continue reading →

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How Monumental Should Fantasy Heroes Be?

Posted on August 10, 2023 by knlistman

Fantasy provides a kind of escapism for young adults (and even some older adults). Characters come from a less technological era, in which a teenager could be considered an adult capable of making all their own decisions. The popular fantasy … Continue reading →

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Everyday Fantasies

Posted on August 3, 2023 by knlistman

Years ago when I coached teams of graded school-aged children for Odyssey of the Mind, I learned about imagination in the psyche of the preadolescent child. Some children wanted to be conformists and preferred not to suggest ideas that were … Continue reading →

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Searching for a Quest

Posted on July 21, 2023 by knlistman

I first encountered Lord of the Rings while I was in high school and J.R.R. Tolkien was still alive. Like most people in the United States I had never heard of him before. However, my friends were enthused about a … Continue reading →

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Story with a View

Posted on June 9, 2023 by knlistman

When intriguing characters with challenging goals appear in my random daydreaming, my mind fastens on them as I imagine their life. I am flooded with decisions to make. Which events from the past formed this character? What frustrates them? What  … Continue reading →

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Name Dropping

Posted on May 18, 2023 by knlistman

Hamlet is often portrayed as a man dressed in medieval finery with a skull cradled in his hand. Many people assume that Hamlet recited his fateful soliloquy “To be or not to be…” as he stared at the skull. That’s … Continue reading →

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Allusions

Posted on May 11, 2023 by knlistman

The man awoke in an unrecognized ancient building. He attempts to leave, only to find doors lock and windows barred. Then, he discovers other people inside as bewildered as he is. They are all being held as prisoners. The only … Continue reading →

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Skip the Formula

Posted on April 6, 2023 by knlistman

At one point in time, 10 years ago to be more precise, I decided to write a romance. According to my critique group a romance is a genre that readers can’t get enough of and therefore an easy to market … Continue reading →

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The Superpower of Speaking Other Languages

Posted on March 30, 2023 by knlistman

I found a list helpful for writers wanting to avoid the dreaded Mary Sue/Marty Stu character.  If a protagonist had three or more of the traits that character had failed the test. One item that caught my attention was “Speaks … Continue reading →

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What Rules?

Posted on March 9, 2023 by knlistman

It would seem easier to be a writer after gaining some reputation or a devoted group of followers. But, at that point the writer has to make the decision, “Should I keep producing what readers expect of me or allow … Continue reading →

Posted in Characters, Creativity, Literary devices, Novels, Style and voice, Writer's resource, Writing trends | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment