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The art of suspense: Donna Tartt
The ability of Donna Tartt to generate suspense is one of the reasons she has as much popular success as she does critical acclaim. Writers can study her use of this element to see how she deploys it to turn her literary novels into page turners that exemplify the art of suspense. Donna Tart...
March 16th, 2015
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How to appeal to young and old: Roald Dahl
British writer Roald Dahl is one of the most popular and beloved children’s authors in the English language. Writers can study his work to learn how to appeal to young and old and so create fiction for children that lasts. Roald Dahl's longevity Although Dahl died in 1990, his books re...
March 23rd, 2015
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Types of narration infographic - 6 narrative POVs
Types of narration and POV play a crucial role in your story's overall dramatic effect. What is a narrator? The narrator is the character whose point of view frames the entire story. Here is a handy infographic explaining 6 kinds of narrator. When you're finished reading, try the The No...
June 14th, 2015
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Writing advice: Show, don't tell: or should you?
“Show, don’t tell” is one of the most common pieces of advice given about writing, but should you follow this advice? In fact, sometimes you should tell (and not show). Here are some of the reasons why: What does 'Show, don't tell' mean? First, let’s look at what the phrase means. 'Show, d...
June 15th, 2015
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Lessons in how to write books from film adaptations
Successful adaptations from books into film give insights into how to write books that have cinematic appeal and potential. Read tips gleaned from several successful adaptations: 1. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell David Mitchell's 2004 novel cuts across multiple time periods and character ar...
September 14th, 2015
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Writing dialogue: 7 ways to write better conversations
Writing dialogue presents a unique set of challenges. A single italicized word can change the whole tone and meaning of an exchange, for example. Compare a person telling a questioner 'that's all I can remember' with 'that's all I can remember.' The difference in emphasis alters the meaning of t...
September 10th, 2015
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How to write a series: 8 novice mistakes to avoid
Learning how to write a series presents several pitfalls. Here are 8 mistakes to avoid if you're writing your first book series: 1. Choosing a series concept too thin for multiple books Is your story idea big enough to stretch across multiple books? Would you be able to extend your ch...
June 29th, 2015
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How to write a novel: Story beginnings, middles and ends
Learning how to write a novel involves mastering many skills - description, narration, crafting believable characters and more. Understanding how to writing engaging story beginnings, middles and endings is also key. Here are key tips on writing each of these three important parts of a book...
August 17th, 2015
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The writing process: 7 steps to structure and success
'The writing process' - this is a term you might hear often, but how do you put in place a set of writing approaches that will help you finish your novel? Every writer has a process that works for them, and discovering the time, place, tools and other aspects of writing that work best ...
August 20th, 2015
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Writing a novel: 8 writing tips from Ursula K. Le Guin
The esteemed fantasy and science fiction writer Ursula K. Le Guin has often provided great advice for writing a novel. In interviews, public speeches, essays and her writing manual Steering the Craft, Le Guin provides many insights into how to write better and master your prose. Here a...
August 31st, 2015
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How to end a story: Write satisfying closing chapters
If you have ever found a book spoiled by its ending, you know it's important to learn how to end a story well. Here are 8 pointers on how to end a novel. When you've written a draft ending, submit it for writing critique. 1. Decide the type of story ending you want Ending yo...
September 3rd, 2015
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The unreliable narrator: Creating surprise in your story
The unreliable narrator is a useful fiction device for creating surprise in your story and avoiding predictability. Here are some ways that unreliable narrators can be used to shape a novel’s form or to surprise and build tension in the reader: What is an unreliable narrator? What is ...
September 7th, 2015
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