Why do I write fiction? It’s not an easy hobby. Nor is it an easy livelihood Ideas for stories often pop into my head, but it’s often a real struggle to get them out in words. It’s taking a quick and thrilling flash of inspiration and translating it into a hard slog of typing and… Continue Reading Why I Write
Once upon a time, writers just needed to know how to write. They didn’t need to know how to register domain names or put up websites. In those days, “the web” was something made by a spider. There were even many centuries in which writers did not need to know how to type. However, those… Continue Reading Start Your Author Site
One of the most important aspects of many stories is the transformation of the main character in which he overcomes his flaw. It can be dramatic, like the transformation of Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. Or it can be more subtle–it probably should be in most stories. Stories in which the main character changes for… Continue Reading Character Change Writing Prompts
Writing Stories is a Business Disclaimer: although this post discusses legal issues, I am not a lawyer, and nothing in this post should be taken as legal advice. If you’re like many other creative and imaginative people, you don’t like the idea of business. Business people wear suits in drab colors, sit in drab offices… Continue Reading The Novelist Gets Down to Business
What is Story Structure? Story structure is a framework for your story. It’s like a pattern for writing stories that keep moving at a good pace and come to a satisfying climax. You could also think of it as a map for your story. It tells you the points in your story when significant events… Continue Reading Story Structure Resources
Should You Write Fiction? How does this sound for a good Saturday morning? You’re sitting at your computer, typing away. You’re working on the fourth draft of your novel. For some reason, you just can’t make the ending come out right. And now, you’re out of ideas. Reality of Writing That’s the reality of being… Continue Reading Are You Meant to be a Writer?
Are you the kind of writer who wants to create something original? Something that reflects your unique personality? A story that isn’t an imitation of any best-selling author? And one that doesn’t fit neatly into any established genre? If so, you may be frustrated. Everything you write seems to have elements that echo authors you’ve… Continue Reading A Story Should be Novel and Timeless