The apostrophe serves three functions: contraction, plural and possessives.
How Supporting Characters Showcase the Protagonist
All the characters are part of an interconnected web, distinguished by contrast. The contrast between characters helps define each character
Casting your Supporting Characters
Every person in the group should carry their own weight by bringing knowledge or by having a unique skill to the table that pays off later in the story. Each person stands for some quality, an aspect of the story’s theme that transcends the narrow significance he holds as an individual.
How Tough is your Hero really? Take the Wimp Test!
Take this test to see if you (accidentally) created a wimp or cowardly character. Interpret the scores and follow the fixes to make him braver.
The Structure of a Suspense Scene
Part 1 – Stating the scene goal (1 short paragraph) State what the protagonist‘s goal is and why. Display character emotions of anxiety and suspense. Part 2 – Suspense building (a few paragraphs) Have the[…]
How to make writing a habit
Writing flourishes best when it is done in a routine, so make it a habit! The only way to make it a habit is by writing every day. If that’s not possible, be sure to write at least once every two-three days.
Dialogue: giving each character a unique voice
Giving a character a unique voice creates a vivid mental image of a person because speech is a form of characterization. Word choice, grammar, cursing and even silence, it all says something about the sort of person. Note: this goes for major characters only. It is not necessary to give a distinct voice to background characters or minor characters with only one or two speaking lines.
The Publishing Timeline
Publishing is every writer’s dream, but the road from manuscript to book-store sales takes quite a while.
Quick overview of biggest genres
Mainstream Mainstream stories are contemporary stories intended for the general public rather than a specific audience. This type of story challenges the reader’s belief system, suggests a new life vision, asks provocative questions, provokes introspection,[…]
The Contract
What’s in a contract and how do you know whether you should sign or pass? Check out the answers here.
Self-editing; How to Polish the prose
To Polish: Smoothing the reading, reword the prose. To Rewrite: reworking elements of the story to make it more immediate and dramatic.
The Literary Agent, Why you’ll want one and How to get one
The editor and agent speak the same language. Agents know the editors and publishing houses better than authors and thus also know how much wiggle room there truly is when negotiating the contract.
Short Stories
The short story is the most common form of story-telling in our daily lives. It’s the method we use when we tell our partner’s about our day and our children about what the world was like in the past. It’s the way we tell all the stories of our lives and everybody elses. The story begins with knowing and goes directly to the core of the experience. It should generate a sense of anticipation, hope and doubt. When the short-story is over, the reader should long for more.
Step 3: The Synopsis – The Taster That Gets Them Hooked
If all goes to plan, you hooked the agent/editor enough with the query letter to make them turn the page and start reading your synopsis. The synopsis gives them a taste and leaves them wanting more.
Foreshadowing and Aftershadowing
Before anything major happens, you can start by teasing your reader with little hints (also known as foreshadowing) that something is about to happen. This creates suspense.
How to get into Flow
Flow occurs when the writer is intensely concentrated and so completely involved in the process of creating something new that he doesn’t have any attention left to monitor anything else (not even hunger). It requires a balance of skill and challenge. The writer should have the necessary skill to accomplish the task at hand, yet still be challenged by the process of accomplishing it.
Step 2: The Cover / Query Letter that sells books
The query letter is your audition for the part of writer. It’s proof that you can write. It is a one page document in which you introduce yourself and your manuscript.
Hook your Reader with these Page-Turner Tricks
A hook is a line or paragraph that draw readers in instantly. Writing hooks is essential to writing that page turner story that your reader just can’t put down.
Subplot Purpose and Requirements
The rules subplot must follow: 1 It must affect the protagonist’s main plot. 2 The subplot character is usually not the ally, the subplot character and the ally have two separate functions. 3 It is a fully realised plot on its own with its own structure.
The Importance of Hurting the Protagonist & How to do it
Your job as writer is to torture your protagonist. Put obstacles in his path. Make life difficult for him, make him work for everything he wants.