I drew from real people and powerful moments to shape characters that feel honest and alive.
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Essential tips for first-time writers
I drew from real people and powerful moments to shape characters that feel honest and alive.
More of Vicki’s thoughts
13 videos to explore
Outlining is not the only way. Try timelines, boards, or paper strips. Messy can still work.
Not sure where to start? Begin with a big change in your character’s life. Trust yourself and see where it goes.
Don’t edit what you just wrote. Let your creative mind do its thing, then edit it the next day. That’ll get your brain going.
Dialogue giving you trouble? Shift the angle or add an eavesdropper. Drafts are for discovery.
One detail can ignite a whole story. Nothing is too small, it might fuel your story.
Strong characters come from real human traits, faith, doubt, risk-taking, caution.
Give your characters something to overcome. Let’s talk about what keeps a reader turning pages.
Stop writing “on the nose” dialogue. Give your characters a conversation that feels alive.
This book will take you to Alaska’s brutal wilderness, where one family fights freezing temperatures, starvation, and the demons of PTSD.
In The Four Winds, Hannah gives us a heroine whose family sees her as a mousy, weak nothing. Her sisters shun her, as do her parents. One day, Elsa walks to town, buys red satin fabric, and sews herself a dress. She dresses up and meets a man. From there, the story heats up.
Two unforgettable stories explore just how deep sibling rivalry can cut: Henry Farrell’s Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? and John Steinbeck’s masterpiece East of Eden.
From teaching English and journalism to writing novels: Vicki shares the inspiration behind Tampa Bay Runaway, China Doll Dynasty, and her upcoming book, Murder at Devlin High.
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