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Setting the scene: 6 ways to introduce place in stories
Setting the scene for a story is important. This is vital whether you are writing a fictional story or a nonfiction book, although the scene will not be fictional then, of course. Giving readers a vivid sense of where and when events take place anchors action and dialogue. When readers are able ...
April 1st, 2019
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Character tropes: 5 tips to avoid stock types
Character tropes (common stock characters) have their place in stories. Satires and spoofs, for example, use types such as the 'cool mom' or 'orphan who must save the world'. Yet character tropes quickly dull a story when characters read as too predictable. To avoid tropes: 1. Know your chara...
March 25th, 2019
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How to overcome writer's block: 14 methods
Writer’s block is frustrating when you have a story you want to tell but can't find the words to tell it. However, feeling stuck needn't be the end. Try the tips below: 1. Set a regular writing time Set a regular time for writing. It doesn’t have to be every day. It can be every other day,...
March 22nd, 2019
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Using a novel outline template: 5 tips for story prep
You can easily find a novel outline template such as a spreadsheet full of empty fields to fill. Yet columns and rows of blank space are also daunting. Here are 5 tips for an easier outlining process: 1. Choose a flexible story outline template The word 'template' has connotations of sten...
March 18th, 2019
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How to find motivation to write: Value, engage, reward
'Motivation' is a word that comes up time and again when we survey readers and members on writing challenges. There may not be a single, exclusive solution for how to find motivation to write. Yet here are 5 ways to stay fired up and on track: 1. Focus on writing tasks that give intrinsic val...
March 14th, 2019
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What is motif in literature? Using repetition creatively
The word 'motif' is often used interchangeably with the word 'theme' in writing about stories. What exactly are motifs in stories, and how can you use them effectively? Read a definition followed by tips to use them imaginatively: What is a motif? Motif vs theme Oxford dictionaries define ...
March 11th, 2019
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Character development: 9 tips for arcs with depth
Character development gives fictional characters depth. Like us, characters grow, change, make mistakes and learn (or don't). Read 9 ways to make your characters grow and take readers on a great character arc: How to take character development deeper: Plan characters' goals and motivation...
February 28th, 2019
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How do you write a dystopian story? 5 tips
Dystopian stories about characters or societies grappling with 'bad places' like post-apocalyptic wastelands remain popular for several reasons. For one, their situations naturally supply intense conflict, drama and suspense. How do you write a dystopian story? Start with these 5 tips: First,...
February 25th, 2019
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Developing stories by asking 'What if...?': 5 uses
Developing stories from the foundations of an idea to full novels is challenging. Yet the simple question 'What if?' is a powerful tool. Read 5 examples of ways you can use this versatile question to imagine story developments: 1. Ask 'What if...?' to find your story scenario's scope A 'sc...
February 21st, 2019
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How to plot a novel: 7 tips for success
Learning how to plot a novel means first understanding the elements of great plots. Here are 7 tips for plotting a story that will engage readers from the first chapter: First: What do we mean when we talk about 'plot'? Let's look at plot vs. story. The British author E.M. Forster des...
February 18th, 2019
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Help with writing: 6 tips for getting critiques
There are many options for getting help with writing online. Here are 6 tips to get the maximum benefit from writing critiques: 1. Be brave, bold, and play In an in-person, 'live' writing group, you might feel daunted. Sometimes it's hard to write the bold lines and stories that ma...
February 7th, 2019
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5 mystery elements for intrigue in any genre
Mystery elements are important in all genres, not only whodunits or suspense/thrillers. Here are 5 mystery elements and how you can use them to fill your stories with intrigue: First, what is mystery? When we talk about mystery as a literary device (rather than as a genre), mystery has mul...
February 4th, 2019
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