A CRITIQUE HERE, A CRITIQUE THERE

My writer/published author friend, Deb Tompkins has critiqued many writing sessions as well as being a contest judge. To learn more about Deb and her books, log on to: www.debhorsedesigns.com.

Below Deb shares some of her tips and a few writing mistakes of the many entries that crossed her path:

1.) If you are lucky enough to have your characters talk to you....listen! Don't try to force them to do things out of character or bend them to fit the plot. If this problem arises, you either need to add a different character or use a different storyline.

2.) Beware of your timeline in regard to elapsed hours, as well as changes in light and season.

3.) Research! Often a dirty word. I'm not fond of it myself. But some things can't be faked and you will annoy  the reader if you get it wrong. For example, if your story is about cowboys and horses, getting information from the local hack at a boarding barn isn't going to be  the correct research for writing about a cattle drive. That would be like asking a person who races bikes to supply you with info for a story about the Indy 500.

4.) If your plot isn't moving you can call it "writer's block", but most likely it is because of a lack of information. Try reviewing the "facts" to find where the gaps are. Can you produce a complete listing on each character's physical and mental background or experiences? Could you draw a map of the story's area? Do you know all the high and low spots of the plot? Who is motivated to do what, and why?