Author: Jordan

Jordan Kantey is an editor, writer and writing workshop facilitator. He’s been helping authors develop their stories for ten years. He achieved his Honours in English Literature with distinction from the University of Cape Town. He has had poems published in several journals and an anthology. He blogs about writing craft and process at Now Novel and loves to help aspiring authors reach their goals.

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He has been interviewed about his writing, editing and coaching on YouTube.
He has also shared his writing skills on sites such as Writers helping writers.
In addition, he served as a judge for a number of awards. These include Page Turner Young Writer Award as well as the Elegant Literature’s Behind the Veil’s contest for new writers.
He showcased his writing talents with a five-star rated writing guide, How to Write Scenes: A Concise Guide to Scene Structure, which is available on Amazon.

Articles on the Now Novel blog:

Editing

Proofreader tips: 10 paths to a tidier draft

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Many books – self-published and traditionally published – could benefit from having had further editing. Here are 10 proofreader tips for a polished draft:

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Writing Inspiration

Writing under lockdown: 7 positive ideas

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How do we write and create during uncertain times? Writing under lockdown or self-isolation during the Coronavirus pandemic may feel both impossible (due to lost focus or urgent priorities) and a necessity. Having a creative outlet, distraction and a way to play is good for mental health. Here are 7 positive things to remember:

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Dystopian fiction

How to write dystopian fiction: 9 core ideas

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Why do authors write dystopian fiction? A dystopia is an inherently interesting setting. Strife-riddled worlds provide strong backdrops for characters’ fears and motivations. They provide testing grounds for acts of bravery or cowardice, and for stories of tragedy as well as hope.

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Editing

7 ways developmental editing elevates your work

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Completing the draft of a story is a great achievement. Yet ‘Now what?’ often follows. Developmental editing is valuable for enhancing your manuscript (and your writing skills in general). Comprehensive developmental editing helps you:

Character writing

Characters of personality: 7 concepts for richer stories

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Remembering characters of personality such as extroversion and introversion will help you create characters who contrast with each other. Here are 7 ways to use concepts of personality to create a richer cast of players:

Fantasy writing

Mythical creatures list: 6 fantasy inspirations

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Authors through the ages have found story inspiration in mythical creatures. From fauns and mermaids to the more unfamiliar, here is a mythical creatures list (with examples from books) to inspire your own fiction:

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Editing

Editing and revising: 7 tips from top authors and editors

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Editing and revising are often seen as the ‘slog’ part of writing. Yet there is imagination and creativity in this stage of writing, too. Read 7 respected authors’ and editors’ ideas and methods:

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Fantasy writing

What the best fantasy series teach us: 7 lessons

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The best fantasy series offer many lessons in building magical worlds and fantastical escapades. Read 7 lessons from series by Le Guin, Tolkien, Pratchett, Lewis and others:

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Novel writing tips Writing Process

Write with purpose: 7 ways to keep drafts focused

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As in memorable music where each note feels carefully considered, many great books have a strong sense of underlying purpose. How do you write with purpose and direction? Here are 7 ways to keep drafts focused:

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