UpsideofDown_2x3[1]

The Upside of Down

Purchase “Hmmm,” the doctor muttered. Natalie wrinkled her forehead, almost afraid to ask, and said, “What does that mean?” “You do know you’re pregnant, right?” Her...

Rebecca Cornish Talley

Tag Archives: writing a book

He Said, She Said: Dialogue Tags

Many new writers complain that using “said” is too boring. They want to liven up their writing with new and different tags. The problem with using tags other than “said” is that 1) they call attention to themselves and draw …

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Creating a Character’s Backstory Part 1

A character’s backstory is important to your story. You won’t use all that you create as the character’s backstory, but knowing it will help you create deeper, more interesting characters.

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Purple Prose

What exactly is purple prose and why should you avoid it? Purple prose can be defined as overwriting, using flowery language, and making the writing so complicated it’s hard to even understand it. Purple prose calls attention to the writing …

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Writing: Self-Publishing

Until recently, when someone said they’d self-published a book, most people would roll their eyes and mutter under their breath, “He’s not a real writer.” Not so anymore. Gone are the days when you have to plunk down thousands of …

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The Dreaded Rejection Letter

You’ve taken classes, studied the best writing books, outlined your novel, taken a year to write it, and let others read and critique it. You’ve researched the market, picked a few publishers you feel will be the best fit for …

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