Fiction
The Importance of Word Choice in Writing
All strong writers have something in common: they understand the value of word choice in writing. Strong word choice uses vocabulary and language to maximum effect, creating clear moods and…
Read MoreHow to Write a Novel Outline
Congratulations on the momentous decision to start writing a novel! I hope your brain is brimming with plot ideas and character arcs. The start of a new writing project should…
Read MoreWhat is an Unreliable Narrator?: Penning the Prevaricating Protagonist
When you can’t trust the person who’s telling you a story, we typically refer to them as an unreliable narrator. An unreliable narrator is someone whose account of the story…
Read MoreHow to Write a Query Letter: Your Guide to Publishing Success
This article gives you everything you need to know on how to write a query letter. In the highly competitive world of traditional publishing, where aspiring authors must vie for the…
Read MoreHow to Write Flash Fiction Stories
Like a lightning strike, flash fiction stories can be over in an instant—radically altering the terrain of the reader’s imagination. These bite-sized stories take a lot of style, skill, and…
Read MoreWord Play: Examples of a Play on Words
It goes without saying that writers are drawn to language, but because we love words so much, the English language is filled with word play. By interrogating the complexities of…
Read MoreHow to Come Up With Story Ideas
How do writers develop good story ideas? Sometimes, coming up with a story idea is the hardest part about writing fiction. Figuring out what to write about can be frustrating,…
Read MoreInciting Incident Definition: The “Why” of Fiction
“The inciting incident is how you get [your characters] to do something…. It’s the doorway through which they can’t return, you know. The story takes care of the rest.” —Donald…
Read MoreNaNoWriMo Tips: Preparing for National Novel Writing Month
National Novel Writing Month begins in November, and if you’re planning on organizing your own novel writing intensive, you’ve got some NaNoWriMo prep to do. Novelists of all fiction genres…
Read MoreRevising and Editing for Creative Writers
Want to learn more about revising and editing? Check out our self-paced class The Successful Novel, which gives you the tools to write, revise, and publish the novel waiting to be…
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