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Writing inspiration: 11 authors on how to get inspired to write
This week we have a bumper guest post: we asked several writers and lit bloggers whose work collectively spans nearly every genre from historical fiction to sci-fi to tell us about their top sources of inspiration. When you're inspired to start writing a book of your own, try the Now Novel proce...
April 13th, 2015
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Historical fiction: 7 elements of research
This guest contribution is by author and historical fiction blogger M.K. Tod of A Writer of History. Mary provides valuable insights into the particular research required of the historical fiction writer, along with practical advice for sourcing the factual material that will help bring a bygone...
March 30th, 2015
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How to appeal to young and old: Roald Dahl
British writer Roald Dahl is one of the most popular and beloved children’s authors in the English language. Writers can study his work to learn how to appeal to young and old and so create fiction for children that lasts. Roald Dahl's longevity Although Dahl died in 1990, his books re...
March 23rd, 2015
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The art of suspense: Donna Tartt
The ability of Donna Tartt to generate suspense is one of the reasons she has as much popular success as she does critical acclaim. Writers can study her use of this element to see how she deploys it to turn her literary novels into page turners that exemplify the art of suspense. Donna Tart...
March 16th, 2015
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Rediscovering the joy of writing
Writing is almost always a labor of love, but sometimes that love falters. When you begin to forget what you ever enjoyed about writing in the first place, it's still possible to restore a sense of joy to your work: Write about writing Try a freewriting exercise. Write about your feelings ...
March 2nd, 2015
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Getting better at writing: Simple ways to improve craft
Writers may sometimes feel overwhelmed by the many aspects of fiction they must attend to when learning to write. Getting better at writing comes with practice, but you can also work on your craft consciously: Consume stories like a writer Sometimes, writers talk about reading as a writer....
February 25th, 2015
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How to keep motivated after the first draft
How do you keep motivated after the first draft of a book? Read tips to stay focused for the longer haul of revision and the path to publication: Common emotions on finishing a first draft Many writers experience one of two emotions on finishing a preliminary draft. They may feel exhilarat...
February 9th, 2015
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How to avoid clichés in writing: Story themes
To be an original writer, it's important to learn how to avoid clichés. Many of the same themes are explored often in fiction without being reduced to clichés. You can do the same by understanding what the clichés of your genre are, and how to create your own, varied treatment: First: What ...
January 19th, 2015
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A letter to beginning writers
Beginning writers are at the start of an exciting journey, and it may be one that lasts a lifetime. With that in mind, here is some advice for writers at the start of it all that they can return to throughout their writing lives. Perseverance and making time Writing requires a number of skills. M...
December 29th, 2014
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How a Novel Ends
[This week we're fortunate to have successful author Warren Adler with us, giving his insights on how a novel ends.] Roderick Thorp was part of a small group of novelists who came together on a monthly basis in the late eighties in Los Angeles to chew the fat. Rod had made a breakthrough success ...
November 25th, 2014
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Writing a story from beginning to end: How to take charge of plot
Writing a story from beginning to end is a complex task that people approach in varying ways. Some are guided by their characters or by instinct. However, it is possible for you to take charge of your plot and steer it in your intended direction from the opening sentence to the fin...
November 17th, 2014
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NaNoWriMo Challenge: why writers should do it
Cari Bennette of Jet Writers shares tips for overcoming NaNoWriMo hurdles. Well, here it is November again and once more the National Novel Writing Month has started. Is this the year you'll get that novel written? We’re about to give you nine good reasons why you should go through with it...
November 4th, 2014
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