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Some writing advice is practical (cut your adverbs), some is theoretical (the structure of a story influences its message), and some is factual (the short-fiction market isn’t what it used to be). Personally, I’ve always found that the best writing advice deals with perception – the ability to understand how someone else will process your art. A hard fact of human nature can be revealed to you, …
[Read more...] about Authors Need To Know About Aphantasia: Here’s Why
Donald E. Westlake is perhaps the definitive writer’s writer, having published more than one hundred books under various names, including Curt Clark, Tucker Coe, Samuel Holt, Edwin West, Judson Jack Carmichael and – most famously – Richard Stark. Why so many names? Partly because Westlake showed admirable brand management by choosing different names when writing in different genres, and partly …
[Read more...] about 7 Ways Donald E. Westlake (And Richard Stark) Can Help You Improve Your Writing
Dame Hilary Mantel, best known for her historical novels Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies, was the first woman and first British author to win the prestigious Man Booker prize twice; if that doesn’t tell you how good she is, I’m not sure what will. Unrivaled in the realm of historical fiction, but also known for her memoirs and her literary short fiction (she made headlines with her …
[Read more...] about 5 Ways Hilary Mantel Can Help You Improve Your Writing
Sometimes, it pays to start with the problem, so here it is. When your writing is mostly concerned with abstract, high-minded concepts, it has the chance to better your reader – even the world – but it may also fail to connect with them on an emotional level. In contrast, when your writing is mostly concerned with concrete, everyday concerns, it can feel incredibly relatable, but it can also fail …
[Read more...] about Great Writers Embrace The Sacred AND The Profane – Do You?
Sometimes, improving your writing is a case of learning craft, and sometimes it’s just about knowing what to tackle when you edit. Dramatic dialogue can benefit from both so, in this article, I’ll be outlining eight clichés to edit out of your work, as well as exploring the logic behind why they’re such a problem. 1. Too many pauses Pauses are useful in dialogue, and especially useful in …
[Read more...] about 8 Clichés That Are Killing Your Dramatic Dialogue
There are many ways to craft your prose, but when writing is over-decorated or as dry as sawdust, potential readers are easily dissuaded. Audience demand for embellished, overly descriptive prose, now commonly called ‘purple prose’, died sometime in the 20th century. Beige writing, stripped of all frills, can be similarly off-putting, though there are times when it’s the right tool for the job. …
[Read more...] about Purple And Beige Writing: What You Need To Know
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