Your Opening Paragraph Needs These Four Elements
In a guest post on Jane Friedman's blog, John Matthew Fox offers advice for writing your first paragraph. "The first paragraph of a book is...
Homage or Rip-Off? How to Tell the Difference
In a post on Lit Reactor, Joshua Isard says that two writers can tell the same story in entirely original and unique ways...unless one...
Librarians are a Writer’s Best Friend
In a post on Lit Hub, Sarah Shoemaker says being a librarian has helped her research information for her books and encourages writers to...
Tying Up Your Story’s Loose Ends
In a post on Killzone, PJ Parrish shares tips for writing a strong dénouement that ties up all the strings of your plot. "It’s the part...
So Close, Yet So Far: Which Narrative Distance is Right?
In a post on Writer Unboxed, Donald Maass writes about narrative distance and the difference between straight POV and immersive. "The simplest way to...
Setting Can Raise Your Tension or Kill It
In a new blog post, Janice Hardy says that setting can help you raise the tension in your novel. "The smallest clue can alert...
Lessons Learned from The Social Network
An article on Industrial Scripts says the opening scene of The Social Network has important lessons for how to begin your story. "It’s one...
Why Beginnings Matter So Much
During an interview with the Creative Penn podcast, Shane Millar shares tips for writing brilliant beginnings, regardless of your genre. During the episode, they discuss:
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Don’t Laundry List Your Setting
In a recent post, C.S. Lakin says too many writers ignore the power of setting in their fiction. "Setting is perhaps the most versatile...
Does Your Plot Need a Deadline? (Answer: Yes)
A hallmark of the thriller is the ticking clock, as the hero races against time to avert catastrophe. However, all stories can benefit from...
