Genre Writing Guides
Learn the trade secrets of writing in different genres.
Writing an action story: 8 tips for strong pacing
'Action' and 'pacing' are two crucial elements in all stories, particularly in action/adventure and mystery/thriller novels. Knowing how to write action well keeps your tale engaging and fun. Here are 8 tips to help you pace your action story: How to write action better: Understand strong...
June 26th, 2017
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Writing romantic scenes and fight scenes: 6 parallels
Writing romantic scenes between lovers and writing fight scenes (between lovers or heroes and villains) might sound miles apart. Yet both share common important elements: 1. Structure (shape, purpose, clarity and direction) There are four things great scenes of all types (not only ro...
July 13th, 2017
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Comedy writing: How to create humor in writing
There are many articles on writing serious characters, creating action, intrigue, and high drama. Yet what about comedy writing? Read the following ideas and examples for tips on using humor in your writing: 1. Know your audience Toni Morrison said 'If there's a book you want to read, then...
May 21st, 2018
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Romance story ideas: 5 tips for affecting arcs
Inspiration for romance story ideas is everywhere. From news headlines (TV actresses marrying members of the British royal family) to a sweet interaction you might witness in a restaurant. How can you develop a strong, affecting romance story idea? Read the following tips and use them to cr...
May 24th, 2018
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Elements of fantasy: Writing a more magical story
What makes a fantasy story? Our first instinct might be to answer 'magic' - spells, mythical beasts, potions. Yet fantasy contains multiple key elements. Read the following simple breakdown of elements of the fantasy genre and tips to write magical, fantastical tales: What are the main e...
July 23rd, 2018
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How to write mystery: 6 ways to create suspense
Learning how to write mystery is easy when you understand the ingredients of mystery and suspense. Every good story has unknowns readers want answered, yet a good mystery makes us need to know. Here are 6 ways to create suspense and build mystery: First, what are mystery and suspense? ...
September 3rd, 2018
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How to plot a romance novel: 6 tips to sizzle
In a romance novel narrative suspense and tension keep your reader turning pages. Knowing how to plot a romance novel means mastering romantic tension and several other key elements of a beautiful love story (or twisted romance). Try these 6 tips to make your romance gripping: 1. Fin...
January 31st, 2019
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Writing crime novels: Creating riveting human drama
Crime novels are full of surprising turns, hidden motives, human drama and tragedy. They give us the thrill of trying to figure out 'whodunnit'. Or the pathos and interest of seeing how different characters respond to a tragic, intense situation. Here are tips for writing captivating crime novel...
January 28th, 2019
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5 mystery elements for intrigue in any genre
Mystery elements are important in all genres, not only whodunits or suspense/thrillers. Here are 5 mystery elements and how you can use them to fill your stories with intrigue: First, what is mystery? When we talk about mystery as a literary device (rather than as a genre), mystery has mul...
February 4th, 2019
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How do you write a dystopian story? 5 tips
Dystopian stories about characters or societies grappling with 'bad places' like post-apocalyptic wastelands remain popular for several reasons. For one, their situations naturally supply intense conflict, drama and suspense. How do you write a dystopian story? Start with these 5 tips: First,...
February 25th, 2019
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Writing action scenes: 6 ways to keep scenes riveting
Whether you're writing a breakneck thriller, action screenplay or a script for a video game or graphic novel, writing action scenes that keep readers (or viewers) entertained is essential. Read 6 ways to make scenes more gripping: 1. Keep exposition focused and relevant to coming action Ex...
May 13th, 2019
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How to write romance that feels real
Learning how to write romance that feels real is important if you want readers to believe your love story. Read the following tips on how to write chemistry, compatibility, complexity and other key elements of real relationships: 1. Add chemistry to first encounters There are countl...
July 11th, 2019
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