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Creating fantasy worlds: Social critique
Creating fantasy worlds can be an excellent means for social critique because writers have the opportunity to imagine worlds that are entirely different from our own. This allows highlighting its quirks and issues through contrast and similarity. Here’s why it is important for writers to do so a...
July 30th, 2015
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Writing for all ages: why do adults read YA novels?
Depending on which survey you read, adults buy anywhere from 55 to 80 percent of YA novels, and they make a substantial number of those purchases for themselves, but why is YA fiction writing for all ages? Here are a few reasons along with writing tips that writers of all types of fiction can ta...
July 27th, 2015
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Writing confidence: Silencing the 'You can't write' voice
Like most writers, you may sometimes struggle with self-doubt. Yet step one in learning how to write a novel entails learning to differentiate between constructive (self) criticism and unproductive criticism. Even if you are critical of your own work, here are tips to boost your writing confiden...
July 21st, 2015
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How to pace a crime novel
If you want to write gripping, gritty police procedurals or other crime fiction, knowing how to pace a crime novel is essential. An effective crime novel must keep the reader turning pages while revealing enough information to make the narrative flow at a cracking pace. Here are some suggestions...
July 15th, 2015
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How to write believable characters
Knowing how to write believable characters is vital for any fiction writer. A character that seems like a stock character - the hero, the villain, the orphan, the unwilling savior - can easily become too predictable. So how do you create a great character? There are several ways to make sure tha...
July 13th, 2015
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Writing a novel: Why it will increase your happiness
Finishing a novel can have many benefits, but can it also increase your happiness? Even though there is a stereotype of artists, including writers, as tortured, unhappy souls, there are plenty of ways that finishing your book can make you a happier person: Writing leads to flow which leads to...
July 9th, 2015
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How to write a series: 8 novice mistakes to avoid
Learning how to write a series presents several pitfalls. Here are 8 mistakes to avoid if you're writing your first book series: 1. Choosing a series concept too thin for multiple books Is your story idea big enough to stretch across multiple books? Would you be able to extend your ch...
June 29th, 2015
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Best poems from the 21st Century: 3 lessons in how to write a book
Many prominent novelists have also been poets: the Canadian author Margaret Atwood has been a prolific writer of not only novels but poetry and essay collections too. Poetry tends to have a smaller readership, but the best poems provide insights into how to be creative with image, style and line...
June 28th, 2015
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Infographic: How to build a book audience
Our previous guide on how to build an audience for your fiction included practical tips on using social media, getting active in your local book-reading community and more. Now you can read and share some of the key pointers included in that guide via the concise infographic below: These...
June 27th, 2015
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How to build a book audience: 6 smart methods
How can you build a book audience for your writing? These six strategies will take you from creating a core audience to expanding well beyond that initial group of readers: Work as your own book publicist If you are self-published, you already know this is vital to finding a readership. If...
June 25th, 2015
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Overcoming writing obstacles: Zainul Khan
In this interview we speak to Now Novel member Zainul Khan. Mr Khan kindly agreed to talking about his eventful life and writing development in a guest writer interview. He has written several books, including novels and a memoir, triumphing over personal setbacks in the process. We hope Mr. Kha...
June 22nd, 2015
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Writing advice: Show, don't tell: or should you?
“Show, don’t tell” is one of the most common pieces of advice given about writing, but should you follow this advice? In fact, sometimes you should tell (and not show). Here are some of the reasons why: What does 'Show, don't tell' mean? First, let’s look at what the phrase means. 'Show, d...
June 15th, 2015
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