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How to write a scene
Did you watch the Oscars this past weekend? I didn’t, but I used to love watching the celebrities dress to the nines, and celebrate the...

Karyn Fischer
Mar 13, 202412 min read
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How to Raise the Stakes in your Novel
Over the holiday break, I really tried to lean into staying present with my family, resting and reading books, and thinking about my own...

Karyn Fischer
Jan 12, 20248 min read
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A therapist's guide to mining character
If you’ve been following me for a while, you might already know that I am an identical twin. One question I sometimes get asked is...

Karyn Fischer
Dec 4, 20234 min read
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How to use specificity to elevate your writing and resonate with more readers
I’m reading a fabulous book right now called Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs. It’s an adult bookish fantasy that comes out in June...

Karyn Fischer
Nov 27, 20234 min read
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Interiority: The most common mistake I see writers make
Do you know what the hardest part of fiction to get right is? The one I see most of my clients and slush pile contributors get wrong?...

Karyn Fischer
Oct 26, 20234 min read
283 views
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How to master the passage of time in your novel
Have you ever listened to someone—maybe a rambling uncle at Thanksgiving dinner, or a friend telling a riveting he-said-she-said bit of...

Karyn Fischer
Sep 13, 20234 min read
203 views
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How Peter Pan and Wendy captures the essence of story
I had the immense pleasure of watching Peter Pan and Wendy the other Friday when it debuted on Disney+. I wasn’t expecting to like it...

Karyn Fischer
May 10, 20236 min read
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How to craft great dialogue
Confession: I freaking adore Emily Henry’s books. If you haven’t read them, and you enjoy a good romance, I recommend picking one up....

Karyn Fischer
Mar 23, 20235 min read
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The essential components of scenes
Over the weekend I took my 5-year-old daughter to see her first real play, Beauty and the Beast. Based on the Broadway musical of the...

Karyn Fischer
Mar 21, 20234 min read
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Why wedding toasts really make us cry
Have you ever gone to a wedding and listened to a toast that really spoke to you or made you feel some powerful emotions? Have you ever...

Karyn Fischer
Mar 16, 20233 min read
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Why these Super Bowl commercials made me cry (and what fiction writers can learn from it)
As I've said in past posts...I am not a sports fan. So this past weekend's Super Bowl event did nothing for me, besides give me an excuse...

Karyn Fischer
Feb 19, 20233 min read
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How to use the 8 Types of Love to build story resonance
Think you're not writing a love story? Well, I hate to break it to you, but you are. All stories are love stories. Hear me out: Love is...

Karyn Fischer
Feb 10, 20235 min read
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What Monster Jam taught me about storytelling
Last weekend my in-laws took our family to Monster Jam, the monster truck rally, and it was...loud! But it was also so much fun and an...

Karyn Fischer
Feb 9, 20233 min read
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Obstacles, tension, and raising the stakes in your novel
Every January, my husband and I have a Back to the Future marathon. Even though we've seen the franchise a billion times, we always...

Karyn Fischer
Feb 7, 20236 min read
130 views
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