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Young adult

The Three Golden Rules Of Writing Children’s Literature

January 25, 2017 by Hannah Collins 4 Comments

The Three Golden Rules Of Writing Children’s Literature

Writing children’s literature is kind of like comedy. Everyone thinks it’s easy when, in reality, it’s actually much harder than it looks. Perhaps it’s the lower page count or the simplified language, or the popular belief that kids will be satisfied with any form of entertainment – no matter how superficial. Waggle some bright objects in front of their faces, make some funny noises and they’ll be …

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How To Write An Epic Battle Scene

January 18, 2017 by Hannah Collins 6 Comments

How To Write An Epic Battle Scene

Whether it’s a muddy siege on a Medieval castle, rugged cowboys firing pistols from horseback, or a laser-beam shoot-’em-up in another galaxy, a great battle scene is a staple of action stories. High stakes, high body count, and – if it is in space – really, really high up. We’ve covered the fundamentals of writing a good fight scene before, so let’s expand those ideas into the ingredients of …

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Everything You Need To Know About Funny Words

January 16, 2017 by Robert Wood 8 Comments

Everything You Need To Know About Funny Words

Funny words are the backbone of some of the most enjoyable stories in the English language. Whether it’s Roald Dahl’s frobscottle, Dr. Seuss’ thneeds, or even Douglas Adams’ Zaphod Beeblebrox, choosing the right word can win your story a permanent place in your readers’ hearts. That’s not to say that funny words are only important for younger readers – sometimes you want to prompt immediate …

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How And Why You Need To Recycle Writing Ideas

October 19, 2016 by Hannah Collins 9 Comments

How And Why You Need To Recycle Writing Ideas

I think most creative people have trouble throwing things away. Not in a hoarder-esque, ‘I’m currently typing this while walled-in by newspaper towers’ kind of way. No, it’s more ‘waste not, want not’ practicality than kleptomaniac-tinted nostalgia. It’s that lingering feeling: ‘Surely this will be useful, later.’ This same feeling can apply to your writing ideas, whether they’re fleshed-out …

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How Long Should Your Book Be? The Complete Guide

October 10, 2016 by Hannah Collins 37 Comments

How Long Should Your Book Be? The Complete Guide

The ‘how long?’ question has to be one of the most commonly asked by new authors – perhaps even experienced ones, too. It was certainly one of the first to pass my lips when I met my editor to discuss my first children’s book. “What’s the age range?” she asked me when I broached the subject. “I’m thinking of aiming for older children,” I told her. “That would be ages eight to twelve, then. In …

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Save That Cat! The Easy Secret To Introducing A Hero

October 4, 2016 by Robert Wood 2 Comments

Save That Cat! The Easy Secret To Introducing A Hero

How do you go about introducing a protagonist, let alone introducing a hero? First impressions are even more long-lasting in fiction than in real life, and your reader’s first experience with your protagonist is likely to define how they understand everything that comes after. That means it’s important to give a clear impression, guaranteeing you’re on the same page as your reader for what …

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