I'M PROUD OF YOU
Lately, I've been tutoring a high schooler named "Q" in English. The more I work with him, the more I realize that English is one of the...
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Candice Bellows, The Story Engineer
Oct 1, 20201 min read
YOU USED A STETHOSCOPE FOR WHAT?
Some time ago, I found this amusing post on Pinterest: I suppose this improvisation would work in an apartment full of medical-field...
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Candice Bellows, The Story Engineer
Sep 28, 20202 min read
BREAKING CHARACTER (OR NOT)
This weekend, I was working on a pair of scenes in my WIP. In this part of the story, my protagonist's (Patricia) overprotective father...
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Candice Bellows, The Story Engineer
Sep 21, 20203 min read
LIFE-ALTERING IS AS LIFE-ALTERING DOES
My church congregation in Colorado Springs finally started meeting in person again in August. Though we could only meet every other week,...
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Candice Bellows, The Story Engineer
Sep 9, 20202 min read
IS IT A VICTORY OR A DEFEAT? YES
I had to have a tough conversation the other day. It involved sensitive topics, big fears of mine, and people I wasn't happy with. To my...
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Candice Bellows, The Story Engineer
Sep 8, 20201 min read
WHOSE BOOK IS IT, ANYWAY?
A few days ago, I was talking on the phone with my five-year-old niece, "C1." When she asked what was new with me, I told her that I was...
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Candice Bellows, The Story Engineer
Sep 7, 20202 min read
I MUSTACHE HOW YOU'D DEAL WITH THIS
When I was a teenager, my family regularly vacationed in Door County, Wisconsin. One of the favorite activities for the parents and older...
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Candice Bellows, The Story Engineer
Aug 31, 20202 min read
THINKING ABOUT WRITING A SEQUEL? TRY THIS UNUSUAL TOOL
A couple of months ago, one of my Facebook friends shared a link that allowed you to get the computer game Civilization VI for free as...
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Candice Bellows, The Story Engineer
Aug 28, 20205 min read
1 COMMON MISTAKE AUTHORS MAKE WITH INCLUSIVITY (AND 4 WAYS TO AVOID MAKING IT)
The other day, I saw a section on a job application in which applicants could voluntarily disclose whether they had a disability. I've...
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Candice Bellows, The Story Engineer
Aug 25, 20204 min read
CHICK-FIL-A EN FLAMBÉ
I love Chick-fil-A, but no one can deny that it's pricey. However, I found a copycat recipe for their chicken sandwich online, so a few...
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Candice Bellows, The Story Engineer
Aug 24, 20202 min read
DEFINE "AMBIGUOUS," PART 2
Lord Viren, the main antagonist of The Dragon Prince (image from https://dragonprince.fandom.com/wiki/Viren?file=Viren_Official.png) When...
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Candice Bellows, The Story Engineer
Aug 21, 20203 min read
DEFINE "AMBIGUOUS," PART 1
A few weeks ago, I finally watched a show that my siblings have been talking about for a while: The Dragon Prince. I really liked it and...
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Candice Bellows, The Story Engineer
Aug 18, 20202 min read
MAKING THE EPIC RELATABLE
I think all great pieces of art have two things in common: They make you think, feel something, learn something, or all of the above....
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Candice Bellows, The Story Engineer
Aug 17, 20203 min read
WRITING WHAT YOU *DON'T* KNOW
As writers, we're often advised to "write what you know." There's definitely value in that suggestion. Experience lends not only accuracy...
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Candice Bellows, The Story Engineer
Aug 4, 20203 min read
SAY WHAT?
A few weeks ago, I was at the grocery store when I crossed paths with a man wearing a hat that said Vietnam Veteran. I always try to...
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Candice Bellows, The Story Engineer
Jul 30, 20201 min read
"FLAVOURS"?
The other day, my friend posted on Facebook about making homemade baby food for her son. It seemed like any other post until the last...
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Candice Bellows, The Story Engineer
Jul 23, 20202 min read
DON'T BE A TOLKIEN
Longer ago than I'd like to specify, when I was fresh out of college, I interned at Deseret Book, one of Utah's major publishers. While I...
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Candice Bellows, The Story Engineer
Jul 22, 20202 min read
WRITING ABOUT INJURIES? TRY THIS FACEBOOK GROUP
Of all the writers' groups I belong to on Facebook, one has proved especially helpful for my work: Trauma Fiction. If you plan to injure...
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Candice Bellows, The Story Engineer
Jul 21, 20202 min read
STAKES FOR SUCCESS
Today's writing tip has to do with stakes. Not the ones you stick into vampires (although Secrets of the Dead has an interesting episode...
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Candice Bellows, The Story Engineer
Jul 14, 20202 min read
WRITE WHAT YOU(R HEART) KNOW(S)
Today is Bastille Day in France—roughly equivalent to Independence Day in the US. So, of course, all things French are on my mind. I...
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