[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] Everyone has talent. What is rare is the courage to follow the talent to the dark place where it leads. -Erica Jong. [/perfectpullquote]
WRITING
Why is setting important? Mastering writing time and place | NOW NOVEL
Why is setting important? Mastering writing time and place | 
Because setting is the stage for your story and immerses readers in your fictional world. In a novel, setting refers to the place and time (or multiple places and times) in which the story unfolds.
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- Writing dialogue, and how it relates to plot and character | TERRIBLE MINDS
Writing dialogue, and how it relates to plot and characterThis batch: about dialogue.
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How to write dazzling dialogue
- Six ways to self-edit & polish your prose | KRISTEN LAMB’S BLOG
Six ways to self-edit & polish your prose | Whether you are new to writing or an old pro, brushing up on the basics is always helpful. Because no 
matter how GOOD the story is? If the reader is busy stumbling over this stuff, it ruins the fictive dream and she will never GET to the story. So today we are going to cover six ways to self-edit your fiction.
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Self-editing for fiction writers
- How to turn your setting into an obstacle course | WRITERS HELPING WRITERS
How to turn your setting into an obstacle course | There are many different ways to use the setting to stress the hero or heroine, triggering a response th
at shows, not tells, who they really are. Here are a few to sink your teeth into.
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A writer’s guide to active setting
- 6 Ways to create conflict and get your protagonist in trouble | THE WRITE PRACTICE
Conflict is one of the key elements of fiction. It’s also a reason to keep reading; it’s important to put your protagonist in a sticky situation that requires resolution, preferably before typing the words, “The End.”
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Writing with emotion, tension and conflict
- Writing scary scenes by Rayne Hall | ROMANCE UNIVERSITY
H
ow much do you want to frighten your readers in your novel’s scariest scene? Consider what your readers expect.
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- Ways novelists can break from the structural rules | LIVE WRITE THRIVE
In 
my opinion, it makes much more sense when you’re creating a story to think in terms of the natural structure of a problem. You have two main parts: the action that created it and the action that will resolve it.
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How to write unforgettable fiction by breaking the rules
+ 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
- Lorene Scafaria on building a career as a screenwriter | GO INTO THE STORY
Scafaria reflects on how she has managed to carve out a career in Hollywood and her writing process.
- 10 Writing prompts for developing a new script idea| LA SCREENWRITER
In order to take advantage of these prompts, all you need is a character. Use one you’ve been developing recently.
- The most valuable thing I learned at Pixar | GO INTO THE STORY
At Pixar, we constantly attempted to identify failure, correct weak spots, and not get too complacent. This started from day one.
- Making Hollywood need you | SCRIPT MAG
I discovered a sixth installment of the Die Hard series was in development by both reading about it in various news blurbs and the plethora of communication I invariably received from friends and fans with ardent hopes I’d find it either interesting or they’d hear back from me that I was somehow involved.
How should you market yourself? | LA SCREENWRITER
Most aspiring filmmakers, directors and screenwriters read quotes like that and think why not me? You champion yourself any chance you get and/or you work at your craft every day. So, why haven’t you broken in yet?
Related books:
- 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
- Starting an email newsletter: Why to do it and which service to use | JANE FRIEDMAN
More and more authors now talk about the importance of growing an email list of readers. But I also hear from many people who are totally frustrated with email, from growing the list size to increasing open rates.
- Five weak words authors should avoid using in bios | JUST PUBLISHING ADVICE
Your author bio is everywhere, so don’t ruin your author image by using overused, trite and hackneyed vocabulary.
How much does the average author earn publishing their book? | CREATIVINDIE
This is a pretty easy question to answer, but it might discourage you.
How to make a book trailer? | BOOKS BY WOMEN
Have you ever thought of making a book trailer, but you don’t have a clue as to how?
60 Fonts you should never use on your book design | CREATIVISOCIAL
All rules are meant to be broken, and I won’t swear that I never use these fonts (I even included some in my genre-based lists of fonts you CAN use). But you can only break the rules if you learn them first.
Related books:
- 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