Sarah’s Writing Tip of The Day


Hey guys!

I’m kicking off a new series on the blog today in which I’ll be sharing my best writing tips for aspiring novelists. Lots more to come here on the subject of writing (and so many more topics!), but for now, your tip:

People always ask me how I get my story and character ideas and my answer always boils down to one word: curiosity! Maybe this stems from my long career as a journalist where I was paid to ask questions and go deep, or maybe it’s just my natural inclination to learn more, and more, and more. In any case, curiosity has driven all of my novels. And here’s how it plays out in my day-to-day life: I’m always listening, observing, and … eavesdropping! That woman at the table next to yours who is sipping her pinot noir and staring off into space? That’s me, and I’m listening to your argument with your boyfriend while pretending to totally be interested in that spec on the far wall. That woman at the grocery store who is seemingly inspecting the artichokes? Yep, me again, listening to a mother speak to her eleven-year-old son about his deadbeat dad. All of it, everywhere, is the interesting real-life stuff that make characters pop off the page and make stories feel more three-dimensional. Try it! I promise, it leads to great material.

5 Comments
  • May 22, 2018
    reply
    Berna

    I like this text. ?

  • May 22, 2018
    reply
    Yana

    Thank you! I see a lot in common. Also like to observe other people and their true life stories))

  • May 22, 2018
    reply
    Nastia

    Wonderful as always!)

  • May 22, 2018
    reply
    Vigdis

    Thank you for writing tips. I hope many more will come.
    Can you write about how you choose conflicts, and perhaps show us your workplace at home?

  • May 22, 2018
    reply
    Jody

    Yes!!! I love this. I was in NYC last year eating lunch at a ‘ladies who lunch’ spot and the conversations were fascinating and definitely ‘plot inducing’. My ideas pop into my mind out of nowhere, as if they are begging to be told. . . It’s my poor discipline in actually sitting down to write that gets them stuck!! ??

POST A COMMENT

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.