Blah, Blah, Blah: Overdescription, Exposition, and Stage Direction by John Robert Marlow
THE BLAHS
Have you ever attended a lecture, or sat in a classroom, or watched a video where the speaker droned endlessly on about what should have been an interesting topic? After a while, the eyes and …

Coming to a Bad End: Rabbit-Hats, Cliffbangers, and Other Cheats by John Robert Marlow
Few things in life are worse than a bad story. One of them is a good story with a bad ending. At least with the bad story, it’s pretty clear what you’re dealing with, …

Snucking Threw the Poring Reign: Mechanical Errors in Writing (Part Two) by John Robert Marlow
As mentioned in Part One, writing mechanics are dull, but essential—like checking the oil and brake fluid when you’d rather be cruising down the coast. You can’t do one without keeping an eye …

Snucking Threw the Poring Reign: Mechanical Errors in Writing (Part One) by John Robert Marlow
“Mechanical errors” have to do with the nuts and bolts of writing. If concept is your flashy car, plot the engine, characters the driver and passengers—then story mechanics are the fasteners holding your …