How to Come Up With a Killer Plot Twist

  All good stories need a solid plot, but one that surprises and upends the reader with something sneaky or…

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5 Strong Tips For Publishing a Successful Sequel to Your Book

  As a writer, using words alongside your imagination to create a new world worthy enough to reel in your…

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Character Development: Definition and Tips

  All great stories are about people. In fact, you could say the characters make the story. And perhaps on…

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A Guide to Romance Novel Genres

  Romance novels are the highest-earning genre of fiction, but they are also seriously underrated. In 2014,…

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How to Write a Proposal for a Book

  Do you have a book idea that you’ve been working on for years? Maybe you have a document filled with…

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Character Motivation: Types and Examples

  Characters are one of the best assets in your story. They can be the most likable, interesting, and even…

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How to Write a Great Fight Scene

  Fight scenes are one of the hardest things to write because they have the potential to be boring,…

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What is a Narrative Arc?

You may have heard phrases such as “the narrative arc is too flat” or heard it described as weak, strong, or…

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How to Overcome Writer’s Block

The cursor blinks in a steady rhythm on the blank page. You type a sentence, then delete it. You type another…

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What Is a Plot Point?

  Some writers map their story in an outline before they even write it. Other writers simply take to the…

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Inciting Incident: Definition and examples

  The inciting incident is the best way to capture your reader’s interest hook, line, and story-telling…

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Feeling Stuck? A Developmental Editor Can Help

  Feeling stuck when writing is normal. It is part of the ebb and flow of the creative process. But similar…

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Metaphor vs. Personification

  Metaphor and personification are designed to convey something more than a literal meaning in your…

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How to Write the Perfect Book Blurb

  You’ve spent a good chunk of time writing your book, having it edited, revising it, sending it to beta…

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The Pantser’s Way: Pitfalls and Possibilities

  Most editing articles focus on carefully modeling and designing a short story or novel, so that the…

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What Is Personification?

  Humans have been telling stories since the beginning of time. It is in our nature to share our…

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What Is Chekhov’s Gun?

  The best stories deal with human emotions and say something about the world in which the characters live.…

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What is the Theme of a Story? Definitions and Examples.

  Some stories just seem to draw the reader in and keep them turning the page or coming back for more. But…

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Types of Irony: Everything You Need to Know

  Irony is an excellent literary device you can use in your work for one simple reason—we’ve all…

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So you want to write a novel? Go to the movies!

During a busy business career, I always had an itch to write. I took night classes in writing, including writing…

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How to write a great book synopsis

  Just when you thought you had finished your book and there was nothing left to write, along comes the…

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Literary Character Interpretation of The Deer Hunter

THESIS STATEMENT This essay will examine the characters of the movie The Deer Hunter (1978, EMI Films, story by…

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The Importance of a novel outline

  The novel outline is the road map of your story. In it you pour out your creative genius, your plot…

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A Satisfying Conclusion

  More often than I prefer, a novel will have an unsatisfying conclusion. The writer has asked the reader…

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