Category Archives: Story Elements

How to Build a Coming of Age Arc

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Donna Maloy, Author

Some of the most famous books ever written have been about finding oneself while on the journey to adulthood. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee The Giver by Lois Lowry A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith Lord … Continue reading →

Posted in Character arcs, Coming of Age stories, Coming of Age stories, Genre elements, Genre recipes, Interior life; interiority, Plotting, Young adults | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Writing Swordfights

Posted on March 26, 2015 by Donna Maloy, Author

Today I saw a terrific post on writing swordfights over at Book Wars (“unadulterated fangirling of children’s books, authors, and bookstores”). It made me recall the two semesters I took fencing in college and the aching, burning thigh muscles that … Continue reading →

Posted in Action, Swordfights, Writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Monday Advice from Editors and Agents: Develop Your Voice

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Donna Maloy, Author

What Every Agent Wants “…stories, written with an unforgettable voice.” (Amanda Leuck, Spencerhill Associates) “…stories with a strong voice.” (Danielle Burby, HSG) “…an engaging voice.” (Patricia Nelson, Marsal Lyon Agency) “Definitely a voice. Everything else we can work with but a … Continue reading →

Posted in Voice, Voice, Voice | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Guest Post: 5 Ways to Enhance Your Setting

Posted on November 29, 2014 by Donna Maloy, Author

An English Instructor for Harrisburg Area Community College’s Virtual Learning program, Tamara Girardi holds a PhD in English from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Letters in Creative Writing from the University of St. Andrews. Her YA fantasy … Continue reading →

Posted in Interaction with Setting, Setting, Setting | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Backstory: Putting your world in context

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Donna Maloy, Author

Context: the set of circumstances or facts that surround a particular event, situation, etc. Context can give us clues to the meaning of an unfamiliar word, the emotion behind a friend’s reaction, the point of a political slogan. The word … Continue reading →

Posted in Backstory, Backstory | 2 Comments