Kathryn A. Frazier
Your Story. Your voice. the best it can be.
Category: character development
The N-word: Is it ever OK to say? Plus NaNoWriMo editing update
Hola, Writer Peeps! What do you think? Can I say the N-word and other “bad” words in a historical context? Or are some words just not acceptable ever? As an example of non-acceptance, my husband Frazierhead and I went to a family’s home for…
How to Write Better Dialogue
Each of your characters should say what only that particular character would say, if he had all day to think about it first. A great example of this rule is the TV show M*A*S*H…
Following My Bliss into 2016
Reflecting on the past year in my glass-half-empty way, I gave a nod to all the happy events with a smile, then replayed and agonized over every misstep, mistake, and misunderstanding. That’s healthy, right?
Writing Emotions, Part 2: When ‘Show, Don’t Tell’ Goes Bad
All serious writers know the adage, “Show, don’t tell.” Sometimes, though, even good writers with great stories go off track when they try to show, instead of tell, emotion. I’m a copy editor. I’ve seen things. Bad things. Things you don’t want your readers to see.
The Mechanics of Writing Emotion
In order for readers to care about your story, they need to care about your characters. Even if your writing is more story-driven than character-driven, readers need to understand your characters, and to feel the emotions that your characters feel. As a copy editor,…
