The Write Focus

As with the seven scenes that build the story, introduced in the last segment, seven character sets develop the story, increasing the conflict, intensifying suspense or adding complications.

The four main characters who drive the conflict of the story are protagonist, antagonist, an important friend or ally, and the seeming ally.

Our purpose in this segment is to list and briefly explain these 7 Characters. We need more than their ...

In considering your next writing, what is your first approach?

Many start with a situation: a thriller in the backwoods. Others start with character: a free-willing type faced with his two orphaned nieces. Or you wake up with a title, and the story springs out when you sketch a few ideas.

We are never truly blank when we start.

No sooner do we have an idea than a main character emerges, a glimmer that solidifies as we consider that...

Overcoming difficulties is a constant process, no matter which profession you enter.

All my guidebooks on writing contain insights that I wish I had understood then. Instead, I nodded along, thinking I understood, but I didn’t turn those insights into practical application.

Many writers talked about difficulties and consistency, but they usually added the dreaded word “Deadlines” whenever they talked about keys to...

Alice followed the White Rabbit into a hole that dropped her into a strange world.

Writing is like that, a hole into a strange wonderland. A project is an intriguing white rabbit luring us to follow even as it reminds us that the project has to meet a deadline or be “late for that important date”.

Our Writing Wonderland operates on 3 Basic Rules. Get these writing rules right, and your Wonderland will not turn into a ho...

Consider your Cover is Quick Tip #12.

One of the greatest expenses that an indie writer will have is the cost of a professional cover.

Yes, yes, people say that the editorial cost is the highest one. Development editors and content editors and line editors are expensive.

Let me argue with that. The first attractor for a book is the cover design. To capture and charm readers, invest in a great cover design.

How do we ensure the best...

Writing constantly, writing fast ~ these can outpace our creativity, leaving us drained. The answer is to Juggle Projects.

I cannot simultaneously write two fiction projects; the projects we juggle have to be different.

This episode talks about that HOW.

TIMINGS

• 00:41 Introduction
• 01:15 Juggle Projects
• 04:50 Closing

Total Run Time = 5:49

LINK

Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/06/juggle-projects-quick-tips-...

“Cocoons” is the Quick Tip for Writing in this episode.

When the words do not come as soon as we are ready to write, what can we do? We have to think like inchworms, the ones that eventually become beautiful butterflies.

TIMINGS

• 00:40 Introduction
• 01:15 Think Cocoons
• 03:43 Closing

Total Run Time = 4:42

LINK

Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/06/think-cocoons-quick-tips-for-writers-10.html

Licen...

Long before a writer pens the last word in a story and launches into the Proof-Plus, that writer is considering promotions.

Promotions, marketing, that’s the same thing.

So much of marketing depends on spare cash and good fortune in eyes discovering it. The chief marketing tool, however, is something the writer can totally control.

Let’s look at the Loss Leader, also known as the Reader Magnet.

TIMINGS

• 00:41 Introd...

Every successful story, short or long, has two key elements. These two keys recur throughout the story.

One takes a new form at every instance, teasing the reader into reading more. The other also teases the reader, but this time the key remains the same, merely doubling and re-doubling, increasing and intensifying.

What are these key elements?

You’ll have to listen to discover that answer. ;)

TIMINGS

• 00:41 Introduction
• ...

In our second episode on antagonists, we discuss the additional evil actors that drive a plot, as much a part as our main character, our Protagonists.

We offer three Quick Tips, first about our major antagonist and then two more about minor antagonists.

A key element whips by pretty rapidly, in that each minor antagonist teaches the protagonist a skill or a way to defeat the major antagonist. We don’t want you to miss that. ;...

Pentecost concludes the Easter Season.

Fifty days after the Resurrection, ten days after Ascension, it completes the jubilation that starts before sunrise on Easter Day with the Son’s rise.

“He is risen” does not complete everything. Pentecost is the completion.

Let’s ground ourselves in the reasons.

TIMINGS

• 00:40 Introduction
• 00:50 Pentecost
• 08:55 Closing

Total Run Time = 9:54

LINK

Website http...

In the Quick Tips series, episodes 6 and 7 are linked, for both are about antagonists, twisty and surprising antagonists.

A truth of conflict is that a weak antagonist creates a weak Protagonist. Since we writers want our main characters to be strong, then the conflict-creator of the story needs to be equally strong.

The first way to do this is to twist our readers’ expectations of the antagonist.

TIMINGS

• 00:40 Introduct...

40.

Forty days after Easter, the Resurrection of Christ Jesus, we have another important date to commemorate, a date that’s been part of the Christian Church since the early days. The first documented festival occurred in 68 A.D.

Along with Easter Day, the regular observance of Sunday, and Pentecost, we have Ascension Day, the day when Christ ascended to Heaven, back to His Father.

The later additions of Christmas and Epiphan...

As writers we control many things about our writing, but times do come when we lose control.

And that is not a bad thing. It’s actually a blessing.

That’s our topic: Be willing to lose control.

The Write Focus offers the Quick Tips for Writers series from Spring into Summer. We hope these bite-sized takes on writing inspire your words this week.

TIMINGS

• 00:40 Introduction
• 01:10 Be Willing to Lose Control
• 03:00 Clos...

Our topic this time is a little tricky, but we have a fairly simple solution—if we will use that solution.

Here’s the question: How do I make my writing form a coherent story?

Because if the story confuses us when we finish it, in what state will our readers be?

Quick Tips for Writers is a Blast from the Past, extricated from much longer episodes a year ago. TWF hopes you enjoy these quick takes.

TIMINGS

• 00:40 Intr...

We’re onto our third episode in the Quick Tips for Writers series. What are the three cornerstones of every story we write, no matter the length or genre or purpose?

TIMINGS

• 00:40 Introduction
• 01:10 QT 3: Three Cornerstones of Every Story
• 03:17 Closing

Total Run Time = 4:17

LINK

Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/04/three-cornerstones-of-story-quick-tips.html

Licensed Music with the Quick Tips conten...

In this second episode of the Quick Tips for Writers series, we look at another topic which trips writers up. Whether a total newbie or a seasoned writer, we all ask the same question. It’s the same questions every time we start a new story. How much do I need before I start writing?

TIMINGS

• 00:40 Welcome
• 01:10 How much do I need before I start writing?
• 04:33 Closing

Total Run Time = 5:33

LINK

Website https://thew...

The Write Focus brings in a Blast from the Past, from Summer 2025. Thirteen—count `em, 13—posts that distill over 30 years of writing knowledge and 10 years of publishing writing.

Host M.A. Lee has 60-plus novel-length titles under three pen names that guide this information. We hope you find a spot of wisdom in each of these Quick Tips for Writers.

In our first episode of the series, we answer every writer’s burn...

Our More: Easter series concludes in this episode with my confession of a longtime failing and the way I’m casting off that sin … which was one of the motivations for the entire series on More.

And our final Creativity for Writers segment, we consider the daily practice of gratitude to the greatest Creator of all.

TIMINGS

• 00:40 Introduction
• 00:50 Bright Sunday
• 06:20 Creativity Refresh 15
• 10:22 Last Words and Next ...