Getting started as a writer tends to go one of two ways: either you sit down and the words flow easily, or you stare at a blank screen and wonder why the hell you thought you could do this. But it’s not just new writers who get struck down by a creative drought. Lack of …
30 Writing Exercises To Get Your Creative Juices Flowing Read More »
Creating captivating and enticing characters can be one of the most challenging aspects of creative writing. Not only do you have to consider their individual traits, but also their place and purpose in the narrative. Typically, stories within the popular sphere tend to feature a back-and-forth between one or more protagonists and an opposing antagonist. …
Does A Story Always Have To Have A Protagonist And An Antagonist? Read More »
The protagonist is usually thought of as the hero of the story. They might have flaws or make poor decisions, but over the course of their journey, they generally right their wrongs and triumph over evil. As readers, we connect with the protagonist’s internal motivations, wants and fears. We understand why they are the way …
Is your head full of a cast of characters you’re longing to set forth on an epic adventure story? Writing a story that includes many characters can add a layer of richness and detail to your story that many readers will respond well to. It also allows your creative mind to explore a range of …
Fan fiction is writing based on movies, TV shows, video games and other creative works that already exist. It extends or builds on the work of other successful creators – most often without their consent. Fan fiction writers use the characters, setting, plot or other creative elements from these works to create their own work …
When you think of a novel, you might imagine only one main character leading the way. While this may be the typical way to tell a story, it doesn’t mean it’s the only way to do it. Maybe you have a brilliant idea for a multiple-major-character story you’re just dying to tell, but you’re not …
The first piece of advice I received on this topic was from my Screenwriting 101 teacher. He taught that scenes are camera cuts where the setting or time changes, and chapters are like sections of a TV episode that end with ad breaks. In book terms, a scene is an important point in your story …
What’s The Difference Between A Scene And A Chapter? Read More »
If you’re in the process of formatting your novel for submission to a publisher or editor, or in preparation for self-publication, you might be stuck on the spacing. To double-space or single-space – that is the question! Chances are, publishers will toss a manuscript that doesn’t follow their preferred formatting. Don’t risk it! The wrong …
“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” —Stephen King It’s impossible to overestimate the power of reading. But aside from the multiple emotional (and physical) benefits of reading, what unique value does reading bring to writers and their craft? Can reading more make you …
National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, encourages writers to pen 50,000 words in 30 days. It’s a challenging task, but one that people all around the world complete each year. Winning doesn’t result in a physical prize, but it will give you a great sense of accomplishment (and bragging rights, of course). NaNoWriMo can be …
Getting started on a novel can be the hardest step. Writers the world over have often debated the best way to embark on a new literary endeavour. The novel-writing process tends to follow one of two patterns: plotting or pantsing. For those unfamiliar with these terms, a ‘plotter’ is a writer who follows a strict …
That and which are so similar to each other, it’s tricky to know which one to use. It’s one of those grammatical situations where we know there’s a right way to it, we just don’t know what the right way is. Fortunately, there’s a simple rule you can keep in mind when writing that can …
The English language is a complex thing, and sometimes it feels like it was made to trick people. This is the case when it comes to the difference between leaped and leapt. Both of these words mean the same thing. Sometimes this can happen: two words that are spelled and pronounced differently, and yet are essentially the …
Do you have a writer in your life you need to buy a present for? Or are you a writer yourself wanting to drop some hints to your loved ones? You’ve come to the write place (ahem). Present-buying is not always an easy task, but it’s easier if you know the interests of the person …
What Are The Best Birthday & Christmas Gifts For Writers? Read More »
In a novel, the prologue – a section preceding your first chapter – is a powerful literary tool. When utilised correctly, a prologue can elevate your novel to the next level. Fiction or non-fiction, crime or fantasy, a prologue sets the tone for the reader from the very outset. The blank-canvas nature of this opening …
Appearing at the very end of a novel, an effective epilogue can leave a lasting impression on your audience. Written in similar fashion to the prologue, this short section is situated directly after the final chapter. Writers typically employ an epilogue for a variety of reasons, ranging from a narrative resolution to a detour or …
Romance. Love it or hate it, it’s been around forever. From William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet to Sally Rooney’s Normal People, readers have been enamoured with love stories of all kinds. We’ve cried, we’ve felt things. And undoubtedly romance will continue to enchant us for years to come. Many new authors vying to pen the …
A book is like a time travel machine. Reading allows us to go into another world for a moment, whether it be to a wintry wonderland, a sun-blasted desert or a faraway castle equipped with fire-breathing dragons. It can also take us places more reminiscent of the everyday world, like a coffee shop on a …
What is a literary agent? How much do they cost? Do I need a literary agent? Can I even afford one? These are some of the most commonly asked questions in regards to literary agents, so today we’re here to clear up any residual doubt you my have. Do I need a literary agent to represent …
Before you get to work creating the greatest character of all time for your novel, you also have to stop and consider which perspective you want to tell your story from. Which one fits your story? Which will help you tell it in the best possible way? Today we’re clearing all your doubts, breaking down …