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:

Dialogue Writing

Writing movement and action in dialogue: 6 tips

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Great dialogue in fiction sweeps us up in the story. Movement and action in dialogue are two important elements that serve multiple purposes. Here are tips for writing dialogue that connects your characters to their world:

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Book marketing Book publishing Guest authors

Submitting your novel: Key elements of success

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This is a guest post by Samar Hammam, literary agent and founder of Rocking Chair Books.

Tags advice from literary agents, writing a synopsis

Writing coaching Writing Motivation

Being a fiction writing coach: 5 valuable lessons

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Being a fiction writing coach gives daily insights into the common and different struggles aspiring authors face. It also helps us find solutions we can apply to challenges in our own creative work. Here are 5 valuable lessons we’ve learned through working with diverse writers:

Tags writing coach, writing process

Writing Inspiration

Finding good story ideas in your genre

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Finding good story ideas in your genre is easier when you read broadly and know your genre well. Read tips for finding and developing an idea that will appeal to other fans of your genre:

Tags book ideas, story ideas

Editing

Editing your writing: How to double your efficiency

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This is a guest contribution by Lisa Lepki, editor at ProWritingAid.

Tags book editing, self-editing

Character writing

Creating villain motivations: Writing real adversaries

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In fiction, villains come in all guises and disguises, from scheming rulers to domineering family members or peers. Learn how to write villain motivations that make sense:

Tags character motivations, writing villains

Story Structure

Story climax examples: Writing gripping build-ups

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19 Comments on Story climax examples: Writing gripping build-ups

Sometimes we overstate the importance of ‘climax’ in a story. After all, some novels end with anti-climax. Bret Easton Ellis even ends a novel mid-sentence. All the same, knowing how to create a gripping build-up is useful, especially if you’re writing a fantasy or thriller. Here are tips gathered from exploring effective story climax examples:

Tags plot structure, story climax examples

Story openings Story Structure

How to write a hook: 8 tips to lure in readers

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3 Comments on How to write a hook: 8 tips to lure in readers

Knowing how to write a hook is one of the key skills separating published from unpublished authors. Publishers want to know (among other things) that your book will appeal to an audience within the relevant market. How do you write a hook that makes readers lose track of time in book stores and library aisles?

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Character writing

Character motivation examples: 7 tips for clear motives

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9 Comments on Character motivation examples: 7 tips for clear motives

Believable character motivations drive all of literature’s most famous characters. Characters, like real people, have desires, wants and needs. They have motivations they’re aware of and ones they aren’t. These all impact the choices they make. Here are 7 tips for creating character motivation:

Tags character motivation, how to write characters, irrational character motivation, rational character motivation

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