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Fix weak style in writing: 9 tasks
Weak style in writing has the power to make a new reader close your book and pick up another instead. Improve style in your fiction with these 9 tasks: 1. Cut out pleonasms What is a 'pleonasm'? Derived from the Ancient Greek word for 'excess', a pleonasm refers to using more words than ne...
September 9th, 2019
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Interesting plot ideas: 6 writers' insights
Many authors have shared interesting plot ideas, giving insights on how plot works and why it matters. Here are 6 authors' ideas from essays and interviews about plot, and what they teach us: 1. Find the cause and effect between events Defining plot, E.M. Forster gives us the classic quote...
September 2nd, 2019
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Character background: 7 tips to write better backstory
Learning how to write character background or compelling backstory requires balancing present and past narration. Read 7 tips to write better backstory: 7 character background story ideas: Brainstorm formative events that shape your characters Choose where to tell character backstory ...
August 22nd, 2019
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Finding story ideas romance hasn't exhausted: 7 sources
Seeking original story ideas romance hasn't done to death? Try these 7 approaches to finding romance story inspiration: 1. Search romantic words in Google News News articles are often great sources of inspiration. They may supply character ideas or else the basic contours of a story idea y...
August 19th, 2019
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Story plot ideas: 8 fun ways to find your premise
Finding story plot ideas that grab hold of your imagination is easy if you know where to look. Try these 8 ways to find a strong premise for your story: 1. Keep a journal to mine for plot ideas Often we overhear anecdotes or have surprising experiences that we forget in the rush of daily l...
August 12th, 2019
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How to start a chapter: 25 writers' lessons
Knowing how to start a chapter well is key to keeping your reader engaged. We examined 25 authors' transitions from first to second chapters. These revealed several ways to write strong chapter openings and transitions: 1. Zoom closer into the action Often authors start a chapter by moving...
July 29th, 2019
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How to start a short story: 5 lessons from great writers
If anyone can teach us how to start a short story, it's authors famed for their skill in writing shorter tales. Read 5 examples of effective short story openings and what they teach us: 1. Learn how to start a short story from Faulkner: Create intrigue Neil Gaiman wrote: 'Short stories ...
July 22nd, 2019
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Plot structure examples: Creative plot lessons from stories
Concrete plot structure examples teach us how to structure a story with purpose. Read illustrative examples of well-known stories' plot structure, from children's stories to famous epics and novels: First: What is 'plot structure'? 'Plot structure' refers to the patterns the events of a st...
July 15th, 2019
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How to write romance that feels real
Learning how to write romance that feels real is important if you want readers to believe your love story. Read the following tips on how to write chemistry, compatibility, complexity and other key elements of real relationships: 1. Add chemistry to first encounters There are countl...
July 11th, 2019
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Writing first lines: 100 bestsellers' lessons
When telling a story, your opening sentence needs to be catchy, so readers continue. The best first lines of books show us the common devices authors use to grab our curiosity. We analyzed 100 New York Times bestsellers' first lines to share the following insights: 1. Introduce interesting ch...
July 9th, 2019
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Creative points of view in character writing: 5 examples
The different points of view - first, second and third person POV - each offer creative ways to convey your characters' voices and personas. Read 5 tips with illustrative examples from novels: First: POV definitions Point of view, often abbreviated POV, is a crucial element of fiction writ...
July 4th, 2019
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Writing background characters: 5 uses
In a novel, film or stage play, not every character needs to take center stage. Some characters play a minor role. Some add passing humour, obstacles, important advice or information. Read 5 ideas for writing background characters: 1. Try writing background characters for habitation Often ...
July 1st, 2019
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