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How To Use Foreshadowing With Confidence – Part 1

November 29, 2017 by Robert Wood 6 Comments

How To Use Foreshadowing With Confidence – Part 1

At its best, foreshadowing can drastically deepen a story, lending new weight to structure and character. That’s why, in this article, I’ll be looking at how authors can get to grips with foreshadowing and employ it practically in their own writing. In this, Part 1, I’ll be looking at the various things foreshadowing can do for your story, with Part 2 covering the nitty-gritty of how to write …

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How To Make A Story Feel EPIC!

November 24, 2017 by Fred Johnson Leave a Comment

How To Make A Story Feel EPIC!

The term ‘epic’ is thrown around a lot these days but, before it was used to describe YouTube videos, skateboarding tricks, and sandwiches, the term originally applied to a particular form of oral poetry. Since then, ‘epic’ has come to be applied to other forms of art: theatre, film, novels, music, television… even video games. While the term originally described works with a thematic focus on …

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NaNoWriMo Week 4: How To Conclude Your Story

November 20, 2017 by Robert Wood 2 Comments

NaNoWriMo Week 4: How To Conclude Your Story

Hello authors, and welcome to the fourth article in our month-long National Novel Writing Month coverage. This is the last full week of writing for NaNoWriMo, so this week we’ll be looking at how to start wrapping up your story and make the most of your remaining writing time. As you plan the next (almost) two weeks of writing, keep in mind that NaNoWriMo is about putting words on paper. The …

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Adding A ‘B Plot’ Is The Simple Way To Improve Your Story

November 8, 2017 by Robert Wood 10 Comments

Adding A ‘B Plot’ Is The Simple Way To Improve Your Story

Sometimes, two plots are better than one. As much as brevity and (comparative) minimalism generally reveal the best form of a story, there are occasions where your central plot will benefit from being paired with a back-up narrative. These secondary narratives, generally less complex than the main narrative and focused on supporting characters, are often known as the ‘B plot’, and they may be the …

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Does Your First Line Really Matter?

November 1, 2017 by Rebecca Langley 8 Comments

Does Your First Line Really Matter?

Ever spend a day’s worth of writing time on your first line? If so, you’re not alone; many authors believe their story will live or die on the strength of their first line. They’re not completely wrong – your opening does matter – but it’s not the all-or-nothing affair many people imagine. Not only that, but there’s serious risk involved in focusing too much on your first line. Yes, a great …

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Surprising Ways To Use Happiness In Storytelling (And How To Get Them Right)

October 23, 2017 by Paige Duke 2 Comments

Surprising Ways To Use Happiness In Storytelling (And How To Get Them Right)

Happiness. It’s not – at face value – a likely theme for the novelist. – Robert McCrum, ‘Where is happiness in 20th-century fiction?’ from The Guardian Conflict is the fuel of fiction, the engine that keeps the story surging forward. But ‘all drama, all the time’ makes for an unrealistic reading experience and a pace that will have readers struggling to keep up. Narrative needs a natural …

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