Monthly Archives: February 2012

So you want to be a writer? Character Development

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Mark Aidan Bergin

Character development is one of the most complicated aspects of writing a novel. Too much back story and the reader feels insulted or, worse, bored. Too little, the reader’s lost. Neither do you want the reader to muse, “methinks he doth … Continue reading →

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Writing Advice – how “readable” is your writing?

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Mark Aidan Bergin

How “readable” is your writing? I’m a member of a writers’ group, and I realized at our meeting last week that “readability,” or the ability to assess it, is a more obscure concept than I thought. Most people don’t know … Continue reading →

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Writing tools – practical advice

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Mark Aidan Bergin

In followup to “Sick Boy McCoy’s” comment that “most of writing happens conceptually before we type/write one word,” I’m in full agreement. Writing doesn’t happen when you sit down at a keyboard. I’m almost transcribing thoughts at that point. Much … Continue reading →

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Image tells a story

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Mark Aidan Bergin

Just received an email questioning how a single image can actually “tell a story.” I offer this photo I took of Drombeg Stone Circle in Ireland. The photo has only been slightly edited. It was a very grey day with … Continue reading →

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Becoming a Writer

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Mark Aidan Bergin

At least once a week I’m asked how much time I spend writing per day. I make my living as a writer—yes, it is possible. I include my photojournalism work in that. I create images with words and tell stories … Continue reading →

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Writing advice / Writer’s block

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Mark Aidan Bergin

Two words are the best writing lesson I can offer. They  create new worlds; they explore old ones. There’s no excuse for writer’s block. It’s usually a cover for fear or laziness, an unwillingness to face new or painful worlds. The two … Continue reading →

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