Tag: fiction
-
The Dos and Don’ts of Naming Characters
What every writer needs to know about naming characters JK Rowling knew what she was doing when she named her characters. Harry, for example, is derived from Henry, “a name which was favoured by many an English king.” Dumbledore’s first name, Albus, means white, the colour of his beard. In iZombie, Liv Moore’s name is…
-
The Art of the Paragraph Break
Why it matters more than you think Knowing when to break a paragraph in fiction writing can be confusing. In my editing practice, I often split up longer paragraphs and combine shorter ones to improve flow. As an author, I’ve only recently begun to experiment with smaller, more frequent breaks to help punctuate my narrative.…
-
What It Means To Show and Not Tell
What is meant by “showing” versus “telling” and how can you tell the difference? Is it ever okay to “tell?” Is there such a thing as showing too much? Explore these important questions by looking at dialogue, description, pacing and transitions, and learn how to invite your readers into the scenes you write.
-
Top 3 Formatting Mistakes Made by Indie Authors
As a self-published author, your book is in competition with over 2.6 million other self-published books. Your book will appears alongside more than 560,000 traditionally published books. When I talk about traditional publishers, I mainly refer to “Big 5” publishing conglomerates (Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Hachette Book Group, and Macmillan) that have…
-
Inside the Character’s Mind: Mastering First and Third Person Limited POV
Writing in either first person or third person limited point of view allows authors to create a strong emotional connection between the reader and the character. Both points of view offer direct access to the narrator’s inner thoughts, feelings, and biases, often resulting in a more intimate and subjective experience. Both perspectives require careful attention…
-
The power of a strong premise: How to develop a compelling idea for your novel
When writing a story, a strong premise is the foundation of a great novel, driving the story forward and grabbing your reader’s attention by promising an engaging and satisfying read. The question is: how do you come up with a compelling premise for your novel? A good premise should: Once you have a general idea…
-
New Book Release!
Announcing the release of Braelynn’s Birthright–Book 1: Wendigo by Elise Abram! Imagine a world where the creatures of nightmare are real. This becomes fifteen-year-old Braelynn Hanlon’s world once she inherits her birthright in the form of her grandmother’s ring and is tricked into putting it on. You see, the women in her family have been…