Diana Stout MFA Ph.D. – screenwriter, author
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Category Archives: writing
Failures – Part I
This blog was originally published November 27, 2017, on my Only for the Brave blog, which is being eliminated as I decided to merge the two blogs. Because failure is an important part of succeeding for writers, I felt it was … Continue reading
Posted in Blogging, Failures, Inspiration, Motivation, writing
Tagged Blogging, Diana Stout, failure, writing
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Personal Traits and Deepening Characters
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group July question: What personal traits have you written into your character(s)? Personal Traits & Deepening Characters Currently writing a romance series of seven novellas, I’m starting the first draft of the fourth novella, Buried Hearts. … Continue reading
Down the Rabbit Hole a.k.a. Life’s Little Hiccups & Big Booms
I’m behind in my writing. Again. I wish I could say that I don’t know how it happens, but I do. While I accuse Life of sticking out its foot and tripping me so that I’ll look funny with arms … Continue reading
A New Year Means New Opportunities: But Wait It’s February Already!
Okay, I admit it, I’m a bit behind. But since there’s a meme on Facebook that says January was a practice month, that 2019 started with February, I’m on time! Because it is the new year, it’s time to talk … Continue reading
Posted in Goals, Inspiration, writing
Tagged Being lazy, blogs, calendar, David & Goliath, Determined Hearts, Diane Burton, edit, Goals, Grendel's Mother, historical, Maris Soule, Mid-Michigan Romance Writers of America, New Year, Norman Vincent Peale, republish, Romance Writers of America, setting goals, SMART goals, Tony Robbins, W.K.Kellogg Institute, Wayne Dyer, writing
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9 Tips to Creating Inspiration
Inspiration doesn’t just happen. Inspiration is the reaction of doing something else first. In all good stories, characters act and then react. In the same way, there are actions, you, as a writer, must act first. The inspiration will follow. … Continue reading
If My Characters Feel So Real, How Can They Be Imaginary?
My life as a writer has provided me many meetings—some fun and some strange. Fun meetings involve other writers, some best-selling authors, new authors, and many writes in between. Many have become friends. Other fun meetings involve readers. Their enthusiasm … Continue reading
Posted in Characters, Inspiration, writing
Tagged Characters, characters who scare you, fiction, writing
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When is a Book Ready for a Beta Reader?
I gave a presentation recently, “Self-Editing Made Easier,” to a group of writers who are at varying levels regarding their careers: some are new writers, just finishing the first draft of their first book; a few have multiple books out; … Continue reading
I’m not inspired to write…now, what do I do?
Because I’m on various writing forums, I hear new writers asking, How do I write when I’m not inspired? When I was a beginning writer, I wrote when inspired. At the time, I had a lot to say. My creative … Continue reading
Error-Free Writing
When I made the decision to leave academic teaching and become a full-time writer, I knew the days would be long. I had this vision that I would be writing new prose every day. Now that I’ve been at this … Continue reading
Posted in Errors when writing, Publishing books, writing
Tagged writing, writing errors
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