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Satire, pastiche, homage, and parody – four literary terms subject to frequent misuse. Most readers and writers have some sense of what each word means, but many struggle to pin down the specifics – something about real-world references, humor, and mockery, right? Well, kind of. These four horsemen may describe similar genre conventions and devices, but don’t be fooled: they’re not synonymous. …
[Read more...] about What Writers Like You Need To Know About Satire, Pastiche, Homage, And Parody
What do you want as a writer? To produce great work and find your fair share of readers – that’s a given – but what about on a deeper level? Are you the type of writer who wants to change the world, or do you just love words and take joy in making them dance? It may seem like a question without any practical benefits, but harnessing your artistic drive is a process that begins with …
[Read more...] about Are You An Elephant Writer Or A Termite Writer?
The English language can do some trippy things if you let it. Take your eye off a sentence and, before you know it, it could become oxymoronic, tautological, or even malapropistic. For many types of writer, it’s enough to be able to avoid these foibles, but authors need more than that – they need to be able to turn them into tools. That’s why, in this article, we’ll be looking at …
[Read more...] about Oxymoron, Tautology, Or Malapropism? What You Need To Know
As a rule, writers have a pretty solid grasp of how to use words. Of course, when we slip up, that just makes it all the more embarrassing, and a certain type of critic loves nothing more than pointing out even the smallest error. Someone who’s supposed to know all about words getting them wrong? How ironic! Actually… is that ironic? If you’re capable of giving a definitive answer, …
[Read more...] about What Writers Like You Need To Know About Irony And Sarcasm
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
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?
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