The Three Dirty Birds Talk about Cause and Effect

July 21, 2014
Kate Lowell
Three Dirty Birds Talk, writing

And the Three Dirty Birds are chirping again about Story Trumps Structure by Steven James. Ana: Okay, so this chapter was about how cause leads to effect and never the other way around. Zoe: James stresses that it’s important to make sure it’s clear to readers why something happened, so they’re not pulled out...

Three Dirty Birds Talk Scenes in Story Trumps Structure

July 18, 2014
Kate Lowell
Three Dirty Birds Talk, writing

Back at Ana’s place again. We finally find out what Mr. James is talking about when he’s talking about scenes, which was totally not what we thought it was.

Three Dirty Birds Talk: Story Trumps Structure and Making Promises

July 16, 2014
Kate Lowell
Three Dirty Birds Talk

We’re perched at Zoe’s blog today, talking about making promises to readers and making sure you keep them. I really liked this chapter–this one chapter alone made the book worth the price.

Three Dirty Birds Talk Story Trumps Structure: Twists

July 14, 2014
Kate Lowell
Three Dirty Birds Talk, writing

Three Dirty Birds are flying through this book–now we’re at Chapter 10: Twists. Kate: Bored. Zzzzzzzz. Why did I get the boring chapter? Ana: Because you’re a lady. You can’t take the more exciting parts. Kate: Then I’ll just have to fix that, won’t I? Ana: Is this going to be a plot twist?...

Three Dirty Birds Talk Story Trumps Structure: The Judgy McJudgy-pants chapter

July 11, 2014
Kate Lowell
Three Dirty Birds Talk, writing

We’re hanging out (and drinking) with Ana today!

Three Dirty Birds Talk Story Trumps Structure: The Three Questions That Will Solve Every Plot Problem You'll Ever Have

July 9, 2014
Kate Lowell
Three Dirty Birds Talk, writing

Chez Zoe today! Yes, that really is the chapter subtitle.

Three Dirty Birds Talk About Story Trumps Structure: Chapter 7

July 7, 2014
Kate Lowell
Three Dirty Birds Talk, writing

The Three Dirty Birds are back again, pecking away at Stroy Trumps Structure, by Steven James. This episode is the first one to touch on the pantser vs. the outliner. Zoe: I think we should take a moment to make a distinction up front that I’m not sure James himself clearly makes (because if...

Three Dirty Birds Talk Story Trumps Structure: Transforming Characters Through Conflict

July 4, 2014
Kate Lowell
Three Dirty Birds Talk, writing

Found today at Ana J. Phoenix’s blog! Tell me, is your protagonist a pebble, or a chunk of putty?

Three Dirty Birds Talk: Story Trumps Structure–Climaxes

July 2, 2014
Kate Lowell
Three Dirty Birds Talk, writing

We’re over at Zoe’s blog today! How did we end up talking about tentacles?

Three Dirty Birds Talk About Story Trumps Structure: Escalation

June 30, 2014
Kate Lowell
Three Dirty Birds Talk, writing

Here we are again–Three Dirty Birds, Talking about Story Trumps Structure. Today, we’re reading Chapter 4: Escalation. Kate: By escalation, he’s talking about intensifying situations as the book progresses, making things worse for the protagonist as we get closer to the climax (*giggle*) of the story. Ana: I thought that was a really good...