Always believe in yourself and don’t give up. If you genuinely think your story is good, there’s every chance someone else will too. D’Lacey, C. (2019). Top… Read more “Always Believe In Yourself”
Day: December 15, 2019
Get Right Inside Their Head
To make characters convincing, you have to get right inside their heads and experience the world as they do. You have to be them and use their… Read more “Get Right Inside Their Head”
Take A Break And Listen To Your Subconscious
Stuck? Don’t burn, shred or feed your manuscript to the hamster. Take a break from the story and listen to your subconscious. Follow up any peculiar ideas… Read more “Take A Break And Listen To Your Subconscious”
You Can’t Research A Fantasy Novel
Truth is, you can’t research a fantasy novel, because you’re basically describing an invented world. So be as adventurous as you like. The only advice I would… Read more “You Can’t Research A Fantasy Novel”
Dialogue Is Engineered To Move A Story Along
Fictional dialogue is engineered to move a story along. Quick tips: Keep it crisp. Try not to repeat what the last person has said. Don’t use an… Read more “Dialogue Is Engineered To Move A Story Along”
Writing Good Dialogue Is An Art
Writing good dialogue is an art. You’re unlikely to learn much about it by listening to two people talking on a bus. D’Lacey, C. (2019). Top writing… Read more “Writing Good Dialogue Is An Art”
Think About Writing Screenplays
If your stories are all dialogue, think about writing screenplays. D’Lacey, C. (2019). Top writing tips. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2016/jun/01/top-writing-tips [Accessed 15 Dec. 2019].
Don’t Over-Describe
Don’t over-describe things. Part of the enjoyment of stories is building your own picture from the clues the author provides. One interesting bit of detail is worth… Read more “Don’t Over-Describe”
Beware The “Alarm Clock” Opening
Beware the “alarm clock” opening. We don’t want to read about Fred waking up, switching off the alarm, yawning, scratching his bum, putting his slippers on, going… Read more “Beware The “Alarm Clock” Opening”
Aim For A Killer First Line
Aim for a killer first line. Go for a sentence that gives the reader some idea of what the story is about. The best short story I… Read more “Aim For A Killer First Line”
A Little Soon Becomes A Lot
First things first. To be a writer, you have to write. Often. With genuine desire. From the heart. Write a little every day if you can. A… Read more “A Little Soon Becomes A Lot”
Rolando Andrés Ramos 