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Inciting incident: Definition, tips and examples

In writing fiction, the opening events that set your story in motion are pivotal. They set the tone and mood, establish key details of character and setting (time and place), and build intrigue. Read a full definition of the inciting incident and tips and examples for making your own gripping: ...

October 16th, 2017

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How to write a character unlike you

In this guest contribution by ESL teacher Ethan Miller, Ethan shares ideas for creating characters who are completely different from yourself. Character creation is a key element of writing a novel. Authors, knowingly or unknowingly, often create characters that borrow heavily from their own...

October 5th, 2017

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Worldbuilding societies: How to create a civilization

In novel-writing, world building is an important concept, especially in genres such as fantasy and science fiction that explore alternate worlds. Good world building questions will help you create a detailed and immersive world. Here are some questions to ask: First, what do we mean by 'civil...

October 2nd, 2017

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Realistic dialogue: 5 missteps to avoid

Realistic dialogue doesn't necessarily mimic everyday speech. There's a lot of real-world filler we remove when writing dialogue (e.g. pleasantries, 'Fine thanks and you?') Yet for dialogue to feel real, it's important to avoid missteps that make dialogue ring hollow: 1: Writing info dumps (t...

September 11th, 2017

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Story plots: 7 tips to be more original

Clichéd story plots weaken an otherwise good story, a story where characters and settings are vivid. To tell a story that feels original and inventive, it's key to learn plot clichés to avoid. Yet many original stories do use common tropes. The key is to make famous story types and scenario...

August 24th, 2017

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Famous characters teach us about characterization

From Anna Karenina to Jon Snow, Don Quixote to Harry Potter, famous characters from fiction worm their way under our skin. Here are lessons from several memorable characters in classic and modern novels: 1. Give characters internal and external conflicts Most famous characters from books h...

August 21st, 2017

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