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Dario Villirilli

Contributor

Editor-in-Chief of the Reedsy blog, Dario is a graduate of Mälardalen University. As a freelance writer, he has written for many esteemed outlets aimed at writers. A traveler at heart, he can be found roaming the world and working from his laptop.

Recent posts

Story openings: 10 lessons from hits of the 2000s

How do you write story openings that engage readers from page one? We look at the beginning paragraphs of books Literary Hub listed as defining books of the 2000s. What do they reveal about writing strong beginnings? 10 insights from the openings of the 2000s' defining novels: Share intri...

August 17th, 2020

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Direct characterization: 6 tips for precise description

Introducing and describing characters are key parts of the storytelling process. Read 6 tips for describing characters using direct characterization, with examples: Tips for direct charactization: Write clear and concise introductions Give specific context Use precise adjectives Give mean...

May 11th, 2020

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Writing cozy mysteries: 7 clues for coziness

The cozy mystery takes a gentler, character-focused approach to crime. Read 7 tips for writing cozy mysteries: What are cozy mysteries? Cozies are a subgenre of crime fiction that became popular during the 20th Century. In this subgenre: Adult themes associated with classic 'hard-bo...

April 28th, 2020

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7 ways developmental editing elevates your work

Completing the draft of a story is a great achievement. Yet 'Now what?' often follows. Developmental editing is valuable for enhancing your manuscript (and your writing skills in general). Comprehensive developmental editing helps you: 1. Catch flaws and enhance your work Copy editing tidi...

March 10th, 2020

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Editing and revising: 7 tips from top authors and editors

Editing and revising are often seen as the 'slog' part of writing. Yet there is imagination and creativity in this stage of writing, too. Read 7 respected authors' and editors' ideas and methods: 1. Eliminate 'puffy' writing In Stephen King's On Writing, King describes a useful note he rec...

February 17th, 2020

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Write with purpose: 7 ways to keep drafts focused

As in memorable music where each note feels carefully considered, many great books have a strong sense of underlying purpose. How do you write with purpose and direction? Here are 7 ways to keep drafts focused: 7 ways to main your draft's focus: Use a flexible outline Write the last lines...

January 27th, 2020

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