Tag: how to write a novel
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Introducing the Six-Figure Master Fiction Plot
Ever wish you could write a novel in just a matter of weeks . . . and then sell it for good money? Lester Dent did exactly that. In fact, he wrote his first novel in just thirteen days. You read that right. Thirteen days. Over the course of his career, he wrote nearly 200…
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Answered: Your Most Burning Questions About Editors
For every brilliant manuscript that grows into a best-selling novel, untold thousands of others get dumped into the recycle bin. What’s the crucial difference between them? Ask Jamie. Over the years, James Persichetti has seen more unpublished manuscripts cross his desk than most people could read in a lifetime. He started out at the incomparable…
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6 Best How-To Books for Writers
Countless best-selling authors have told me that in their early years, before they were published, they relentlessly studied the craft of writing. Consequently, I’ve had hundreds of writing books recommended to me. Here are the very best of them all, the books I always keep within arm’s reach of my writing desk. #1: Save the…
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Writers: Outline Your Novel the Incredibly Easy Way
Every day, I’m thankful to have the opportunity to write for a living. Seriously. Every single day. That’s why I share my tips and techniques to help aspiring writers navigate the pitfalls of the writing craft. One of my favorites is a method for outlining novels that is super simple, quick, and (dare I say) fun. Here…
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Learn All of My Writing Secrets at Colorado Gold
Are you going to the RMFW Colorado Gold 2018 conference? Don’t miss this chance to pick my brain about all things related to urban fantasy, writing action scenes, and creating monsters. Here’s where you can find me: Birds of a Feather: Urban Fantasy panel Saturday 10am | Winter Park What exactly is urban fantasy? What…
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Create Better Characters in 6 Easy Steps
Readers may be intrigued by a good plot. But if your characters are interesting, readers will remember them long after they close the book. It can be tough to create fully fleshed-out, three-dimensional characters. I explain how to do it over at the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers blog. P.S. Get more free writing tips when…
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Plot Problem? Fix It Fast with a Retcon
Sooner or later, every story runs into a little hiccup. As you write, you’ll discover that certain facts don’t fit together anymore. Maybe a character needs to be changed or removed. Maybe you find a plot hole big enough to drive a Mack truck through. Somewhere, in the inner workings of your story, something has…
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7 Ways to Master “Show, Don’t Tell”
“Show, Don’t Tell” is probably the most often-repeated writing advice in the world. It means that you shouldn’t dump a load of information in the middle of the page, because it will stop your story dead. But it’s easy to fix that problem, if you know how. Here are seven different ways that you can…
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4 Mistakes to Avoid When Building Suspense in Your Novel
Have you ever read a book that you just couldn’t put down? The whole time you were turning pages, you were probably desperate to discover the answer to a burning question. That’s the essence of suspense, and it makes readers devour your book. So how do you build suspense in your novel? Start by avoiding…
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How to Write Kick-Ass Action Scenes (Part 2)
Believe it or not, it’s easy to write gripping action scenes—if you know how. In Part 1 of this article, I showed you how to break down complicated action scenes into their component parts: location, characters, goals, and actions. Now I’ll show you the real secret to wrapping up any action scene with an unforgettable bang.…
LAURENCE MACNAUGHTON 