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How to use poetry in fiction
Stretching eyes west, Over the sea, Wind foul or fair, Always stood she Prospect-impressed; Solely out there Did her gaze rest, Never elsewhere Seemed charm to be. From ‘The Riddle’ by Thomas Hardy This is how John Fowles begins his novel, The French Lieutenant’s Woman, that h...
August 14th, 2023
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Crime writing: 10 pointers from the experts
From not having your protagonist eat too many scrambled eggs to writing what you know--and don't know--here's a roundup of advice from crime writing aficionados. Of all the advice about how to write thrilling crime novels, who knew that having your detective eat less scrambled eggs might...
August 28th, 2023
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Unseen worlds: the omission of women on SFF 'best of' lists
SomeGuy (and there is always someone who will fall under this title) will invariably pipe up in any online discussion on gender and identity for science fiction and fantasy (SFF) writing. He’ll often say, "oh, I never see an author’s gender or sexual orientation as being relevant for fiction," b...
October 1st, 2023
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What is literary fiction? How to develop a literary voice
What is literary fiction? Literary fiction explores subtleties and complexities of language, theme and symbolism. It often tends to be character-driven rather than plot driven. Read a definition plus tips on how to develop literary writing style. How do you define literary fiction? If you ...
March 11th, 2024
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Fantasy book writing: 7 tips for captivating high fantasy
The fantasy genre endures for many reasons. It transports us to other worlds, stimulating the imagination. It draws on powerful archetypes and symbols. Fantasy is part of the larger category of speculative fiction, and is a massive genre. Read 7 tips for writing captivating high fantasy: Why ...
February 26th, 2024
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How to write a murder mystery: 7 tips to captivate readers
Murder mysteries are captivating, page-turning tales that keep readers on the edge of their seats, trying to uncover the killer in a room full of suspects. How to write a captivating murder mystery Follow these seven tips to create a fast-paced story that will keep your audience hooked unt...
February 19th, 2024
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Comedic writing: How to write a funny story
Funny, comedic writing is hard. Senses of humor vary in what people find amusing. Read a guide to how to write a funny story. Explore types of humor and comedy genres, humor writing tips from stand-up and comedy icons, and examples of different types of comedy writing. Bear in mind that these f...
February 11th, 2024
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Baring your soul: ways to write a memoir
We live in a time when baring your soul by writing a memoir has become so popular that bookshelves, literal and virtual, are awash with the genre. And importantly, they stock memoirs of ordinary people. There was a time when it was more common for only the very well-known to write memoirs. We re...
November 5th, 2023
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Writing sex scenes: How to heat up romance
The writing of sex scenes has been turned on its head by the Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy written by E.L. James. The sex in her books though, as unconventional as it is, is the premise of the entire plot. While this hasn’t detracted from it becoming a bestseller (quite the contr...
June 10th, 2024
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The rise of eco-fiction: a literary response to environmental crisis
The world is getting hotter and fiction writers’ responses to environmental and climate change are heating up too. While not a new genre, its rise can be dated to the 1960s and 1970s, more and more novels and non-fiction works now deal with the impact of this climate crisis. Eco-fiction is on th...
July 29th, 2024
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The Rise of Romantasy: Love in Enchanted Worlds
It is not many authors that walk into a New York City bookstore to be greeted by screaming fans. But that’s exactly what happened with romantasy author Sarah J Maas in February 2024. Just before midnight she surprised fans waiting for the imminent publication of latest novel, House of Flame and ...
October 7th, 2024
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