Writing Tips From the Don Winslow Universe
Certain writers demand to be read, and doing so is a class to all who do. Don Winslow is one of them.
Donald Maas and The Emotional Craft of Fiction Writing
By Cina Pelayo
Take your readers on an emotional journey that will stay with them even after the final page is turned.
What Reviewing Nonfiction Taught Me About Writing Fiction
Reviewing nonfiction taught me a few tricks that helped improve my approach to writing fiction.
5 Unconventional Methods of Writing a Story
Instead of surrendering to writer's block, give these ideas a try.
Dialogue: The Number One Mistake Newbie Writers Make
There's no lack of online advice about how to write dialogue in fiction. But there’s one issue I see over and over in the dialogue of newbie writers, and I have yet to find one post that tackles it.
Three Exercises for Improved Character Development
If you want your characters to be as deep and nuanced as your narrative, here are three things you can do.
10 Tips to Help You Write Believable Dialogue
Dialogue can make or break a novel. Here are some pointers to help you write better dialogue.
5 Reasons Why You Should Write a Screenplay
Writers of prose would do well to follow the methods of screenwriters to help immerse readers in their story.
Writing the Crime Scene: Cops Don't Talk Like That!
By Repo Kempt
A guide to researching and writing dialogue for law enforcement characters in crime fiction.
Turning a Phrase: How to Write Historical Dialogue
When done correctly, historical dialogue can be used as a tool to add polish and an air of authenticity. Done incorrectly, it can completely eject a reader from the story.
The Seven Deadly Sins of Dialogue
Dialogue is, in many ways, the heart of fiction. That's why it pays to get it right—or, at the very least, not wrong.
Storyville: Putting Your Life in Your Fiction
Some helpful tips for working your life into your fiction.
Storyville: Three Essential Books On Writing
In:
Character, Craft, Dialogue, Jeff VanderMeer, Plot, Stephen King, Storyville, Structure, Theme, Voice
Three essential books on writing by Stephen King, Donald Maas and Jeff VanderMeer.
Want To Be A Better Writer? Take Acting Classes
From basic games to complex script analysis, actors have a thing or two to teach writers.
Nuts and Bolts: “Thought” Verbs
You've always heard the maxim, "Show, don't tell..." but almost no writing teacher ever explains... How. Discover how to strengthen your prose by unpacking abstract and static verbs into descriptive action.
6 Ways You're Botching Your Dialogue
By Robbie Blair
Want to improve your dialogue skills? This article looks at the mistakes writers commonly make.
Do or Dialect: 6 Tips for Building a Believable Voice
By Robbie Blair
Six tips on creating a sense of a character's voice and dialect without resorting to painful phonetic representations.
Talk It Out: How To Punctuate Dialogue In Your Prose
Quotations marks, italics, em dashes, or none of the above: these are a few different ways to punctuate dialogue in your prose.
10 Reasons Your Screenplay Sucks (and how to fix it)
In:
Character, Cliche, Dialogue, Grammar, INT/EXT, List, Plot, screenwriting, Syd Field, Top 10, Voice
What makes a reader hate a screenplay on sight? Here are 10 pet peeves - and fixes.
The Secret Lives Of Little Words
In:
Craft, Dialogue, Discourse Analysis, Grammar, Grammar, Linguistics, List, Phrases, Sociolinguistics, Verbs, Voice, Word Play
What's that word doing there? When it comes to spoken language, nothing is accidental. Linguists are working on finding meaning in every 'oh,' 'um,' 'well,' and 'okay.' The results might surprise you.
Storyville: Narrative Hooks
In:
Character, Craft, Dialogue, Literary Devices, Narrative Hooks, Plot, POV, Setting, Storyville, Structure
Writing a great narrative hook isn't easy, but it's one way to grab your audience and never let them go.
Storyville: Writing About Sex
How do you write a good sex scene? By utilizing the right language, all five senses, and empathetic characters, you can seduce the reader into living the moment.
The Benefits of Free Indirect Discourse
Writers who find themselves wrestling with point-of-view problems may want to consider a technique that combines the best of two narrative modes.
Ten Authors Who Write Great Dialogue
In:
David Foster Wallace, Dialogue, Elmore Leonard, jeffrey eugenides, Judy Blume, List, Toni Morrison, Top 10
A list of some of the best conversation-creating writers out there.
