My next writing exercise from Finding Your Voice is to write a 10 page paper on my biggest writing weakness, identify authors whose writing is strong in that area, and analyze how they do it.

My biggest writing weakness–not by biggest human weakness (we'll save that for another day)–is that I don't show what's going on inside my character's head. I need to show what the character is thinking so the reader can connect with the character. The most common feedback from my rejections is that the editor or agent did not connect with the character. Almost every month at writing group, I'm asked to include more of what my character is thinking, her reactions and thoughts.

I've identified these writers and books to analyze:

Chris Crutcher, Deadline

Shannon Hale, Enna Burning

Carol Lynch Williams, the chosen one

Sydney Salter, Swoon at Your Own Risk

I will post my paper when it's done. I should learn a lot about how to show what my character is thinking.

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