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 …
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 …
Perhaps Ernest Hemingway was being dramatic when he said ‘There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at the typewriter and bleed.’ But writing a novel is a momentous undertaking that will challenge your imagination, your will, and, yes, even your sanity. Many writers find themselves filled with ideas for stories demanding …
The best way to learn how to write fiction is to read a lot of fiction. I hear this advice over and over again, and I wholeheartedly agree. Sometimes, though, when you’re after a bit of extra guidance, it can be helpful to have some explicit advice on hand. Though there can be some alarming …
People new to writing are often advised by teachers, mentors and other established writers to find their voice. But before we delve into exercises to help you discover your own writer’s voice, let’s surmise what we mean by this phrase. A writer’s voice describes the themes they write about, their perspectives on these themes, and …
7 Writing Exercises To Help You Find Your Writer’s Voice Read More »
Parenthood. It’s a full-time job. Often one we have to fit around another full-time job in order to pay the bills and eat. The same can be said for aspiring writers who have to make time for their passion in the hours not consumed by paid employment and sleep. Finding the time to write is …
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Whichever corner of the internet you spend your time lurking in, you have no doubt encountered fandoms – and by extension, fan fiction. At the time of writing, fanwork mecca Archive of Our Own (AO3) has published well over five and a half million works of fan fiction, spanning every genre of fandom imaginable. Despite its …
5 Benefits Of Writing Fan Fiction (And Why You Shouldn’t Dismiss It) Read More »
Researching your novel: all authors have to do it. Whether you’re brushing up on your science facts for a detailed multi-book space opera, or digging into the nitty-gritty of life on an isolated cattle farm for a reflective contemporary novel, you need to do your homework. But homework’s not exactly fun, is it? Well, before you …
5 Fun & Unusual Ways To Do Research For Your Novel Read More »
Spoiler alert: this post contains a number of potential spoilers relating to deaths occurring in various books/movies, including A Song of Ice and Fire/Game Of Thrones, The Book Thief and The Hunger Games. Part of being a writer is facing the heart-wrenching necessity of killing our darlings. While this practice can refer to many aspects …
Sending my novel out for beta reading was potentially the most terrifying part of my writing career to date. As a Creative Writing graduate, I’m no stranger to critique; workshopping my writing with peers was basically all I did for four years. But when it came to my novel, I always kept it close to …
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There are few things more magical to a writer than an idea. That initial spark of inspiration, that tiny kernel that nestles itself in your mind – slowly growing and developing, taking shape and form… There’s no doubt that ideation is one of the most exciting parts of the writing process. But for many writers, …
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One of the first things you need to decide when setting out to write a story is what point of view it will be told from. This not only means deciding on the main character (or characters) you’ll be following, but also whether you’re telling their story from first or third person perspective. (A note on …
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Urban fantasy is one of the most popular fantasy subgenres around. Defined as stories with magical or supernatural elements that take place in a contemporary city or town setting, the urban fantasy category includes the likes of authors such as Patricia Briggs, Cassandra Clare, Neil Gaiman and Jim Butcher. Its definition seems simple, but what …
One of the first questions you need to answer when beginning a novel is: ‘Whose perspective will I be writing from?’ Depending on your genre, you may choose to take the common route of telling your story from a single perspective – that of your main character. However, there is another option: writing from multiple …
6 Quick Tips For Writing Multiple Points of View Read More »
Today we’re going to talk about one of the most divisive literary devices around: the prologue. As you probably know, a prologue is a section that appears before Chapter One in a book. The prologue is something separate from the main story, which always begins in Chapter One. Some readers are OK with prologues. But …
Ahh, romance. Not only is it a massively popular genre of its own, it’s also an extremely common element in countless other genres and categories – from literary fiction right through to sci-fi, fantasy and young adult fiction. However, writing romantic relationships isn’t easy. Just because it’s done often, doesn’t mean it’s always done right! If …
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When you’re establishing a writing routine, there are so many things to consider. Should you aim to write for a set amount of time each day, or reach a set amount of words? Should you try to smash out a first draft as quickly as possible, or take your time perfecting as you go? Unfortunately, …
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Writing plot twists is much harder than it looks. As readers, we’re used to devouring mind-blowing twists and turns, marvelling at the cleverness of the writers who devised them. But as writers behind the scenes, it’s difficult to dream up new and innovative ways of subverting readers’ expectations. If you want to write stories that surprise …