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Novel

Common Rhetorical Devices List: The Art of Argument

By Sean Glatch | November 1, 2022 | 4
common rhetorical devices list

Rhetorical devices are techniques in writing and speech that try to persuade the audience. A rhetorical device uses language to shape ideas into arguments, convincing the reader through a plethora…

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What is the Setting of a Story? 5 Functions of Setting in Literature

By Jack Smith | October 11, 2022 | 4
the setting of a story: functions of setting in literature

A short story or novel without a setting is one without context—it occurs nowhere and at no particular time. But every person and everything in our everyday world occurs somewhere…

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Parallelism Definition: Writing With Parallel Structure

By Sean Glatch | October 3, 2022 | 2
what is parallelism in literature?

Parallelism, or parallel structure, describes a type of sentence structure common in the English language. When poets and prose stylists effectively employ grammatical parallelism, they strengthen the connections between ideas…

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What is Point of View in Literature? Exploring Narrative Point of View

By Sean Glatch and Jack Smith | September 27, 2022 | 3
what is point of view in literature?

You might not notice it, but most published writing contains a narrative point of view. This includes every book, poem, email, instruction manual, even some street signs and cereal boxes.…

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What is Mood in Literature? Creating Mood in Writing

By Sean Glatch | September 13, 2022 | 2
what is mood in literature?

When we talk about the different feelings that a work of writing evokes, we’re talking about the types of mood in literature. Creative writers are experts at drawing out specific…

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“Show, Don’t Tell” in Creative Writing

By Sean Glatch | September 6, 2022 | 15
show dont tell the golden rule of writing

“Show, don’t tell” is one of the simplest guidelines in creative writing, and one of the most helpful. In short, it encourages writers to transmit experiences to the reader, rather…

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Anti-Hero Characters: Writing the Unheroic Protagonist

By Sean Glatch | August 30, 2022 | 1
anti hero characters

Want to learn more about how to write an anti-hero? Consider taking our private class with Gloria Kempton. The anti-hero (or antihero) archetype is a popular feature of modern books…

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Foreshadowing Definition: How to Use Foreshadowing in Your Fiction

By Jack Smith and Sean Glatch | August 23, 2022 | 6
foreshadowing definition

Foreshadowing is a clue in the text that hints at events to come. Much like in real life, where we see the signs of things happening in the present by…

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What is a Foil Character? Exploring Contrast in Character Development

By Sean Glatch | August 2, 2022 | 0
creating contrasting characters

A foil character, or character foil, is a character whose actions and traits contrast those of another character—often the protagonist. The foil character is like a white background against a…

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What is Magical Realism in Literature? Exploring El Realismo Mágico

By Sean Glatch | July 26, 2022 | 6
what is magical realism | van gogh cypress

What is magical realism? Imagine a woman discovers she can cry fabric (instead of water), so she starts a clothing business where she knots her tears into dresses. This odd…

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