Comedy… why do we like it so much? What makes it different from other genres? And how can you add some funny scenes into your story to provide a bit of light relief? Briefly, comedy is what makes people laugh – but it’s also treacherously subjective. Home videos of people falling off trampolines can have […]
Oft-quoted advice for writers is to write what you know. But what if you want to write about medieval Europe during the Black Death? Do you have to invent a time machine and pop back through the centuries with a backup supply of modern antibiotics? That might take a while – and possibly break some […]
As you may well know, just because you’re writing fiction, it doesn’t mean you make up absolutely everything. Successful fiction usually comes from the art of weaving reality with imagination. A good writer lures readers in with imaginative details, but makes them stay with believable plots and people – and a single content or contextual […]
Everybody loves to watch a good movie. The action, the characters, the setting, the special effects – they all come together in their own way to present this absorbing, extraordinary world in which everything seems possible. Like literature, most movies are designed to offer us important life lessons and to mimic and reflect on real-life […]
The results of our most recent reader poll are in, and the winner – by a mere 2% of the vote – is international sensation Diana Gabaldon’s sweeping and fantastical historical romance, Outlander! Gabaldon’s tale of time-travel, war, intrigue, and passion exploded into the popular realm following its adaptation into a Starz original TV series […]
Once again, we’ve been busy scouring the fiction markets, looking out for the most interesting homes for your latest stories. What did we find this time around? Take a look at the lists below! Be sure to thoroughly check the guidelines from each publisher. Even if you don’t have anything ready right now, they might […]
Writing can be a lonely task. As you sit by the light of your monitor and type away at a story, you have no idea if what you’re creating will be received as inspired genius or unmitigated drivel. One way to find out is to share your story with other people. Family and friends might […]
Many academics, most notably author Christopher Booker, believe that there are only seven basic plot structures in all of storytelling – frameworks that are recycled again and again in fiction but populated by different settings, characters, and conflicts. Those seven plots are: Overcoming the Monster Rags to Riches The Quest Voyage and Return Rebirth Comedy […]
… or, Why Everything You’re Doing to Write More & Better is Wrong. Writing is hard. This is what we tell ourselves, over and over. Apply backside to chair. Force yourself to write. Don’t be tempted to do something more interesting. Writers write. This makes it tough for us mere humans, who feel guilt and […]
The answer to the question of whether being an active reader will make you a better writer won’t be news to most authors – it’s advice we’ve all been given on many occasions. But why does reading make you a better writer? How much should you read if you want to get the most benefit? […]
