November 2009

Blah, Blah, Blah

by John Robert Marlow
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Blah, Blah, Blah: Overdescription, Exposition, and Stage Direction
by John Robert Marlow

THE BLAHS

Have you ever attended a lecture, or sat in a classroom, or watched a video where the speaker droned endlessly on about what should have been an interesting topic? After a while, the eyes and ears glaze over, and all you really hear is “Blah blah blah…” Don’t let that happen to your writing…

Coming to a Bad End

by John Robert Marlow
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Coming to a Bad End: Rabbit-Hats, Cliffbangers, and Other Cheats
by John Robert Marlow

Few things in life are worse than a bad story. One of them is a good story with a bad ending. At least with the bad story, it’s pretty clear what you’re dealing with, often in the first few chapters. So you really can’t blame the writer when, despite numerous warning signs, you slog all the way to page 347 before throwing in the towel. In a sense, you knew what you were getting into.

Snucking Threw the Poring Reign (Part 2)

by John Robert Marlow
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Snucking Threw the Poring Reign: Mechanical Errors in Writing (Part Two)
by John Robert Marlow

As mentioned in Part One, writing mechanics are dull, but essential—like checking the oil and brake fluid when you’d rather be cruising down the coast. You can’t do one without keeping an eye on the other. So let’s take a look at another batch of common mechanical errors…

Snucking Threw the Poring Reign (Part One)

by John Robert Marlow
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Snucking Threw the Poring Reign: Mechanical Errors in Writing (Part One)
by John Robert Marlow

“Mechanical errors” have to do with the nuts and bolts of writing. If concept is your flashy car, plot the engine, characters the driver and passengers—then story mechanics are the fasteners holding your engine together. They’re not exciting, glitzy, or personable, and no one pays them any mind. Until something goes wrong.