Category character in writing
Guest Post: James L’Etoile – DEAD DROP – The Book Diva’s Reads
It’s all about character! Many thanks to The Book Diva Reads for allowing me to return to the blog. This time around, I wanted to focus on one element of writing that can make or break a story–character. I recently had a chance to teach a session on character development at the Gold Country Writers […]
Novels Alive | GUEST BLOG: An Interview With a Character in DEAD DROP by James L’Etoile Plus Giveaway!
It’s one of my favorite things. Developing a character and having them come to life on the page is a blast. But sometimes a character takes over and isn’t happy about their place in the story. Billie Carson is one of those characters. She is a major player in my upcoming novel, DEAD DROP, but […]
Character Interview with Jillian Cooper by James L’Etoile
Here is a fun interview of Jillian Cooper, the main character in Black Label. Jillian talks about her deepest fears and the predicament she found herself in during her search to find the truth. She claims she’s a cautionary tale about what happens when you keep your eye on the prize. https://ireadwhatyouwrite.com/2021/07/17/character-interview-with-jillian-cooper-by-james-letoile/#comments Want to take […]
SHU Basics for the Crime Writer
Recently, I attended ThrillerFest in New York and the Public Safety Writers Association Conference in Las Vegas. Both great venues for talking the craft of writing and picking up a few tips on making your crime fiction true to life. During conversations at both of these very different gatherings, the topic of solitary confinement and […]
Power Your Rewrite
To Rewrite, Rewire or Rip Out… In the process of making a stab at rewriting my latest work in progress, I had an epiphany, of sorts. Well, not a lightning bolt to the temple kind of moment, but more of the rub your socks on the carpet kind of jolt. Enough to get my attention, […]
Character Interventions
Addictions and Interventions They come in different packages. In a dream, I find myself entering a uncomfortable, but familar room, a windowless basement. In this dank space, ten other slack-jawed, baggy-eyed people sit in a circle and stare at one another, each waiting for the other to break the silence. Their faces turn as I take […]
Do You Suffer From Revision Brain Syndrome?
Revision Brain Syndrome (RBS) RBS is destined to be added to the list of serious psychological maladies in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – 5th edition (DSM V) as a condition plaguing millions of writers. (cue Sarah McLachlan sad puppy music here) Self-diagnosis is difficult and I’ll warn you now to stay […]
Writers and Serial Killers
Writers and Serial Killers have more in common than you think. I binge watched (yes, I should have been writing – consider me scolded) the first season of Hannibal this week, something that I’d put off for a while. The Thomas Harris novels, Red Dragon, Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal were gripping and the movie […]
All The Voices in My Head
The voices are telling me to do things… From time to time, I’ve mentioned the voices that spawn from the murky creative mist to bestow their wisdom upon me. Whether I need this paranormal assistance isn’t really the question. I’ll take any inspiration a Muse wants to toss my way. The voices come through when […]
A Voice On The Perfect Character
A perfect character? Have you ever read a story and something just seems, a bit off? There is a decent story line, snappy dialogue and perfect characters. Ah, there’s the rub – perfection. No one is perfect. Ever. Not even a Disney character. I mean think about it. Prince What’s-His-Face, is riding around in the forest […]
James L'Etoile
James L'Etoile 