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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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Novel writing: How to create strong mood
Have you ever read a great horror or thriller novel and felt a pervasive sense of the eerie or ominous? How did the writer create that mood? Mood is an aspect of novel writing that is often overlooked. We talk more about specific elements such as character and plot. The mood ...
December 17th, 2015
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Doris Lessing's top 10 tips: How to explain to readers
How do readers respond to having plot points, character choices or other story elements explained to them? Not well. If a reader finds your voice condescending, chances are they will abandon your book. How to explain to readers entails giving them just enough information without telling them too...
December 2nd, 2015
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Writing a novel: 7 tips from bestselling authors
Writing a novel requires that you pay attention to the many elements of a book that factor into whether or not it is an excellent read. Great writing advice will help you to finish and take further steps to publication when your book is complete. Read advice from seven bestselling autho...
September 17th, 2015
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How to find book ideas: 15 easy methods
Story ideas lie waiting in the unlikeliest (as well as most obvious) places. If you're wondering how to find book ideas, these 15 methods will help: How to find novel ideas: Try Burroughs' 'cut-up' method Get story ideas from music Find inspiration in interesting facts Do physica...
October 5th, 2015
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On writing well: 9 celebrated authors' insights
All fiction writers want to write well. Here are 9 famous authors on writing well and mastering the art of fiction: Remember to write for yourself It can be tempting to be over-anxious about what you imagined audience might think, rather than focusing on what you want to write. ...
October 8th, 2015
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What is good writing? 7 factors that make fiction great
You want to write fiction that your readers will fall in love with, but what is good writing, exactly? These are seven elements of fiction that readers love: Engaging, compelling fictional characters Your characters don’t always have to be likeable, but it helps if they are, and they ...
October 15th, 2015
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Get plot right: Lessons from 7 bestsellers
If you want to build a large readership it's crucial to get plot right. If you look over bestseller lists, you might think that the secret to writing a best-selling novel is to have written one before. Yet here are some books from the past dozen years or so that broke out for their writers and s...
November 12th, 2015
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7 essential rules for writing dialogue
Dialogue can serve a number of purposes in fiction including developing character, building suspense and advancing plot. If written well, it engages readers and increase their identification with characters. Here are 7 rules for writing dialogue: Make your dialogue imitate life...
November 30th, 2015
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Structuring a novel: 7 vital elements
Why is structuring a novel crucial? It puts in place the footholds you need to reach the finish. There are so many different ways of approaching structure in a novel that it can seem overwhelming. Regardless of what method of creating a structure for your book you find easiest, there are seven es...
December 11th, 2015
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