LAURENCE MACNAUGHTON

Tag: Writing Tips

  • 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…

  • 4 Writing Pitfalls to Avoid at All Costs

    Has your writing fallen into a black hole? Has your pacing dropped to a crawl, or your suspense become a snore? Do you just feel stuck? You might be sabotaging your own writing without even knowing it. But don’t panic. Here’s how to avoid the four most perilous pitfalls of writing.

  • 4 Ways to Handle Foreign Languages in Fiction

    When a character in your story speaks a foreign language, should you write it out in that language, or in English? How can you make the dialogue sound exotic without confusing the reader? These are tricky questions. Foreign languages can lend your characters and locations a more exotic flair, and even increase the dramatic tension…

  • What Every Writer Should Know About Theme

    Theme seems to be one of those angst-triggering bogeymen that writers constantly wrestle with. But when you examine it closely, there’s really nothing complicated about it. Theme is simply the lesson the main character learns over the course of the story. (Or, in the case of a tragic ending, the lesson they failed to learn.)…

  • 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…

  • How to Create Characters in 60 Seconds

    When you create great characters, they walk onto the page and make your story unforgettable. They can bring every scene to life. But creating characters takes tons of time and effort, doesn’t it? Not necessarily. I’m here to show you how you can create an impressively good character in 60 seconds or less.   Sound…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…