WriterSpark Academy’s Tips, Tricks, and the Craft of Writing

How to Add Humor to your Writing

Episode 5:   You don't have to be a side-splitting funny person to be able to add humor to your writing. You don't even need to be funny at all. You just need to understand the techniques needed to add humor to your writing and you'll be golden.   In this episode, I chat with bestselling author Diane Kelly about how to use the eight characters of comedy, a la Scott Sedita, to up the humor in your writing. She offers a myriad of other tricks, as well, so take a look!   SHOW NOTES:   Authors Mentioned: Janet Evanovich, Stephanie Plum Carl Haisen Lawrence Kelter Susan Elizabeth Phillips Christie Craig, Divorced, Desperate, and… series Anne Charles, Nearly Departed and Dead Christopher Moore Jana DeLeon, Lucky Darynda Jones   Recommended Books: The Comic Toolbox, John Vorhaus Eight Characters of Comedy, Scott Sedita   TV Shows: Friends Bob Newhart Taxi Ellen Degeneres Modern Family Will and Grace Schitt’s Creek Marvelous Mrs. Mazel Big Bang Theory Monk Monty Python and the Holy Grail Ted Lasso Extraordinary Attorney Woo Comedian Dimitri Martin   Other: Johnny Depp Keith Richards Pirates of the Caribbean Robin Williams Rik Roberts, school of comedy Saturday Night Live     #Writinghumorinfiction #writingtips #writingtipsandtricks #writingfiction #onlinelearning #eightcharacteristicsofcomedy #rikrobertsschoolofcomedy

Outlining while Still Writing by the Seat of your Pants

Episode 3 Are you a plotter or a pantser? Most writers fall somewhere in between. In this episode, Melissa talks with bestselling mystery and suspense author Daryl Wood Gerber about outlining while still writing by the seat of your pants. Learn more about WriterSpark Academy and our online courses at our website.  

Tips for Writing the Villain

Episode 1 The villain is just as important as the hero. In fact, in the WriterSpark Ready, Set, WRITE! course, we recommend starting with the villain to ensure complexity. In this episode, Melissa chats with author Annette Dashofy about her tips to writing a compelling villain. 

Tips for Writing Historical Mysteries

Episode 2 Writing historical mysteries is a different beast than writing a contemporary mystery. In this episode, Melissa talks with bestselling historical mystery writer Heather Redmond, author of A Dickens of a Crime mystery series, about tips for writing historical mysteries. Learn more about WriterSpark Academy and our online courses at our website.  

Writing Your Bliss Rather than Following the Market

Episode 4 It's easy to want to write to the market. In this episode, Melissa chats with mystery writer, Brook Peterson, about 'Writing Your Bliss', or following your heart when you write instead.   Learn more about WriterSpark Academy and our online courses at our website.