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Novel

Literary Motifs: What is a Motif in Literature?

By Sean Glatch | April 24, 2025 | 1
literary motifs

When a work of literature employs an image or idea in repetition, that image or idea might be a motif. Literary motifs describe noteworthy repetitions whose presence in the work…

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Symbolism in Literature: What Symbolism Is, and How to Use It In Your Writing

By Sean Glatch | April 21, 2025 | 5
symbolism in writing

Symbolism describes the use of concrete images to convey abstract ideas. Because this literary device is widely open to interpretation, and because many readers form different relationships to concrete objects,…

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You Finished Your First Draft—Now What? A Step-by-Step Guide to Your Novel’s Next Chapter

By Elle LaMarca | February 3, 2025 | 5
you've finished your first draft—now what?

Congratulations! You’ve crossed the finish line of your first draft—an accomplishment many dream of, but few achieve. I hope you are beaming with pride, but after the adrenaline fades, you…

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How to Write a Novel Outline

By Elle LaMarca | November 5, 2024 | 4
how to outline a novel

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…

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What is Free Writing? + Prompts to Elevate Your Writing Process

By Sean Glatch | September 9, 2024 | 4
what is free writing?

If you’re trying to write but can’t get the words flowing, free writing can jumpstart the writing process. Free writing is a no-pressure method of simply getting words on the…

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What is an Unreliable Narrator?: Penning the Prevaricating Protagonist

By Sean Glatch | June 10, 2024 | 10
nick carraway unreliable narrator

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…

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What is Free Indirect Discourse? Writing the “Intimate 3rd Person”

By Sean Glatch | May 6, 2024 | 8
what is free indirect discourse?

Free indirect discourse is a narrative technique in which writers employ the third person POV with the intimacy of 1st person perspective. While this technique became popularized in the 20th…

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How to Write a Query Letter: Your Guide to Publishing Success

By Elle LaMarca | April 22, 2024 | 1
how to write a query letter

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…

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Capturing the Art of Storytelling: Techniques & Tips

By Sean Glatch | March 18, 2024 | 12
the art of storytelling

It is hard to describe the art of storytelling, but you know good storytelling it when you read it. You read a passage of prose and it raises your arm…

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Word Play: Examples of a Play on Words

By Sean Glatch | January 15, 2024 | 6
wordplay definition

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…

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