Author, Compulsively Readable Thrillers
What happens when I’m between books
This is a reprint of a blogpost originally published on The Lipstick Chronicles, which is sadly gone now. Given the day, I thought you’d appreciate it. One of the nice things about being an author is that people don’t usually recognize you when you break out of the cage and go outside. Which means … Read more
I have a favor to ask. A couple of months ago I asked my Review Crew to tell me which lines in Jump Cut they thought were worth remembering. They came up with four, which are below. Would you help share these quotes and images with YOUR followers and friends? All you do is hover over … Read more
Hi, everyone. Just wanted you to know that a Goodreads Giveaway for Jump Cut starts today and goes through the beginning of February. I’m giving away 3 print copies for free! Hope you’ll sign up by clicking below… Goodreads Book Giveaway Jump Cut by Libby Fischer Hellmann Giveaway ends February 03, 2016. See … Read more
Okay. What does “less is more” mean? With some novels weighing in at 800 pages or more, how can that be true? Listen up.
All your characters — major and minor — need their own arc. I explain why.
The end of August can be demoralizing. Technically, there are still 3 weeks of summer left, but it often feels as if the season has flown, and I haven’t done any of the things I promised myself. Back-to-school sales are ubiquitous; so are pre-season football games, and my weekly trips to Dairy Queen have lost their allure. … Read more
I’ve been trying to figure out why I love doing research—much more than writing, btw—and I finally think I have an answer. Research is a free-form activity, especially on the internet. I Google a topic, scan a few articles, and if something catches my fancy, I click on the link or do another Google search … Read more
I’ve talked a lot about the opportunities online publishing brings, especially to writers who found it tough getting published before the internet changed our world. I’ve also talked about author royalties and the way they’re shrinking fast. Now Taylor Swift, a well-respected artist with millions of teenage fans, has said “Uh—I don’t think so,” and … Read more
I’m excited to share with you a structure for both writing and editing a chapter of your novel. We’ve all been schooled in introductions, conclusions, and the overall flow of a novel. But what about individual chapters, which, after all, are the building blocks of your story? Is there a format? How do you know … Read more
Sadly, my favorite Thursday activity is now over. Thanks to my daughter, who told me about “Serial” a month ago, I was able to binge-listen to 8 podcasts, and then followed up every week until yesterday. The ending? I’m sure there will be unending discussions about Adnan’s guilt or innocence, the tragedy and/or travesty of … Read more