Tag: writing inspiration
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Want to Get Published? Read This.
I’ve talked to dozens of best-selling authors about their early years, before they were published. And the similarities between them are striking. On average, they wrote about half a dozen unpublished manuscripts before they sold a novel. (By the way, this is what I call the Myth of the First Novel. Because it’s hardly ever…
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3 Secrets to Writing Vivid Settings
There are three elements that make up every story: people, problems, and places. To form a good story, those elements need to be in balance, because each one affects the others. That’s why you need to put as much effort into the places in your story—your setting—as you do for your characters and your plot.…
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The Secret to Writing Fascinating Villains
What makes a villain fascinating? It’s not just about scaring the pants off the reader. The most terrifying thing a villain can do in a story isn’t killing the hero or blowing up the world — it’s making their twisted viewpoint seem morally right, and making the hero seem wrong. Because if the villain’s outlook…
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Why Writers Should NEVER Carry a Notebook
Before I became a published author, I used to carry around a writing notebook in my back pocket. You know the kind I’m talking about: the little black book that tells the world you’re a Serious Writer. But that little notebook is a big mistake, I eventually learned. Here are three reasons why you should…
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6 Rules to Pump Up Your Writing
When considering who gives out the best writing advice in the world, the first name that pops up might not be Arnold Schwarzenegger. But a decade ago, Schwarzenegger presented his “6 Rules of Success” in a now-famous commencement speech at the University of Southern California. And these rules just might hold the key to your…
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Never Suffer Writer’s Block Again
Have you ever sat down to write, and found that everything you wrote seemed terrible? Every writer has felt that way, at one time or another. Here’s the uncomfortable truth about those critical thoughts: they can actually help you become a better writer. But only if you know how to recognize those thoughts for what…
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5 Most Inspiring Books for Writers
Did you resolve to finish your novel this year? I salute you. The bad news is that 80% of those who set New Year’s resolutions give up by the second week of February, according to U.S. News. So, right about . . . now. Need a little help staying inspired to write your novel? Here are…
LAURENCE MACNAUGHTON 