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Writing a heroic journey: 8 tips for epic arcs
The heroic journey is a classic story format. We find heroic quests in all genres. The relentless detective quests for the truth in crime fiction. The fantasy hero quests for knowledge, healing or restored harmony. The plucky whistle-blower quests to bring a corrupt official to justice in a poli...
April 20th, 2020
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Lyrical writing: 5 tips for crafting richer prose
Lyrical writing is writing that is song-like, poetic, or deeply evocative. Below we have 5 simple tips to write in a more lyrical style. First, though, let's define the lyrical style of writing. We've all read books in which the writing can be simply described as beautiful. The writing ...
April 14th, 2020
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Plot hole pitfalls: 7 tips to avoid and fix
A plot hole, like a glaring grammar or typographical error, takes your reader out of the story. Read definitions of types of plot holes, plus 7 tips to avoid and fix them: What is a plot hole? A plot hole in a novel, film, play or other story medium is a gap (as the word 'hole' implies) in...
April 6th, 2020
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Proofreader tips: 10 paths to a tidier draft
Many books - self-published and traditionally published - could benefit from having had further editing. Here are 10 proofreader tips for a polished draft: 1. Read sentences in reverse Reading from right to left isn't reserved for Hebrew and Arabic scholars. Reading a sentence from last...
March 30th, 2020
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Writing under lockdown: 7 positive ideas
How do we write and create during uncertain times? Writing under lockdown or self-isolation during the Coronavirus pandemic may feel both impossible (due to lost focus or urgent priorities) and a necessity. Having a creative outlet, distraction and a way to play is good for mental health. Here a...
March 23rd, 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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Characters of personality: 7 concepts for richer stories
Remembering characters of personality such as extroversion and introversion will help you create characters who contrast with each other. Here are 7 ways to use concepts of personality to create a richer cast of players: How to create characters with personality Use the 'Big Five' persona...
March 2nd, 2020
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Mythical creatures list: 6 fantasy inspirations
Authors through the ages have found story inspiration in mythical creatures. From fauns and mermaids to the more unfamiliar, here is a mythical creatures list (with examples from books) to inspire your own fiction: 1. Fauns 'Hybridity' is a common element in many mythical creatures. Biolog...
February 24th, 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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What the best fantasy series teach us: 7 lessons
The best fantasy series offer many lessons in building magical worlds and fantastical escapades. Read 7 lessons from series by Le Guin, Tolkien, Pratchett, Lewis and others: 1. Create magic with the details The 'rules' for world building are similar to the rules for writing realism. Detail...
February 3rd, 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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World building tips: Writing engaging settings
World building tips often focus on fantastical genres such as fantasy and sci-fi, because they involve creating worlds different to our own. It's important to create immersive, interesting and believable settings, whatever your genre. To build a detailed world, one to rival Westeros, Hogwar...
January 16th, 2020
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