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Writing Dialogue That Matters to Your Story
When writing fiction, it’s important to understand the techniques of writing effective and realistic dialogue. Dialogue in fiction is quite different from speech in real life. Mimicking true conversation won’t be effective in…
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Making Time to Write
So, you wanna write a book but you “just don’t have the time?” I’ve heard people say, and I’ve even said myself on occasion, “I don’t have time to write.” Or, “I’m too…
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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…
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How Do You Fix Clichés in Writing?
How do you fix clichés in writing? First, you need to identify clichés and then work to twist or change them so your prose is fresh and unique. Let’s do a fun quiz.…
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Read to Write
When I give my school presentations to young, aspiring writers I always tell them that in order to write, they must read. In fact, I say the three most important things they need…
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Show Me, Don’t Tell Me in Writing
Who likes to be told what to do? Think? Does anyone like to have everything explained to him or her? The answer is no. An emphatic no. As humans, we like to interpret…
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Writing a Scene
A novel consists of scenes. The way that you string your scenes together determines your plot, which is simply the events that happen to your characters. All fiction must have scenes. Without scenes,…
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Name that Character
How do you name your characters? Some popular authors have created unique names for their characters, while others have used common names. JK Rowling uses names like Dumbledore, Romilda, Lovegood, and Nymphadora. Stephenie…
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Credibility in Writing Fiction
Credibility in your writing is crucial if you want readers to suspend disbelief and immerse themselves in your story. You have to take the time to do your research and make sure any…
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Manuscript Submission Cover Letter
You’ve written your book, had it critiqued and edited, and now you’re ready to submit it. Take a little time to celebrate–you deserve it! Writing a book, any book, is hard work and…
