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421 ways to say said? Simplify dialogue instead

If you search for alternative dialogue tags to use in your story, you'll find many lists. While some synonyms for 'said' read naturally (such as words conveying volume like 'whispered'), others come across as overwritten and forced, particularly in the wrong context. Here are 5 simple ways to...

June 7th, 2018

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Writing prose: 5 steps to better style

Writing prose, like writing poetry, involves specific challenges. Although prose is closer to 'ordinary', 'everyday' speech than poetry, it is easy to write purple prose and make other small mistakes. Here are 5 steps to refine your prose writing style: First: How do you define prose? T...

June 4th, 2018

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Descriptive verb list: 30 words to replace dull actions

Sayings such as ‘the road to hell is paved with adverbs' scare many aspiring authors off using adverbs to describe characters' actions. Yet writers say this because there are often more descriptive, common verbs you could use instead of a duller verb-plus-adverb. Use this list of descriptive str...

May 31st, 2018

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Strong first person narrative: Engaging narrators

First person narrative lets your main character take the reader into their confidence. The intimacy and immediacy of first person, how it closely involves your reader in your narrator's world, makes this point of view (POV) naturally engaging. Here are 5 tips to make a good first person narrativ...

May 28th, 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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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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