Planning Doesn’t Hinder Creativity, It Facilitates It
Crafting your novel in advance will free your imagination and enable you to produce a more satisfying read. Here’s why.
How to Write a Character Who is Nothing Like You
A couple of months ago I attended a reading and book signing with Terry McMillan, the best selling author of Waiting to Exhale. She discussed her upcoming book, Who Asked You?, which contains fifteen different points of view, including one of an eight-year-old boy. With that many POVs, there was no way ALL the characters could be autobiographical, so during the question and answer period I asked her—how did she get in the minds of characters so unlike herself?
Her answer can be boiled down to the following: you must (1) empathize, (2) listen to those around you, and (3) fill out a job application on behalf of your character.
How to Write Like Nicholas Sparks: 4 Tips
Last week I attended a conversation with Nicholas Sparks and local D.C. reporter at the historic Sixth and I. There was a lot of movie talk and name dropping (think, “oh that Ryan and Rachel”), but Sparks was an excellent story teller and engaging speaker. I learned a lot. I would say that the writing tips he shared were the highlight of the experience, but that would be the moment when a girl announced that she had “The Notebook” tattooed on her wrist.
Anyhoo, you want to write like Nicholas Sparks? Below are four tips on how to do it.
4 Tips to Write a Novel That Will Be Adapted Into a Movie
The other day I learned some exciting news. Beasts of No Nation—a novel written by my friend Uzo Iweala—is going to become a movie starring Idris Elba! The new development broke my 10-day streak of complete consumption by uncreative thoughts related to my day job.
Finally, I was inspired!
What if, one day I not only completed my novel—but then it became a movie?! Shonda Rhimes could write the script and I could make the career of an up and coming actress when she is cast as my protagonist. But how would I do it? To answer that question, I conducted some research. Below, my friends, are the steps to writing a novel that will one day become a movie:
