[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] The best advice on writing I’ve ever received is: Don’t answer the phone. -Patsy Garlan. [/perfectpullquote]
WRITING
12 Questions to ask your character about the setting she is in | LIVE WRITE THRIVE
Certain places will trigger these things to come to the surface and will stir memories. Your character has a past, and even if she never visits any of the places in her past in your novel, other places can draw out feelings and memories. This happens to us all the time.
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A writer’s guide to active setting
4 Ways to choose the right story setting | HELPING WRITERS BECOME AUTHORS
While most authors understand how to choose the right story setting for the overall book, they don’t typically put as much thought into the locations for the individual scenes. Yet these decisions are just as important.
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What fantasy writers can teach us about setting | WRITERS WRITE
World building is a word or term used mostly in the genres of Fantasy and Sci-Fi, but if you think about it, it is pretty apt for any story. You have a character who lives in a world.
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How to use a photo shoot for character development | THE WRITE PRACTICE
The photographer has arrived to photograph the characters for your story. They are setting up the lights and the backdrop as your characters get ready to have their photograph taken.
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The difference between character habits and quirks | WRITER’S DIGEST
Bu
t what exactly is the difference between Behaviors, Habits, Mannerisms and Quirks? In my investigation into character quirks, I found there are subtle differences between them.
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Writing argument scenes with Rayne Hall | ROMANCE UNIVERSITY
Dialogue scenes in which two characters argue are great for showing conflict and adding plot complications.
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- Character thoughts: Direct and Indirect Interior Monologues | FICTION NOTES
Sometimes, you can even leave off the “she thought” part and give it as if the reader is inside the character’s head. These thoughts are in the character’s language and diction, not the narrator’s.
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+ Related books:
- How to write dazzling dialogue
- Writing success: Your book from start to finish to publication
- Outlining your novel
- Writing deep point of view
- The art of memoir
- Reading like a Writer
- Rock your revisions
- The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide To Character Expression
SCREENWRITING
- 3 Ways to encounter ‘the other’ in your story | LA SCREENWRITER
Some of the most impactful themes in film and television revolve around an encounter with “The Other.” Often representing something else than what is obvious on screen, “Others” are what we fear, what we are curious about, and what we long to understand.
- Writing fight scenes: A kick in the head | SCRIPT MAG
Writers have many tools at their disposal, but few things have the ability to transcend the words written on the page like a fight scene.
- Infographic: Words to use instead of ‘very’ | LA SCREENWRITER
- Underwritten female character: The movie | GO INTO THE STORY
Hey, screenwriters, this is definitely worth a look, both funny and a great reminder: Write multidimensional women characters.
What screenwriters can learn from crime fiction | SCRIPT MAG
As with all my writing – and reading! – endeavours, I’ve picked up many tips and skills that can be applied to screenwriting, especially when you’re thinking about submissions! So here’s what screenwriters can learn from crime fiction – enjoy!
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- Super Structure: The key to unleashing the power of story
- Screenplay: The foundations of screenwriting
- Essentials of screenwriting
- Screenwriting: The sequence approach
- 33 Ways to sell your screenplay
- The eight characters of comedy
SELF-PUBLISHING
- How to create an ebook boxset or bundle and why you should | THE CREATIVE PENN
Box-sets can be a great opportunityfor authors to collaborate with other authors to reach a different audience, or maximize point of sale revenue from one customer with their own series or themed box-set.
How to sell a ton of books in 5 simple steps | SKIPJACK PUBLISHING
So you’ve written a book. It’s for sale on Amazon, your own little Field of Dreams. You’ve strong-armed everyone you know, and they’ve all promised to buy it. To read it. To review it. Only they haven’t, and it’s not selling.
How to make business cards, bookmarks and other kickass author swag for your writing conferencer | CREATIVINDIE
I’m not a big believer in print marketing materials, nor writing/author conferences (to promote your books)
Fiction writers: A simple approach to build a better email list | THE BOOK DESIGNER
You likely know that getting more people to subscribe to your mailing list should be one of your top priorities.
When less is more on social media | JANE FRIEDMAN
Social media boasts some pretty staggering numbers: nearly two-thirds of American adults use social media. And 70 percent of those users ages thirteen and up are on Facebook, according to the Pew Research Center.
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- Self Publishing: My rules to staying alive and making money
- How I sold 80,000 books
- Write. Publish. Repeat: The no-luck-required guide to self-publishing success
- Createspace & Kindle Self Publishing Masterclass
- The Self-Publishing Road Map