LV DitchkusMay 172 minPlot holes – what are they, and how to find themWhen there’s inconsistency in your story OR individuals act out of character, you’ve got a plot hole that needs to be fixed. Here’s a few...
LV DitchkusJan 62 minBreaks: Help or Hindrance?Some authors write every day. Others (like me) write a minimum number of hours per week. When I look back at my logged hours, I see very...
LV DitchkusSep 23, 20212 minHow to judge a book by its coverSo you’ve finished writing the best book on the planet. Now it’s time to design a cover that potential readers can’t resist. Besides the...
LV DitchkusAug 24, 20213 minExceptional novel versus a great one - how to pick the best?As a judge for the upcoming Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC), my team and I will be reviewing about 60 books (out of...
LV DitchkusMay 3, 20211 minGardening and writingFor those who love to plant flowers in the spring, there is nothing like cleaning out the beds and putting new plants into the soil. The...
LV DitchkusMar 18, 20212 minSome middles have no problemsIn our 40s, some people have a mid-life crisis and dwell on lost youth to the detriment of enjoying their remaining years. Those who...
LV DitchkusJan 25, 20213 minWriting one piece at a time for a series Many authors work for years on a novel they never finish. To them, the idea of writing a book series might seem unfathomable. But if...
LV DitchkusDec 16, 20201 minFugitive Ideas – Don’t let them get awayAsk any writer what one of their greatest frustrations are, and they will have a long list. However, that list will most likely...
LV DitchkusOct 24, 20202 minLetting your baby restDid you know wild elephants average just 2 hours of sleep a night? Thankfully, humans typically get more sleep than that. But suffice it...
LV DitchkusSep 1, 20201 minCritique Groups – Do you need to join one?Assume you’ve written the perfect novel, and you’d like to start looking for an agent or consider self-publishing. How do you know your...
LV DitchkusJul 28, 20202 minWhy contribute to an anthology?First off, what is an anthology? An anthology is a published collection of short stories or poems. It can be written by different authors...
LV DitchkusJun 24, 20202 minIs writing a novel in a month for everyone?If you’ve never heard of NaNoWriMo (https://nanowrimo.org), you might be amazed or in awe of what it does. This organization supports the...
LV DitchkusMay 5, 20201 minIs Bigfoot the next big thing?Check out the Speculative Fiction Writers Group post from L.V. Ditchkus: https://specficwriters.com/is-sasquatch-the-next-big-thing/
LV DitchkusMar 14, 20202 minHow to approach self-editingAs a new writer, I loved developing the first draft. My creative juices flowed, and new ideas gave me goosebumps. The editing process...
LV DitchkusFeb 4, 20201 minWhat makes a good book?Everyone has ideas about what they are looking for in a good book. Here’s what I want: 1) Characters who are believable and make me want...
LV DitchkusNov 18, 20192 minShort Stories versus the Novel Of course, the primary point is that size matters. While there are a variety of views on how many words are in each, in my opinion, short...
LV DitchkusOct 17, 20192 minTraditional versus self-publishing journeyThe decision an aspiring author makes when choosing between the traditional and self-publishing routes can be a game-changer – both for...
LV DitchkusAug 17, 20193 minThe PitchIn a couple of weeks, I will attend a major writers’ conference. So it’s time to tune-up my pitch (aka logline). I’ve been reading the...
LV DitchkusJul 12, 20192 minWho are ‘your people’?Some view writing as a solo journey, but many, including myself, rely on others to help improve their craft and learn about what’s...
LV DitchkusJun 7, 20191 minAbout rules....Being a former accountant and banking supervisor, I understand the importance of rules. There are boatloads of rules in writing. Not just...