“The exclamation point is a loud party-goer, demanding attention. Overdone, it can be annoying.” — James Scott Bell Exclamation Copy Share Image
Status, worry and comparison are ways to madness, not victory. — James Scott Bell Comparison Copy Share Image
Every hour you spend writing is an hour you don't spend worrying about your writing. — James Scott Bell Hour Copy Share Image
Anyone living in Los Angeles who has opposable thumbs is required to write a screenplay. — James Scott Bell Los angeles Copy Share Image
“A good story transports the reader to a new place via experience. Not through arguments or facts, but through the illusion that… — James Scott Bell Books Copy Share Image
The thing I do at the beginning is a "voice journal," a free form doc that is the character speaking to me.… — James Scott Bell Beginning Copy Share Image
Superb historical romance, with a spiritual theme woven seamlessly throughout. I much enjoyed The Covered Deep and look forward to more from… — James Scott Bell Books Copy Share Image
Think of it as the Doorway of No Return. The feeling must be that your lead character, once she passes through, cannot… — James Scott Bell Character Copy Share Image
“At some point you’re going to have to formulate your copy, and if you do it early, it will keep you from… — James Scott Bell Books Copy Share Image
In fact, one could argue that the skill of the fiction writer boils down to the ability to exploit intensity. — James Scott Bell Ability Copy Share Image
My philosophy on writing books is that if you learn only one new thing, or even get a new take on something… — James Scott Bell Book Copy Share Image
“Dwight Swain, the great writing teacher, once said that the secret of excitement is to go deeper into your characters. Create more… — James Scott Bell Writing Copy Share Image
“Transformation is about change, and change needs to be proven. People can talk a good game. Someone can say he's sorry for… — James Scott Bell Change Copy Share Image
“Psychological death is the key to all romances, isn't it? If the two lovers don't get together, they will each miss out… — James Scott Bell Death Copy Share Image
The most important rule: Do not, I repeat, do not censor yourself in any way. Leave your editorial mind out of the… — James Scott Bell Do not judge Copy Share Image
Many writers struggle with exposition in their novels. Often they heap it on in large chunks of straight narrative. Back story –… — James Scott Bell Arguing Copy Share Image
There's a perilous word fiction writers need to watch out for. The word is 'had.' — James Scott Bell Fiction Copy Share Image
Structure is translation software for your imagination. — James Scott Bell Architecture Copy Share Image
The semi-colon is a burp, a hiccup. It's a drunk staggering out of the saloon at 2 a.m., grabbing your lapels on… — James Scott Bell Asking Copy Share Image
If you can write each day, do it, and meet a quota. Minimum 350 words a day. A baboon can do 350… — James Scott Bell Baboons Copy Share Image
“...God created the world in six days. On the seventh day, he rested. On the eighth day, he started getting complaints. And… — James Scott Bell Complaints Copy Share Image
“Today I resolve to take writing seriously, to keep going and never stop, to learn everything I can and make it as… — James Scott Bell Writer Copy Share Image
A writing teacher once told me that the most successful movies and books were simple plots about complex characters. You should be… — James Scott Bell Able Copy Share Image
Characters who are absolutely sure about what they do, who plunge ahead without fear, are not that interesting. We don’t go through… — James Scott Bell Books Copy Share Image
“At this point in the story, the character looks at himself. He takes stock of where he is in the conflict and––depending… — James Scott Bell Death Copy Share Image
