Fiction

Writing an emotionally compelling, intelligent, fun-to-read story can be a very difficult, but highly rewarding task. It requires practice and learning from trial and error, writing every day and...

If you've ever taken a writing class or workshop, it's likely that you've seen the words "SHOW, DON'T TELL!" printed somewhere on your manuscript. "Show, don't tell" is one of...

Horror stories have been really appealing to people for the past 30 years. People really want to experience vicariously through characters the horror of being isolated, terrified and having their...

One important element of good fiction writing is point of view. The point of view you choose is the reader’s window into the story; they will see everything that happens through the eyes you...

In a writing group, you must know how to give appropriate feedback to other members.

The first sentence of a book is the one that grabs the attention of your reader, a potential literary agent or publisher. A strong opening sentence to your novel may convince people browsing in...

A flashback is a literary device designed to illustrate some period of time before the current action of the story. When used properly, it becomes an invaluable tool for revealing key information...

You will learn techniques in writing micro fiction that will stay with readers long after they have finished reading.

Thrillers come in a number of different varieties. There are psychological thrillers, supernatural thrillers, action/adventure thrillers and thrillers built around medical mysteries. Regardless of...

Learn how to bring your characters to life in a way which will keep readers hooked, no matter what the genre.

Here is 484 erotica ebooks that you can find that are all under $1 for the kindle ebook reader that are quick and easy to download

There are very few worries I wish for you writers to have while writing your rough drafts. However, seeing as we are 10 days into our 45 day rough draft phase, I was you all to be aware of a care...

I briefly went over first chapters yesterday in regards to boring characters. In chapter one it is tantamount that you create a character that your reader is going to want to know more about. But...

Today we're going to talk about your main character. He (or she, but for the sake of consistency and readability, from here on out will be referred to as “he”) is the centerpiece of your novel,...

Your story is coming together, but things are getting confusing. One minute John is the narrator, then Mary butts in with her two cent's worth, followed by the butler and his droll point of...

Writing a story is a deep process that requires a good eye for detail and to catch errors. Fan fiction is no different. Here are some ways to find a beta reader.

The hook, or beginning of a book, may very well be the most important part. When a reader picks up a book and starts reading, if he's grabbed by the beginning, he'll read on. If he's not, chances...

Everybody has a novel in them somewhere; maybe it’s that novel you’ve been meaning to write for years or maybe it’s been a recent nagging thought that you can’t get out...

A hook is the beginning of a story, designed to grab your reader's attention. It can be a sentence, a paragraph or even a few pages long. A bad or boring hook can make your reader want to throw...

A twist ending is always a great way to conclude a story, because it turns the tables on the reader's expectations. But a twist ending can end up feeling superficial, manipulative or tacked on if...

In second person point of view, the narrator addresses a fictional character as "you." This character isn't the reader, nor is it meant to address the reader. The "you" is a fictive character and...

Make your characters come alive by giving them detailed descriptions. Descriptions don't necessarily have to be physical. The way a character talks, the way he sees the world, the things he likes...

Here is some expert advice on writing clear, concise short fiction.

Although comic books are a mostly visual medium, it is very important to create compelling characters to draw readers in. In all genres of comic books, it is important to have believable...

Novels are about people facing obstacles. Your main character is your protagonist. When you write a novel, you have to introduce your main character early. When your main character is a male, you...

Being unpredictable while penning your horror novel is a challenge that is absolutely vital to your success as a horror writer. If you simply follow the standard rules of horror, you will find...

A good story will make you believe as though you're part of it throughout the entire book. Then when you're just about to get to the end and you think you know what's going to happen, suddenly...

You don't have to be psychic to write horoscopes for you friends and family. Whether you want to inspire a little hope or play a sneaky trick, here are a few tips to make your horoscopes sound...

The story roars through your mind like a runaway locomotive speeding toward a damsel tied to the tracks. Sweat-faced and battle-weary, the hero races to save the day. Explosions, mysteries and...

Rhythm is what separates poetry from technical manuals. Therefore, if you want your novel to resonate with style and to flow like silk, consider infusing it with literary rhythm. Doing so might...

“If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler” (“Se una notte d'inverno un viaggiatore”) is a metafictional novel by Italian novelist Italo Calvino. It was first published in 1979. For readers who are not...

Science fiction appeals to the young reader foremost because it involves adventure. Through science fiction, the reader can explore those "strange new worlds" that she has never seen nor likely...

Movies have art and set directors to create a world, real or fantastic, for the actors to live in. In books it is the writer who takes on that role and creates a world for their characters to...

There are lots of ways to end a book--from happy, sad, and mysterious to ambivalent, comic and tragic. But when it comes to endings, the bedrock issue to bear in mind is to keep the promise you...

It helps to know what and where your ending is when you begin your book. From the moment you conceive your opening sentence, you write with more confidence if you have a general idea about how...

When you write the opening to your book, never forget you are offering a contract to your reader. You are making a promise. Inherent in this promise is your willingness to remove yourself from the...

Scenes are the basic large building blocks any book. The largest entity of a story is the scene. The basic purpose of a scene is simple--to move the reader from one point in the plot to the next....

Are you sending out short stories to face rejection slip after rejection slip? Then you need a checklist for making sure your story does all that it should. Read on to learn how to revise a short...

Colorful description is an art that evokes in detail a particular place and time. It brings the experience alive for the young reader. Specifics are what breathe life into your words and make...

Every culture has its version of ghost stories. Some have religious significance, some are meant to warn or to threaten and some are meant simply for fun. Whatever their purpose, all ghost stories...

One of the trickiest parts of writing fiction can sometimes be choosing the right name. Here are some hints to finding the perfect name for your character.

The art to writing narrative fiction is how much to reveal and when to reveal it to the reader. Do you flash them all at once, or do you tease, exposing a little at a time, making them beg like a...

When writing fiction, you've probably been told to "show, don't tell." You want to create scenes that readers can emotionally respond to. Showing an action, such as describing a tidal wave...

A plot can be described as the author's system for showing the reader a series of unfolding events. A carefully crafted plot is the basis for a novel that will hold a reader's interest. Follow a...

The plots of detective novels work because they successfully engage the reader with an exciting yet plausible storyline. Writing detective fiction can allow writers with an eye for detail a chance...

Many fiction writers start out with great first and last chapters and a few good scenes in the middle, but they have no idea how to connect them into a cohesive story. This is commonly known as...

The setting in a story consists not just of time and place but the circumstances the characters find themselves in and small details of their environment. Develop setting effectively and the...