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Writing sex scenes: How to heat up romance
The writing of sex scenes has been turned on its head by the Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy written by E.L. James. The sex in her books though, as unconventional as it is, is the premise of the entire plot. While this hasn’t detracted from it becoming a bestseller (quite the contr...
June 10th, 2024
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Interiority in fiction: the glue between inner and outer worlds
Fiction provides a window into the lives, thoughts, and emotions of characters. One of the most powerful tools a writer has in their arsenal to achieve this is the use of interiority. Interiority, or the depiction of a character's inner thoughts and feelings, allows readers to step inside the mi...
June 3rd, 2024
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Delving into fourth person point of view
‘Whenever we saw Mrs. Lisbon we looked in vain for some sign of the beauty that must have once been hers. But the plump arms, the brutally cut steel-wool hair, and the librarian’s glasses foiled us every time.’ These lines are from the opening chapter of The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey E...
May 27th, 2024
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A definitive guide to mastering point of view
When you crack open a novel you're stepping into the shoes of the narrator of the story. And how that story unfolds and immerses you largely depends on the point of view (POV) it's told from. Point of view isn't just a technical choice or term; it's the lens through which readers experience the ...
May 20th, 2024
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EB French on her writing journey
EB French is currently in our Group Coaching program, and has just released her first novel, Botanical Love. It's a romantic comedy described as as a sweet workplace romance in small-town Georgia. Here's a synopsis: Mari has focused on her career for far too long, mostly because plants don'...
May 16th, 2024
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End notes: what goes at the back of a book
We have all had the experience of reading a novel, getting to the end and feeling unsatisfied. Something wasn’t right, we expected more, the story was so big, so enjoyable and yet, it’s hard to put a finger on it. We may now vow never to read another word from that author again. More than lik...
May 13th, 2024
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Elevate writing using literary devices
Recognize any of these literary device?'It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.' – Charles Dickens'Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.' The Dickens quote, from the novel, A Tale of Two Cities, is an example of anaphora, while the Peter piper tongue twister might have be...
May 6th, 2024
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How to use Jung's 12 archetypes to shape characters
We are all familiar with character archetypes: the smiling joking jester, the villain with a leer on his face, or the wise man or woman with flowing white hair. There’s a reason we are familiar with them, as they are used over and over in the stories we watch, read and consume in various ...
April 29th, 2024
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Exploring the depths of villainy
The evil eye peering through the keyhole, the man with a dagger raised, the sneer of a woman’s scarlet-painted lips. Cue the sinister music: we’re talking about villains, antagonists and anti-heroes. These nefarious characters, with their dark intentions and sinister deeds, play an indis...
April 22nd, 2024
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Interview with Now Novel debut novelist Christine Bhasin
Christine Bhasin wanted to write for a long time, but life and children took over. She took the plunge into writing when she hit 60. She joined Now Novel where she has been able to receive feedback on her chapters as she wrote. Christine Bhasin Now 65, she has been steadily at...
April 18th, 2024
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Impact of introductions, prologues, prefaces and forewords
‘I was told that novels shouldn’t have prologues,’ a writer said to me recently. We had been discussing her novel, and I was suggesting that she could add a prologue to it to strengthen as aspect of the story. She said that she was under the impression that a prologue would slow or delay the...
April 15th, 2024
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Writers sound off on vanity publishing
Recently we asked this question on Now Novel’s social media platforms: Some say vanity presses exploit writers’ dreams by charging excessive fees. Others argue they provide an alternative path in a tough industry. What’s your take?There were a lot of responses to this hot button topic. Vanity pr...
April 8th, 2024
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