Category: writing tips

Does An Unreliable Narrator Need To Be an Asshole?

LB’s NOTE: Charlie Jane Anders is a TVWriter.Com favorite. I’m really hoping she doesn’t sue me for sharing this. In other words, Sit back and enjoy yourself as a really, really, really fine writer gives away one of her biggest secrets about – guess what –  writing.

Charlie Jane says, “Please enjoy this photo I took of a local high school here in San Francisco with a pointy beard guy saying LITERATURE”

by Charlie Jane Anders

Narrators! You can’t rely on them these days. They always let you down, even the ones who have five stars on Yelp. One time, I hired a narrator to move a sofa and they claimed they brought it to my house, but it was actually five blocks away. Freaking narrators.

You’ve probably heard, or even used, the phrase “unreliable narrator.” But what is an unreliable narrator, and why do we keep them around even though they let us down constantly? read article

“Abbott Elementary”

I meant to say this right after the Emmys were announced but was distracted by real life. So I’ll say it now:

Abbott Elementary is the best comedy series currently on anybody’s “air.” It’s funny, and it’s important (without seeming self-important.) I really hope y’all have been watching it. read article

“Fluff in Writing”

Derek Haines talks about the dreaded F word and how to – ulp – wipe it away.

And no, it has nothing to do with pillows or pleasing your partner. It’s our readers we’re talking about pleasing now.

read article

LB: Some Things Never Change

by Larry Brody

For those new writers who think their experiences are uniquely discouraging, the following comic strip, originally published in the original  L.A.Weekly newspaper way back in 1980, tells us like it was, is, and as far as I can see, forever will be.

Sorry about that.

Let’s take a deep breath and give a deep sigh for: read article

LB: “FS?” “Initialism?” WTF? AKA Yes, It’s True. I Even Reject My Own Writing!

Shakespeare created new words all the time. Why can’t we?

by Larry Brody

NOTE FROM LB: I often get inquiries about the creative process and these days all too often do my best not to respond to them because I find the situation so complicated that I end up tripping all over the words I’m trying to use.

Last weekend, however, I ran across the following never-before-published blog post. I wrote it with the best of intentions, but after it was finished, a quick read left me dismayed.

The piece simply didn’t work for me. There were three reasons I felt this way. LB the Editor still feels this way, but LB the Writer still resents the rejection, so I’m publishing this here and now and rationalizing it by saying, “Hey, have a look, kids. Here’s how the creative process really works…for yours truly anyway.” read article