Publishing Services for Independent Authors
Reader, I have a confession to make: I like Jonathan Franzen. I know, I know, but look – put down your pitchforks, call off the hounds of Twitter, let’s talk about this. I know it’s popular to hate on Franzen. I know that, ever since he thought The Corrections was too good for Oprah’s Book Club (which, I mean, it was), the consensus has been that Franzen’s a wealthy, elitist, privileged pig who …
[Read more...] about Jonathan Franzen Can Help You Improve Your Writing (No, Really!)
Sometimes, it’s only when you actually start writing that the problems begin. The ideas are all in place, you know your plot points and characters like the back of your hand, but then your pencil hovers over the page (or your fingers over the keyboard) and you realize that the scene just won’t come. Maybe you power through, but even after the immense effort of getting your ideas down on the …
[Read more...] about 5 Ways To Find The Best Form Of Your Scene
When it comes to writing a book that grabs the reader, authors need every tool possible. This is especially true when getting into the minds of your characters, where it can be easy to miss the key to unlocking their potential. That’s why, in this article, I’ll be taking a look at deep point of view: what it is, where it comes from, and how you can use it. What is deep point of view? Beth Hill …
[Read more...] about Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Deep Point Of View
Not all works of fiction rely on a cast made up exclusively of deep, complex, and inscrutable characters. Some need a character that the audience can inhabit or possess; a platform for the reader to survey the world from and a mouthpiece for their own questions and thoughts. Such ‘reader proxy’ (or, in the case of screenplays and scripts, ‘audience surrogate’) characters can work wonders, …
[Read more...] about Reader Proxies: What They Are And When They’re Useful
Sometimes, it’s the way you tell a story that makes it special. That’s what turns a simple act of revenge into a labyrinthine murder mystery, or a comical misunderstanding into a grand farce. Because of this, it can be helpful to consider not just the events of your story, but the most effective way they can unfold. To do that, you need as many options on the table as possible – so let’s add the …
[Read more...] about Here’s How To Write A Rashomon Scene, And Why You Should
Your characters’ thoughts and beliefs are the bedrock of their existence. Every action should flow naturally from them, every piece of dialogue or gesture should be written with them in mind. Eventually, though, it’s time to address the thoughts themselves – not as the foundation for other behaviour, but as the vital characterization they are. When that moment arrives, many authors come unstuck, …
[Read more...] about How To Express Your Characters’ Thoughts – With Exercises
Enter your details here for an obligation-free chat about your publishing project.
