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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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6 story conflicts possible in your book
Conflict is at the heart of all stories. These are six of the story conflicts possible in your book: What are story conflicts? A conflict in a book is a situation or meeting between characters that results in challenge and opposition. Conflict, such as a power struggle betw...
January 5th, 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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The secrets of writing humour
It is said that writing humour is the most challenging type of writing, but being able to write comedy is an excellent skill to add to your writing toolbox. Why is learning to write humour so important? There are a number of reasons: 1. Humour writing contains important elements of craft Humour w...
November 3rd, 2014
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Write better description: What Marquez can teach us
Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez was praised for his lyrical, vivid descriptions among other aspects of his work. By studying his prose, you too can write better description: The most famous works of Garcia Marquez are the novels One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of...
October 15th, 2014
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5 easy ways to research your novel
Writers tend to be split in their feelings about research with some enjoying it and others dreading it. Almost every writer will need to do at least a little research from time to time, but there are a number of methods available to get you the information that you need. Not every novel requi...
October 1st, 2014
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How to choose a book title: Titles that sing
Although it is said that you can't judge a book by its cover, most of us would have to admit we have been attracted to or put off a book by its title. If you want to build your audience, knowing how to choose a book title is crucial. So how do you choose the right one? For a lucky few works ...
August 13th, 2014
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What is an unreliable narrator?
An unreliable narrator (or the use of untrustworthy narrators) is one of the most powerful literary devices or tools available to a writer. Their unreliability might be obvious to the reader throughout, it might be revealed gradually, or it might come as a revelation that provides a major plot tw...
July 30th, 2014
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