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First person narrative: 7 tips for writing great narrators
Telling a story using mainly first person narrative has both pros and cons. Here are 7 steps to creating a great 'I' narrator, but first: The pros and cons of writing a novel in first person The benefit of telling a story in first person, from a single character's perspective at a time, is...
March 15th, 2016
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How to write a book trilogy: 5 crucial steps
Want to learn how tow write a triad of books that keeps readers with you to the end? Here are 5 key steps for how to write a book trilogy: How to write a trilogy series: Study trilogies' structure and learn what works Plan a thread that builds through all three books Treat the m...
February 29th, 2016
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Writing a mystery novel: 7 items your story needs
Writing a mystery novel is challenging. It demands a keen sense for plot, characterization and creating suspense. A story that actively engages readers in solving the mystery (or in trying to piece together the narrative threads) needs at least 7 elements: A strong hook Active reader involve...
February 18th, 2016
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How many words are in a novel? Finding the right book length
How many words are in a novel, on average? It’s a question aspiring authors often ask. Book lengths vary widely. Every now and then a true doorstopper is published. Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84 (which runs to 928 pages) is one example. Vikram Seth’s A Suitable Boy (published in 1993) runs to a whoppin...
January 21st, 2016
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Writing a book for the first time: 9 challenges you'll overcome
Writing a book for the first time is an exciting but also challenging process. Worldbuilding, creating your characters and plotting scenes are fun processes of discovery, but first-time novel writers often encounter setbacks too. These challenges cause many unprepared writers to give up on ...
January 14th, 2016
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Best book writing blog posts of 2015
We've been looking through our most-shared and most-viewed articles to find out what your best book writing blog posts of 2015 were. Here are our top ten, according to what resonated with you most: How to write a book: 151 must-visit writing websitesIt didn't surprise us that this came ...
January 7th, 2016
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'Can I write a book?' Yes: 7 resolutions that will help
The start of a new year is a great time to set goals and start writing in earnest. Try making resolutions, such as these seven: 1. Turn your censor to the wall Imagine there's a portrait and the eyes meet the perspective of the viewer, creating the unsettling sensation...
January 4th, 2016
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Novel writing: How to create strong mood
Have you ever read a great horror or thriller novel and felt a pervasive sense of the eerie or ominous? How did the writer create that mood? Mood is an aspect of novel writing that is often overlooked. We talk more about specific elements such as character and plot. The mood ...
December 17th, 2015
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Writing habits: Form a winning routine in 7 steps
Writing habits of successful authors are often highly regimented and extremely consistent. In order to succeed as a writer, it is necessary to develop a motivating writing routine, and here’s how: Know yourself - find what writing patterns work best The first consideration in establis...
December 14th, 2015
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Structuring a novel: 7 vital elements
Why is structuring a novel crucial? It puts in place the footholds you need to reach the finish. There are so many different ways of approaching structure in a novel that it can seem overwhelming. Regardless of what method of creating a structure for your book you find easiest, there are seven es...
December 11th, 2015
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How the future will impact your fantasy story characters
Understanding the long-term cause and effect of events in your fantasy world will help you also give readers a more complex and vivid mental picture. Your novel will be grounded in a vivid, complex history. Here are some thoughts on creating a fantasy world that conveys a strong sense of time an...
December 6th, 2015
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Doris Lessing's top 10 tips: How to explain to readers
How do readers respond to having plot points, character choices or other story elements explained to them? Not well. If a reader finds your voice condescending, chances are they will abandon your book. How to explain to readers entails giving them just enough information without telling them too...
December 2nd, 2015
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