Many of us aspiring fiction writers hope to be the next Stephen King or J. R. R. Tolkien. While achieving this comes with great prestige and power, there's also a cost. Attending the RealmMakers conference helped this sink in. The panelists at the conference spoke about the issues of being a published author. It isn't …
Category: writing tips
False Starts and Introductions to Novels: Too Cliché or A Forgotten Skill?
"At dawn, the sun either shines itself or hides behind clouds, promising what the day will bring. So it is with introductions in stories." —anonymous Most agents and editors would balk at the suggestion of a false start intro. On its own, there's nothing wrong with an exciting beginning, so long as it's done well. …
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The Hero’s Journey in Fiction
Years ago, I read a fantastic book named The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell. In it, the author details the Hero's Journey. This is a powerful story element that every writer, artist, or spiritual seeker should understand. It illustrates a protagonist's adventures, from a safe haven to the darkest dungeon—be they literal or figurative. The …
Describing Sounds in Writing
When we think of the word sound, the last thing we may associate it with are words and phrases. However, sound and writing go hand-in-hand. Recently, I learned from a writing class how important sounds can be for strengthening prose—what a shocker! In this article, I'll discuss the various definitions and techniques that are often …
POV in Prose and Writing
Points of View POV (point of view) in prose is a vital storytelling element, likened to the camera of the reader. Imagine looking through the eyes of one person for the entire story. In that camera, there's a degree of trust, faith that the reader holds in the storyteller. Maybe it switches to another character …
My Favorite Music While Writing
Music has a powerful influence on the human brain, particularly with creativity. The mileage varies from person to person, as some prefer silence—which is its own type of music. I've found that my creative process increases when I play certain tunes. In this post, I'll share with you some of the genres and bands that …
The Blank Page and Writers’ Block
Hello, my readers. How are you doing during the lockdown? Okay, I hope?Today, I'll discuss the dreaded Blank Page that haunts every writer at one point in his or her career. I'll also mention the tricks and tips I've used in overcoming writer's block. A new story always begins with a blank page or screen. …
Making Fantasy Fiction Maps in GIMP: Tips and Tricks
Crafting a map for a fictional universe can be a handy resource for readers. Not every fiction has a cartographic reference, nor is it a requirement for good work. However, when done correctly, a map benefits both author and reader. In this article, I'll give an example of how I create my maps. You can …
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NaNoWriMo 2020: Tips and Preparation
It's that time again Today's topic is—you guessed it—NaNoWriMo. It stands for National Novel Writing Month, a yearly event celebrated by writers the world over since 1999. From November 1st to the end of the month, each writer must produce a 50,000-word novella—first draft version of course. Nobody expects a masterpiece as this is more …
Book Length, Word Count, Readability, and Free Goodies!
Hello, my readers! Today I'm revisiting book lengths for authors. The length of a book can be a vital factor in its success. Depending on the target audience, genre, readability, and book type, the word count in a book can vary. That said, there are always outliers—books that have done well outside of word count …
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