Sandy Vaile's Blog, page 2
March 29, 2023
How Fearless Prose Supports Environmental Sustainability
Author: Sandy Vaile How is the environment relevant to fiction coaching? When you think fiction coach, your mind probably doesn't automatically leap to environmental sustainability, does it? I have to admit that I hadn't considered how my own environmental beliefs might support business efficiency and values either.
But last night I attended a fantastic Southern Business Networking and Mentoring event in McLaren Vale, and learnt how businesses can become more environmentally sustainable by imp...
But last night I attended a fantastic Southern Business Networking and Mentoring event in McLaren Vale, and learnt how businesses can become more environmentally sustainable by imp...
March 15, 2023
Three Characters Walked Into a Bar - Exercise
Character Development Exercise Purpose This exercise has been designed to help you see your main characters in a different light, giving you a deeper understanding of who they are, what drives them and how they would react in certain situations. 
Exercise #1
Put your main character in any location, whether it's relevant to your current story or not.
E.g. a cafe, shop, library, street or party.
#2
Add two other characters, even if they don't have their own Point of View in your story....
Exercise #1Put your main character in any location, whether it's relevant to your current story or not.
E.g. a cafe, shop, library, street or party.
#2
Add two other characters, even if they don't have their own Point of View in your story....
March 7, 2023
Research: How far will fiction authors go for facts?
ܳٳǰ:Sandy Vaile
Previously published on the Writers In The Storm blog, August 2022.
One of the fastest ways to alienate readers is to get your facts wrong, which can feel like an overwhelming responsibility when writing a story. But how far would you go to bring authenticity and interesting elements into your story? Do You Need to Research for all Fiction Stories? If you’re writing anything longer than a short story, you are bound to need to do some .
I’m going to demonstrate how re...
Previously published on the Writers In The Storm blog, August 2022.
One of the fastest ways to alienate readers is to get your facts wrong, which can feel like an overwhelming responsibility when writing a story. But how far would you go to bring authenticity and interesting elements into your story? Do You Need to Research for all Fiction Stories? If you’re writing anything longer than a short story, you are bound to need to do some .
I’m going to demonstrate how re...
February 8, 2023
One Simple Principle Will Clarify Showing For Good
ܳٳǰ:Sandy Vaile
Previously published by Romance Writers of Australia, Hearts Talk ezine, August 2022
There is one simple principle that lays the foundation for effortless showing in fiction. A principle from which all the other showing techniques are built and, once put into practice, triggers momentum that carries characters through the story organically.
That principle is: Put characters in motion.
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “show don’t tell�. It’s bandied around writing circles like sco...
Previously published by Romance Writers of Australia, Hearts Talk ezine, August 2022
There is one simple principle that lays the foundation for effortless showing in fiction. A principle from which all the other showing techniques are built and, once put into practice, triggers momentum that carries characters through the story organically.
That principle is: Put characters in motion.
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “show don’t tell�. It’s bandied around writing circles like sco...
December 26, 2022
Why Limited Point of View Will Make You a Better Writer
Author: Sandy Vaile
This article was first published on the Margie Lawson blog on 31/05/22.
The average attention span of readers is decreasing (just 8 seconds online, according to research by San Jose University), which is why it’s so important for authors to engage them the moment they step onto the page, so as to speak. Point of View (POV) is one of the techniques we can use to immerse readers in our story world, but it is also a frequently misconstrued and misused concept.
It causes all kinds o...
This article was first published on the Margie Lawson blog on 31/05/22.
The average attention span of readers is decreasing (just 8 seconds online, according to research by San Jose University), which is why it’s so important for authors to engage them the moment they step onto the page, so as to speak. Point of View (POV) is one of the techniques we can use to immerse readers in our story world, but it is also a frequently misconstrued and misused concept.
It causes all kinds o...
November 21, 2022
Four Elements You Need For A Workable Novel
Every second person I speak to believes they’ve “got a novel in them�. It’s getting it out and onto the page that’s the tricky part!
Only about 3% of people who actually start writing a book, will ever finish it. Fewer still end up with a story that works.
So, how can you be in the minority of fiction authors who end up with a story that hits all the marks publishers and readers are looking for?
In my experience, it doesn’t matter when or how much you like to plan your stories, so long as you na...
Only about 3% of people who actually start writing a book, will ever finish it. Fewer still end up with a story that works.
So, how can you be in the minority of fiction authors who end up with a story that hits all the marks publishers and readers are looking for?
In my experience, it doesn’t matter when or how much you like to plan your stories, so long as you na...
October 30, 2022
Which Character Deserves Their Own Point of View?
Why POV is important to your novel Point of View (POV) characters determine the focus of a story, which is why the decision shouldn’t be taken lightly. It’s not just about who is telling the story but how they are the best character to convey information in an interesting and believable way.
Whether you decide to use first-person, third-person limited or omniscient POV, you will still have to decide which character is going to communicate the story to readers.
But how?
Any character who is give...
Whether you decide to use first-person, third-person limited or omniscient POV, you will still have to decide which character is going to communicate the story to readers.
But how?
Any character who is give...
September 27, 2022
Why Romance Readers Love Third Person POV
Why limited third person POV is the most common There are various options when it comes to choosing the right Point of View (POV) for your romance story and they each have benefits and drawbacks.The Omniscient narrator was popular 100 years ago.First Person is favoured for a deep connection between the reader and main character.But Limited Third Person is the most common.
But why?
�
The most obvious reason is, romances are about two people falling in love (no matter how many demons, villains or pa...
But why?
�
The most obvious reason is, romances are about two people falling in love (no matter how many demons, villains or pa...
August 24, 2022
Withholding Too Much Information Kills Story Tension
The best way to add more tension to a story Regardless of the length or genre of a story, creating tension is essential to holding readers' attention.
But what is the best way to add more tension to a story?
Often I see aspiring authors withholding information in an effort to be vague and cryptic, which only serves to frustrate readers instead of engage them. Perhaps surprisingly, it is the act of proving information to the reader � be it in the right place and quantity � that makes them curious ...
But what is the best way to add more tension to a story?
Often I see aspiring authors withholding information in an effort to be vague and cryptic, which only serves to frustrate readers instead of engage them. Perhaps surprisingly, it is the act of proving information to the reader � be it in the right place and quantity � that makes them curious ...
July 20, 2022
Play with Limited Third Person POV
Purpose The purpose of these exercises is to explore how it feels to write using Third Person Limited Point of View (POV).�
This POV option restricts you to one character’s heart and mind at a time, which gives readers time to engage deeply with that character’s desires and struggles.
Choose one character whose POV you will explore. Ideally, it will be the character with the most to lose in the scene, so you can fully immerse readers in the emotional drama.
Write a scene showi...
