Creating a scene list changed my novel-writing life, and doing the same will change yours too. Includes examples of the scene lists from famous authors.
I asked my Instagram followers,“What are some signs of amateurish writing, in your opinion?” Here are the results!
There's a lot to learn from JK Rowling's writing philosophy—and a lot to leave behind. Try these 9 principles in your writing, and let go of anything that doesn't help you.
Writers Write is your one-stop writing resource. Use these cheat sheets to help you show a character's state of mind when you're writing body language.
Many writers wonder how to use the Three Act Structure in their writing. The precise and orderly outline has guided the writing of millions of books.
Download This Writing Worksheet (PDF) When it comes to writing dialogue, you could do worse than follow the rules of Just a Minute: no hesitation, no repetition, no deviation. Theatre scripts provide excellent inspiration for good dialogue, being composed of little else, and having been written with speech at the forefront, without film’s excessive reliance on visual…
Know how to write a book. This is a comprehensive guide for all beginners to become writers and authors, either through traditional or self-publishing.
Formal_Informal_English (Formal Writing Expressions) (Formal letter Practice) (For and Against essay) (how to write a film review) (film review) (film review) (opinion essay) (a magazine article) …
Download This Worksheet (PDF) Your antagonist* is tired of being compared to your protagonist. Give him / her some love with this worksheet. While this worksheet has been designed for antagonists who are characters, remember that this needn’t always be the case! Also works for your real-life antagonists… More Ways to Understand Your Antagonist Protagonists…
Have you ever wondered if you have what it takes to be a writer, if you want it badly enough, or if you’re truly meant to be one? Below follows a list of 10 signs that you are meant to be a writer. Check out how many of them apply to you.
Do you surf the internet when you are bored? Here are 21 simple things to try when you are bored or tired. Read more here.
Writing Worksheet – Endings (PDF) In honour of NaNoWriMo, this month’s worksheets will have one purpose: to increase your word count by hook or by book. The final writing worksheet in this marvellous month of November is inspired by the last virtual NaNoWriMo write-in. Imagining the best endings for each of your characters is a…
Writers Write is your one-stop writing resource. Use these cheat sheets to help you show a character's state of mind when you're writing body language.
"I don't want to love her. I don't like what that means for me." "What do you think it means?" "It means I have something to lose again, and I'm not strong enough for that anymore."
Psychiatrist Jonathan Peeples discusses what writers should know about the symptoms and treatment of schizophrenia
Toxicologist Megan Cartwright Chaudhuri discusses toxins and poisons in sci-fi/fantasy literature.
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Download This Worksheet (PDF) Plot Twist Worksheet Nothing makes me want to race through a story more than an idea for a great plot twist! The best twists reframe the entire narrative and leave you spluttering in disbelief; Fight Club, Ender’s Game, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Birds Fall Down, and Murder on the Orient Express…
Venezuelan artist Maria Guadarrama is the creator of a comic strip called "The Unspoken Truth." But these are not just funny pictures, there is true life philosophy hidden in them.
Photo by Антон Воробьев on Unsplash Look look! Another series! It'll probably be pretty short since I can only think of fantasy,...
Creative Writing Worksheet – Politics (PDF) No subject could be less dear to my heart than politics, and in consequence I find myself immensely impressed by writers who create intricate political intrigue in their stories. On one end of the spectrum are science-fiction authors like Lois McMaster Bujold and Anne McCaffrey who invent the political systems of different planets, and on…
An exciting twist on more common story structures, the Four Act Structure is one you'll definitely want in your novel writing toolkit.
Writers Write is your one-stop writing resource. These lists will help you select the character traits you need for the characters in your books.
A blank novel outline template for use with Google Docs, Google Keep, and Scrivener. The One Page Novel is a simple, memorable structure for novelists.
Creative Writing Worksheet – Politics (PDF) No subject could be less dear to my heart than politics, and in consequence I find myself immensely impressed by writers who create intricate political intrigue in their stories. On one end of the spectrum are science-fiction authors like Lois McMaster Bujold and Anne McCaffrey who invent the political systems of different planets, and on…
Writing Worksheet – Creating Mood (PDF) I think of mood as being the expression of a setting’s personality. Depending on the narration style, mood will often be created through a character’s experiences with the setting, but it can also remain unmediated. Some of the moodiest creations have deep layers of emotion and richly-detailed and slightly sinister backdrops; Gormenghast and House of Leaves…
Sometimes it’s difficult to decide where to begin telling a story, and “begin at the beginning” isn’t always the best advice. Click here to download this writing worksheet (PDF) The beginning of your story need not take place in your opening scene! The opening scene can be used to… Capture the reader’s attention with an…
Find the perfect word and tell us exactly how you feel.
So today I want to talk about dealing with a massive cast of character. I am talking about main and secondary characters (not the odd village baker passing through a random scene never to be heard…
These philosophical quotes will give you ideas about the philosophy of life. Wisdom of all time!
Download This Worksheet (PDF) How to Kill a Character All writers become murderous sooner or later, but it’s important to kill your character in the right way, at the right time and for the right reason. I hope this worksheet will help you premeditate the perfect coup de grâce.
There’s nothing quite like a really memorable villain to add drama to a story! Who can forget Count Fosco, or Moriarty, or Sauron? Use this worksheet to craft the perfect villain. Click Here to Download This Worksheet (PDF) If you’d like a more well-rounded villain, you might consider plotting their character arc. You can also…
One of my favorite ways to outline or plan a story is to map it out like a subway or road map. Here's how this technique works. Each road or subway line
NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month—write a 50K word novel during November) starts today, and while I plan to continue blogging throughout NaNo, I wanted to make sure I gave you something good to keep you happy during my crazy month. *smile* Of course, whether or not you’d define today’s post as anything good might depend […]
Writing Worksheet: Character Naming (PDF) Character names can be surprisingly useful for characterisation, worldbuilding, and even plotting – if you’re enrolled in How to Be the Heroine of Your Own Story, be sure to read the textbook chapter titled, ‘How to Discover Your (Character’s) True Name’. If you need to set some naming conventions for…
Are your fictional characters falling flat? There might be some crucial elements that you're missing.
