Tag: fiction writing
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10 Tips for Writing Captivating Stories
Capturing a reader’s attention is the goal for many writers. You want them to read and enjoy what you’ve written, but how do you know if you’ve succeeded until the book is out there? Beta readers are the first step, of course. They read your book while you’re still in the editing/rewriting stage, so they…
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Writing Compelling Villains
Stories always have antagonists, someone (or something) who opposes the main character. However, they don’t always have a villain. But what’s the difference? And, if you’re writing a story with a villain, how do you write them to the best of your ability? What is a Villain? First, what is an antagonist? Defined, an antagonist…
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What is a First Draft?
You probably already know this; a first draft is the first completed manuscript of a book, what’s done before the editing process begins. Simple, right? Well, I’m about to go further into detail. Firstly, the biggest mistake writers can make is trying to make their first draft perfect. Do not do this. It is impossible.…
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Dragons in Fiction
Dragons and dragon-like beings permeate history and culture across the world. From the typical European interpretation to their Asian cousins, to Africa and Central America and the Middle East. They differ vastly from one another and go by different names, but they are all, inherently, mythological and majestic creatures. [A handy chart highlighting some of…
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10 Tips for All Writers
Whether you’re just dipping your toe into the waters or you’re a full-blown author, these tips can help you. They’re some of the most universal, so you may have heard them before, but I think they’re the most important as well. 1. Write the story you want to read This may go without saying, but…
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What is an Editorial Assessment?
So, you’ve written the first draft of your manuscript and you’re not quite sure where to go from here. Do you send it to beta readers first? An editor? Do you wait until you’ve gone through it a second time? The answer is fairly simple. If you’re on a budget, I’d advise you to start…
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Werewolves in Fiction
This is the second post I’ve made about creatures. I’m hoping to make it a series, discussing vampires, werewolves, witches, magic, etc. Click here to go to the Vampires in Fiction article. Like vampires, werewolves are very popular in fiction—especially teen and young adult fiction. They are famously the main enemy of vampires, and most…
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Writer’s Block—and How to Overcome It
Writer’s block is something I’m sure every writer knows about and dreads. It’s something I’ve struggled with myself, something I continue to find myself struggling with, even knowing about a dozen strategies to work through it. I don’t think it’s something that goes away just because you know how these strategies, but it’s knowing how…