How to talk about your book with confidence
Over a decade ago, I was working as a bookseller and book buyer at an independent bookstore. This was before the time of Bookstagram and...
top of page
Karyn Fischer
- Mar 13
- 12 min
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...
7 views0 comments
Karyn Fischer
- Jan 12
- 8 min
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...
15 views0 comments
Karyn Fischer
- Dec 4, 2023
- 4 min
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...
26 views0 comments
Karyn Fischer
- Nov 27, 2023
- 4 min
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...
15 views0 comments
Karyn Fischer
- Oct 26, 2023
- 4 min
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?...
85 views0 comments
Karyn Fischer
- Sep 13, 2023
- 4 min
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...
71 views0 comments
Karyn Fischer
- May 10, 2023
- 6 min
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...
3 views0 comments
Karyn Fischer
- Apr 26, 2023
- 2 min
How to determine if a literary agent is the right fit for you
How do you know if your agent is "The One?" Well, as with romantic relationships, it takes more than initial interest to create a great,...
2 views0 comments
Karyn Fischer
- Apr 21, 2023
- 3 min
On Jigsaw Puzzles and Perseverance in Writing
I have a close friend who hates jigsaw puzzles. She says she doesn’t have the patience for them, that it takes too long to hunt down one...
3 views0 comments
Karyn Fischer
- Mar 26, 2023
- 2 min
Traditional Publishing vs Self Publishing - The Pros & Cons
There's no doubt about it...self-publishing is blowing up. It's quickly becoming a more valid means of getting your story out in the...
10 views0 comments
Karyn Fischer
- Mar 23, 2023
- 5 min
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....
41 views0 comments
Karyn Fischer
- Mar 21, 2023
- 4 min
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...
5 views0 comments
Karyn Fischer
- Mar 21, 2023
- 2 min
The importance of play in creative writing
The other day, as I was working, I saw my puppy, Bruno—a derpy Aussiedoodle—playing with something. (Probably one of the billion...
3 views0 comments
Karyn Fischer
- Mar 16, 2023
- 2 min
A simple trick to make your setting feel essential to the story
Cancun is known for its clear turquoise water, white sandy beaches, lush rainforests, and Mexican culture. It is a beautiful backdrop for...
4 views0 comments
Karyn Fischer
- Mar 16, 2023
- 3 min
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...
0 views0 comments
Karyn Fischer
- Feb 23, 2023
- 4 min
On pickleball and mastering a new skill (like writing fiction)
The first time I tried pickleball I felt like a prize fool. I was playing doubles with my husband and a girlfriend and her husband. Her...
12 views0 comments
Karyn Fischer
- Feb 19, 2023
- 3 min
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...
3 views0 comments
Karyn Fischer
- Feb 17, 2023
- 3 min
How to get rid of the writing blues
The question "What am I doing?" kept running in a loop in my mind. My mind was telling me all the stories: That I was spinning my wheels...
4 views0 comments
Karyn Fischer
- Feb 10, 2023
- 5 min
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...
12 views0 comments
bottom of page