Russell F. HirschOct 25, 20232 minDescriptive Language that SparklesKill your darlings! Get to the point! Plot over prose! How many times have you heard advice about simplifying your writing for middle...
Russell F. HirschOct 11, 20231 minSIWC - Simply Inspiring Writers' ConferenceWe all know the feeling of finding our tribe. Whether we were kids discovering new friends on the playground, teens navigating a new...
Russell F. HirschSep 27, 2023Middle Grade Fantasy Word Counts – Part 2Last post, I dove into an investigation of Middle Grade fantasy word counts using a random selection of novels from my own shelf. The...
Russell F. HirschSep 13, 2023Middle Grade Fantasy Word Counts – Part 1If you’re an over-writer like me, you probably agonize over word counts. If you’re an under-writer, you probably also agonize over word...
Russell F. HirschAug 30, 2023Imagine that! Opening and Closing ImagesGreat books begin with great openings. It’s our first taste of a story that will excite, move, and enthrall us. And endings are just as...
Russell F. HirschAug 2, 2023Setting the SceneWe’ve all heard of writers grappling with the blank white page. But sometimes, writers leave readers grappling with a frustrating...