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How to write a query letter: 10 easy steps
Learning how to write a query letter is crucial when you're seeking an agent and hoping to publish. Read 10 easy steps for writing query letters that convey polish and your story's USP: What is a query letter? A query letter is a formal letter to an agent or editor. It offers a story for p...
October 19th, 2020
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Adjectives for description: 60 precise words
Finding the right adjectives for description is tough. Try these 7 tips, and create your own describing word dictionary: What is an adjective? Adjectives are parts of speech used to modify nouns. They describe and make people and things more specific. How do you identify an adjective? ...
October 12th, 2020
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Writing comics: Q&A with the creator of Boundless
In this interview with the creator of Boundless the comic, Mike Salsbury, we discuss writing comics, visual storytelling influences, process and building a reading audience. Writing comics: Inspirations Jordan: Thank you for reaching out to us, Mike. I'm curious to learn more about the wor...
October 9th, 2020
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Short story structure: Shaping successful stories
Writing short stories provides a stepping stone to conquering larger story forms. Short story structure is easier to see due to brevity. Learn how to structure stories, with examples by a master of the form: What is a short story? A short story is any piece of fiction too short to be class...
October 5th, 2020
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6 creative writing exercises for rich character
In creative writing, practice is key. Try these creative writing exercises for deeper characterization. Use every detail, from appearance to movement, gesture, voice, habit, and reputation to make your characters great: What do we mean by 'rich character'? First, what do we mean by 'rich' ...
September 28th, 2020
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Plot and setting: Driving stories using time and place
Plot and setting are two essential elements of storytelling. Read tips, examples and exercises to make time and place drive story development: What are plot and setting? Plot is the sequence of related events in a story. It tells us what happens, when, and why. What might have happened (or...
September 21st, 2020
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Writing exercises: 10 fun tense workouts
'What exercises can I do to improve my writing craft?' Writing often and reading a lot are common answers given to this question. Writing exercises targeting specific aspects of craft help too. Dip into these fun, practical writing workouts on using tenses correctly: General tips on tense use...
September 14th, 2020
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How to fix passive voice (and other common issues)
Knowing how to fix passive voice and other common grammar and style issues ensures a cleaner, more impactful draft. Read 7 tips for improving weak writing style: 7 ways to make your language more active: Fix passive voice not used for effect Substitute weak verbs Avoid unintended tautolog...
September 7th, 2020
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Tone in writing: How do you build a novel's tone?
Tone in writing refers to a complex mix of attributes. The mood, register, attitudes and other values conveyed through details such as word choice, sentence structure and the speaker or narrator's attitude to their subject. Read examples of tone in writing that show what creates tone in a no...
August 31st, 2020
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Making external conflict compelling: 6 ideas
External conflict is conflict a character faces that is outside themselves, rather than inner struggle. For example, a sibling rivalry, an oppressive society versus its lone challenger, or the conflict between a town battling for survival and a freak weather event. How do you make external confl...
August 24th, 2020
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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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What are good character traits? 7 helpful attributes
Character growth or change is integral to great stories. Giving characters bad as well as good character traits makes your characterization deeper. It also helps to spark ideas for multiple elements of backstory, for how the character acquired these dominant qualities in the first place. Read...
August 10th, 2020
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