fiction

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Fiction Masterclass

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There is more to storytelling than just spilling your imagination onto the page. What is the three-act structure? How does structure compartmentalise a story? What is a structural map? There’s plotting and subplotting. And characters. What makes for an interesting character? What is an arc? What do readers expect from a character? What is pacing? … Continued

Writing in a time of unrest

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This is not exactly the kind of editorial that I expected to write in 2020, or any time for that matter, but life has a way of throwing unexpected things at us. We have choices. We can react, throw our arms up in despair and moan about the harshness of life, be mean to each … Continued

Let Us Help You

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Often, this blog is dedicated to writing fiction. This week, we’re going to look at writing nonfiction – specifically, books that are designed to showcase the author’s expertise and knowledge in a specific industry. Inexperienced writers think it’s easy. It’s no different to writing an autobiography – after all, all the material is there. Just … Continued

YOU Be YOU

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You sit down to write, your hands hovering over your keyboard. The day’s events tumble around in your head – issues and responsibilities that demand attention. A small voice tries to push its way through. You close your eyes to try hear it, to try grab it, and ride it through the maelstrom. There it … Continued

A 10-Step Process for Revision

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How do you approach revision? Do you just sit down and trust your instincts? Do you just let whatever happens happen? The chances are if you have a haphazard approach, you’ll have haphazard results. When revising, you should have a plan. You should have a methodical approach that’ll cover all the requirements of the revision. … Continued

Breaking Down Content: Part II

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In the last blog, we looked at breaking down content so that whatever message the content as a whole was intended to deliver – be that the plot of a novel, the biography of a subject, the information of a topic, or the guide of a self-help book – it did so logically, causally, and … Continued

The Measure of Success

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What is the measure of success as a writer? If I could grant you success, what would your definition be? Everybody measures success differently, but here are some possible definitions: to have a bestseller: we’d all love that, wouldn’t we? To have our book appear on – for example – the New York Times bestseller … Continued