Amy Stewart Bell, Author
I'm a author of romantic suspense, an artist, and entrepreneur who loves to talk about fiction and writing & storytelling. Join my community for Edge-of-your-seat suspense, thrilling action and steamy romance--in all its forms.
Opening Hooks
Author's Notes Amy Stewart Bell What does it take to hook you? I know for me, personally, I need quick action. I need to know that my blood pressure will be rising very quickly after opening the book. (My ADHD doesn't exactly help me here.) Readers decide quickly whether to continue reading. Your first paragraph must create curiosity-a desire to continue. Author’s Notes Writer's Practice Corner Writer's Roll Call Writer's Practice Corner Write three different opening lines for your current...
Suspense is just around the corner...
Author's Notes Amy Stewart Bell Have you ever found yourself reading a book or watching a movie where the character is about to open a door or go around a corner only to find the bad guy, monster, etc. waiting there? If you are like me, you may have also yelled, "Don't go there! Back up! Run away!" ...or something like that. Suspense is the intense feeling of anxious uncertainty, apprehension, or excitement regarding the outcome of a story, caused by delayed resolution. Suspense happens when...
Turning Points
Author's Notes Amy Stewart Bell I don't know about you, but occasionally (in my real life) I find myself wishing for a plot change! A turning point that shakes up the current direction. Every strong story has moments where everything changes. These turning points force the character into a new direction. These can be game changers for your story. Monotony busters. A way to really shake things up. Author’s Notes Writer's Practice Corner Writer's Roll Call Amy Stewart Bell, Author...
Emotional Motivation
Author's Notes Amy Stewart Bell You've probably heard it said that good decisions come from logical thought and not emotion. However, when you are writing a story, you need to back that up a little. Every action a character takes should come from emotion. Fear. Love. Anger. Jealousy. Plot events matter, but emotion drives behavior. Author’s Notes Writer's Practice Corner Writer's Roll Call Amy Stewart Bell, Author AmyStewartBell Follow 100 Story Ideas for Writers Need story ideas that...
Character Contradictions
Author's Notes Amy Stewart Bell Do you know anyone who is a contradiction? Someone who has a certain vibe about them, but then does something in complete constradiction? Great characters contain contradictions. A brave soldier afraid of disappointing his family. A ruthless leader who secretly rescues animals. Contradictions make characters human. This is something to consider when writing your characters. Author’s Notes Writer's Practice Corner Writer's Roll Call Amy Stewart Bell, Author...
The quiet tension secret
Author's Notes I will admit my personal affection for adrenaline. I tend to lean toward lots of action and adventure, not just in my reading and writing, but also in my life. This can absolutely put me in a position of using it as a crutch sometimes. Explosions and chases create excitement. But tension can also exist in silence. A simple conversation can feel electric if: • something important is hidden • someone wants something badly • someone else refuses to give it Author’s Pulse Writer's...
Why your scenes might feel flat
Author's Notes Amy Stewart Bell, Author Have you ever looked over a story or a chapter and wondered what's wrong with it? You reread it multiple times and you know something is wrong but you just can't pinpoint it? ...Well, I have. Multiple times. Many scenes fail because nothing meaningful is at risk. Every scene should answer one question: What happens if the character fails? The bigger the consequence, the stronger the tension. Author’s Notes Writer's Practice Corner Writer's Question...
The secret layer inside great dialogue
Author's Notes Amy Stewart Bell, Author Great dialogue is rarely about what the characters are actually saying. It's about what they're avoiding. Subtext is the emotional current running beneath a conversation. Example: Two characters discussing the weather when what they're really talking about is betrayal. Readers feel that tension even when it isn't spoken. Subtext makes scenes feel alive. Author’s Pulse Writer’s Practice Corner Writer's Question Writer’s Practice Corner Write a scene...
Why most dialogue sounds fake
Author's Notes Hello writers, One of the fastest ways to spot an inexperienced writer is dialogue that feels stiff or artificial. Real people rarely speak in perfectly formed sentences. They interrupt.They dodge questions.They talk around what they really mean. Good dialogue captures that rhythm. Author’s Pulse Sharpen Your Skill Writer's Practice Corner Writer's Question Sharpen Your Skill Instead of explaining emotion, let characters reveal themselves through how they speak. For example:...
I'm back with something useful for your writing
Author's Notes Amy Stewart Bell Hi friends, It's been a little quiet here for a while, and that wasn't intentional. Between life, writing, and everything else that seems to compete for attention, my newsletter slipped to the bottom of the list for a bit. But the conversations about writing are some of my favorite ones to have, so I'm opening that door again. If you're here, you're probably a storyteller at heart. Maybe you're drafting a novel, tinkering with a short story, or just trying to...
I'm a author of romantic suspense, an artist, and entrepreneur who loves to talk about fiction and writing & storytelling. Join my community for Edge-of-your-seat suspense, thrilling action and steamy romance--in all its forms.