Books

Fiction writing is the act of creating something that doesn't exist--making up a story. Ideas for made-up stories can come from anywhere. Real life stories can spark ideas for fictional accounts...

If you love a particular author, but have read all of their books or simply want to something different to read, finding the right fit can mean hours of wandering aimlessly through your favorite...

Yes, you can write that book you've never quite gotten around to writing. Don't be discouraged if you have difficulty starting a plot for your book. Visualize examples of plot you see every day in...

So, you’ve decided to take on the National Novel Writing Month Challenge for the first time. Probably you’re either terrified that you’re going to fail, or ultra-excited about the coming...

November is National Novel Writing Month (or NaNoWriMo). The goal is to reach 50,000 words on a novel between the 1st and 30th of November. Winning can be hard, but it is possible!

Finishing a story is not as simple as reaching “THE END” on the final page. Once you have a completed draft, it’s time to start editing your work. Self-editing is a vital part of the writing...

More people finish their books when they've been planned out already. Although writing "seat-of-the-pants" is fun and equally viable, there are many benefits to be had by planning,...

Writing a children's book is not easy. The writing needs to be tight and interesting. There needs to be a definite plot for the story to work, and you need to have all the basic story elements in...

When most people think of English literature, they think of the novel, although literature may also include short stories, plays, novellas and poetry. According to Encarta, a novel is defined as...

Intrigue is defined as a complicated plot or plan such as a mystery that has answers at the end of a twisting path. It's often used to describe literary stories, particularly spy tales, love...

Settling down to enjoy a good book is a favorite pastime for many Americans. According to research done by National Center for Education Statistics in 2003, 32 percent of Americans read books on a...

It is sometimes hard to get started, but after you start thinking of some ideas, they usually will not stop coming to you. The hardest part for me is, sometimes, trying to write as fast as I can...

This article describes how you can write a novel and finish it!

Just what is meant by “the plot,” anyway? In fiction, it is what happens in a story. It’s something you have to think about when writing fiction, because you have to give your reader motivation to...

As a published author of fiction and a local newspaper columnist, Mr. Turtledove often receives requests to read work from people who aspire to see their work in print. A pattern developed after...

A book report provides a general overview of a book, along with the writer's opinion about a certain element of the story. The different parts of a book report should mesh well together and avoid...

In journalism you have the who, what, where, when, and why and you try to put all this information in the first paragraph. In fiction you also have to include the who, what, where, when and why in...

The first in a 4-part series, we'll talk about creating characters, plotting, and building a routine. The runners who come across that starting line fast and in good form have the best chance of...

What would a great story be without great characters? Not much if you ask me. Here are some tips to help you develop characters for your novel or short story.

Historical fiction is a story set in a time previous to that of the writer and reader, with characters who react in varying degrees to historical events.

Writing a romance story can help you overcome boredom by breathing life into your fantasies. It can also help develop your imagination and sharpen your writing skills. While you may be a fan of...

Vampire love poems can be very fascinating. But to create the right feeling among the reader, you need to know how to write them effectively. That’s why you might want to check out the steps below.

Many people have something to write about, whether it's a fictional story they can't get out of their head or a real-life experience that needs to be shared. However, getting your award-winning...

Writing an adventure story should be as entertaining and fun for you as the writer as it will be for your readers once you're finished. In this article, I'll show you the basic process including...

Writing your first book can be fun, thrilling, and fantastic, but writing your first book is also a lot of work. To write your first book you will need to follow a few easy steps that will take...

A lot of people confuse story and plot. You hear it when someone remarks, "Wow, that's a good idea for a plot," when what the speaker really means is the idea sounds like it would make a good...

Let's face it- it's getting harder and harder being a teenager these days. If you don't have a niche of ways to express yourself, or ways to cope, it can be very difficult. But writing is one of...

If you're like me you struggle with finding that perfect book that will captivate you. Numerous hours searching through the library and respected book stores only to come back empty handed or...

When done well, plot twists can create unexpected surprises for readers and keep them engaged in a story that otherwise may seem predictable. In this article, I will give you tips in creating...

Diving straight into the world of your story can lead to some great outcomes but to make sure you don't create boring characters that are just there for the sake of your plot, you should first put...

Plot is the driving force of a story. If a book has no plot all that is left is a series of events that lead nowhere. Boring. However in order to create a story that your potential reader cannot...

Do you love to write fiction but get frustrated when the novel spins in a direction you didn’t intend? The plot and characters can sometimes take on a life of their own, spinning in a direction...

The plot has reached its conclusion, characters' motives have been addressed and readers are left feeling satisfied. You have finished your book. Or have you? If you feel the manuscript is missing...

Are you one of the many people who swears they’re going to write a novel someday? Maybe you even have all the ideas stored up in your head. Great characters, plot, setting, and tone all up...

What makes an editor decide whether to publish a new novel is often the same thing as what makes a buyer in a bookstore decide whether a book is worth her time; specifically, a premise that sounds...

If you've got a great idea for a novel, you may be unsure what steps to take next. Planning your novel before you even touch that keyboard or uncap a pen will help you organize your thoughts and...

How often do you hear someone say, "I have a great book idea!" but he never seems to get around to writing that book? Maybe he'll say, "I'd do it, but I just don't know what I need to write a...

Book reviews are basically one person's thoughtful opinion about the books he or she has read. These opinions can be valuable for readers who have limited time, and want to carefully choose the...

The popularity of suspense novels is undeniable. The best suspense writers become rich and famous, and the very best novels turn into edge-of-your-seat blockbuster movies. So why not try your...

Ready to write your novel? Maybe you’ve already written one (or two) and felt your storyline lost its way like a wayward Little Red Riding Hood in a dark forest. Either way, you’ll want to do a...

Plot and story are often confused with one another. How often have you heard someone say about a move or a book, "Wow, that sounds like a great plot," when what they are referring to is the story?...

You have a story you think would make a great novel and you want to entice a publisher into buying it. How do you go about this? You write a story proposition. This is the method a writer uses to...

Writing a book synopsis requires reading the book thoroughly several times, making notes about the characters and major plot points, enticing the reader with interesting facts, and describing the...

Plagiarism occurs when one writer takes the exact text or the specific ideas of another writer and passes them off as original work. Plagiarism is the worst accusation that can be made about a...

A romance novel needs to meet certain expectations in order to be considered a romance. This does not mean it is written following a formula. On the contrary, the romance genre allows authors to...

Writing a novel---and getting it published---is a fantasy of many Americans. Yet, how do you take that germ of an idea and create a compelling, and marketable, book?

Writing a novel is a deeply personal experience. Because of this, no two novelists take the exact same route to completing their works and there is no right or wrong way to do it. For example,...

Many people dream of creating the ultimate writing project: the novel. Of all the aspiring novelists, only a few will actually follow through on their dream of writing a novel and even fewer will...

Writing a children's story requires the author to think through many of the same elements included when writing an adult story: characters, a plot, setting, tone, theme and point of view, for...

Adventure novels can cover a wide range of era and subject, from westerns to swashbuckling pirate stories to Tolkienesque fantasy to Indiana Jones--style exploration fables. Their common bond is...