LAURENCE MACNAUGHTON

Tag: writing a novel

  • The Best Writing Tool You’re Not Using

    Writing a novel on a typewriter? Hard. Finishing your novel by any means possible? Smart! Are you stuck in the middle of your novel? Do you keep going back to “fix” things in your story? Believe it or not, you might need a typewriter. 

  • The #1 Secret to Finding Time to Write

    “We live and die by the clock.” –William Broyles Jr. Too bad he didn’t have the Datexx Miracle Cube Timer. Want to get more writing done this week? Just follow this one simple trick. It works every time, no matter what you’re writing or how busy your schedule is. 

  • Bronte Sisters Power Dolls

    Writing a book is serious work. Literary icons with kung-fu action grip… not so serious. Enjoy! P.S. You can also watch the Bronte Sisters Power Dolls here.

  • Kill Your Laptop: Extreme Ways to Finish Your Novel

    I get a lot of emails from writers who think they’re suffering from writer’s block. But are they? See if this sounds familiar to you: “I keep going back to fix things.” “Sometimes, I hate the words I just wrote.” “When I watch what I’m typing, I write much cleaner sentences with less typos, but…

  • Don’t Make This Legal Mistake in Your Novel

    Q: Is it legal to write a novel based on a true story, and use the real names of the people involved? A: Yes, but it’s probably more trouble than it’s worth. Since I’m not a lawyer, none of this is legal advice of any kind, FYI. But here’s what you’re up against: Writing about…

  • The #1 Writing Secret Every Writer Should Know

    Q: Hi! I’m currently writing a book, and I want to get it published, but I’m in high school and that makes things a lot harder. Could you please explain the basic process of how it would get published? A: I’m so glad you enjoy writing! I started writing short stories when I was 16,…

  • How to Write Foreign Languages in Your Novel

    Let’s face it, foreign words are cool. They can make your characters sound smarter, make exotic settings feel more authentic and even increase the dramatic tension in a scene. But before you start sprinkling a certain je ne sais quoi into your prose, take these steps to make sure your reader doesn’t get lost in…

  • 5 Mistakes First-Time Writers Make

    This past month I’ve gotten inspiring emails from all sorts of new writers, from high school students to retirees. One thing is clear: you’re never too old (or too young) to write a novel. If you’ve been thinking about writing a book — and who hasn’t? — remind yourself that the best day to start…

  • Your Name on the NYT List: Secrets of Bestselling Authors

    Who doesn’t want to write a bestseller? While no one can tell you exactly how to get onto the New York Times list, we can always ask the people who have already made it. Here are a few pearls of wisdom I’ve been given by bestselling authors I’ve interviewed over the years. Ignore them at…

  • Lorem Ipsum: The Extremes of Good and Evil

    Have you ever seen the phrase “Lorem Ipsum” and wondered where it comes from?  I have, ever since ye dayes of olde when I did typesetting with rub-transfer Letraset sheets.  For obvious reasons, we always ran out of the letter “E” in ye goode olde tymes. But seriously, ever since the 16th century, printers have…