Tag: writing
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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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Punctuation: Parentheses
Definition: a punctuation mark; a pair of round brackets ( ) used to mark off a parenthetical word or phrase. Note: Do not rely on grammar or spelling checkers to identify missing or misused punctuation. Although a checker may flag possibly missing or incorrect marks, it cannot do much else. While I still recommend using…
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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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Punctuation: Single Quotation Marks
Definition: each of a set of punctuation marks, single (‘ ’) or double (“ ”), used either to mark the beginning and end of a title or quoted passage, or to indicate that a word or phrase is regarded as slang or jargon or is being discussed rather than used within the sentence. Note: Do…
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What is Book Doctoring?
To understand book doctoring, you must first understand what developmental editing is. In short, developmental, also known as content or substantial editing, deals with the actual story. [Click here for a longer explanation.] An editor will make comments about the characters, the settings, the plot, and more, helping you to achieve the best work you…
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Writing Good Characters
Let’s face it: writing characters is hard. Writing good characters is even harder. But it’s possible. I won’t be able to give you a step-by-step guide of writing good characters, but this article will help shine a light on how you can improve your understanding of people—fictional or not. What Makes a Good Character? In…
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Review: The Bane of Jushosh
The Bane of Jushosh by Tiffany M. Rhys 3 stars – it was okay; too long I’ve beta-read this before but didn’t mind rereading it as an ARC. Read: Jan. 30 – Feb. 8, 2023. To read my review of Book 1, click here.To read my review of Book 2, click here. Check out the…
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Punctuation: The Semicolon
Definition: a punctuation mark (;) indicating a pause, typically between two main clauses, that is more pronounced than that indicated by a comma. Note: Do not rely on grammar or spelling checkers to identify missing or misused punctuation. Although a checker may flag possibly missing or incorrect marks, it cannot do much else. While I…
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Punctuation: The Colon
Definition: a punctuation mark (:) used to precede a list of items, a quotation, or an expansion or explanation. Note: Do not rely on grammar or spelling checkers to identify missing or misused punctuation. Although a checker may flag possibly missing or incorrect marks, it cannot do much else. While I still recommend using these…