Characters who are absolutely sure about what they do, who plunge ahead without fear, are not that interesting. We don’t go through life that way. In reality, we have doubts just like everyone else. James Scott Bell More Quotes by James Scott Bell More Quotes From James Scott Bell Every hour you spend writing is an hour you don't spend worrying about your writing. James Scott Bell hoursworrywriting Status, worry and comparison are ways to madness, not victory. James Scott Bell victoryworryway My philosophy on writing books is that if you learn only one new thing, or even get a new take on something you already know, it's worth it. James Scott Bell writingphilosophybook A writing teacher once told me that the most successful movies and books were simple plots about complex characters. You should be able to articulate your concept in a couple of lines. James Scott Bell coupleteacherbook Many writers struggle with exposition in their novels. Often they heap it on in large chunks of straight narrative. Back story – what happens before the novel opens – is especially troublesome. How can we give the essentials and avoid a mere information drop? James Scott Bell strugglewritingcharacter In fact, one could argue that the skill of the fiction writer boils down to the ability to exploit intensity. James Scott Bell skillswritingfiction Superb historical romance, with a spiritual theme woven seamlessly throughout. I much enjoyed The Covered Deep and look forward to more from its author! James Scott Bell romancehistoricalspiritual Think of it as the Doorway of No Return. The feeling must be that your lead character, once she passes through, cannot go home again until the major problem of the plot is solved. James Scott Bell homecharacterthinking Structure is translation software for your imagination. James Scott Bell softwarestructureimagination The most important rule: Do not, I repeat, do not censor yourself in any way. Leave your editorial mind out of the loop. Just let the ideas come pouring out in any way, shape, or form they want to. Do not judge anything. James Scott Bell judgingmindideas Anyone living in Los Angeles who has opposable thumbs is required to write a screenplay. James Scott Bell thumbslos-angeleswriting If you can write each day, do it, and meet a quota. Minimum 350 words a day. A baboon can do 350 words a day. Don't be shown up by a baboon James Scott Bell quotaeach-daywriting There's a perilous word fiction writers need to watch out for. The word is 'had.' James Scott Bell watchesfictionneeds The semi-colon is a burp, a hiccup. It's a drunk staggering out of the saloon at 2 a.m., grabbing your lapels on the way and asking you to listen to one more story. James Scott Bell drunkaskingstories Write like you're in love. Edit like you're in charge. James Scott Bell editslike-youwriting The thing I do at the beginning is a "voice journal," a free form doc that is the character speaking to me. I just work on it until I start to hear different from my own, or the other characters. James Scott Bell voicedifferentcharacter
