Writing

Fantasy is a wonderful genre, but the world and characters of many books are often littered with unintentional clichés. Here are some of them to think about avoiding.

Writer's block need never be a problem if certain strategies are used. Here are some tips to help you find ideas for writing both fiction and nonfiction.

Create well-rounded, believable characters and easily keep track of details with this free character chart. You'll find that this chart is simple but very useful.

Learn all about sonnets, including what they are, what they're usually about, the different sonnet forms and why sonnets are important. Then you'll learn how to write your own!

Use this simple formula to write a haiku on any subject that will stand out from the crowd.

A guide on how to craft a narrator that is appropriate for, supports, and even improves a novel's pacing, tone, and story by playing to a writer's strengths and specifically editing the narration to make it as strong as it can be.

Modern dark fantasy writer Cecelia analyses the essential elements that make up the emerging genre of "Urban Fantasy."

A great plot-twist can keep your readers hooked to your writing. Blow your readers' minds in four different ways.

Writing fantasy is hard work, and sometimes it's easy to get lost—whether you're a beginner or a pro. These tips will remind you about the most important aspects of fantasy worldbuilding.

Your opening paragraph is the most important in your entire novel—it's what draws your reader in, but many writers misinterpret how to achieve that.

Use these great romantic writing prompts to inspire amazing story ideas for any genre.

This article contains useful tips and advice for beginning writers. What is stopping you from writing those stories and articles? Are roadblocks and distractions getting in the way of writing. Is fear holding you back? Try some of these ideas to get your writing started.

Taking the time to write a novel outline helps you to work smarter and faster. Learn how to structure your story with an outline the easy way.

Are social media review groups really a good idea? We say no, and here's why.

Maps are an essential tool for creative writers. Maps inspire the imagination and store vital data about the fictional world and its people. Follow the steps to create a simple but functional map.

However good a writer gets, there is always vast room for improvement, and descriptive writing is one of those areas where most writers fall short.

"Run." "Said." "Big." Sick of using the same boring words when writing? Here are a few synonyms for those tired words.

Are you thinking about writing a horror story and don't know where to start? How about using an urban legend as the base for your book?

In fantasy world-building, a world has many external influences. Considering the external influences on a fantasy world can provide additional detail and surprising relationships for a creation.

Having trouble with a description? Here are a few helpful questions or prompts to get you started with describing a fantasy city.

Fictional world-building can be an inexpensive, fun hobby that stimulates your imagination. Writers use fictional world-building as a tool for developing the background to a well-rounded story.

Do you ever find yourself struggling to describe a character in your novels or short stories? Maybe you always have a hard time channeling your main character's inner thoughts. These helpful tips will give you insight on how to create meaningful characters.

Writing your childhood memories to record your history will give your posterity an accurate introduction to you. Share your fun, truthful and interesting memories. Here's how to get started.

This article has ideas to help you come up with science fiction story and paper ideas. It includes common sci-fi themes, where to research the topics further, and how to learn more about science fiction.

This article contains naming conventions that are useful for naming characters in fictional and fantasy world-building and writing.

Compiled here are 101 great ideas to get you inspired and working on your next writing project. Want to tell a story but have no idea where to start? That’s where writing prompts come in.

Similes and metaphors can help make language more interesting and colorful. Find out how to tell the difference between them and how to write your very own.

If your writing ideas have dried up, stop staring at a blank page and try this game. You can play it on your own or as part of a group. It will get you thinking outside the box.

Writing poetry is fun. Acrostic poems are a form of puzzle in which a word is spelled out by a letter in each line. Try it for yourself; you may be a poet and not yet know it!

Learn how to use past, present, and future tense in your writing.

Learn the basics of short stories and how to craft them and incorporate science fiction elements. Become a stellar science fiction short story writer.

Master the plot, structure, and monomyth/hero's journey; analyze what fantasy novels have in common; construct a story outline and start writing a fantasy novel for yourself.

A summary of cliche plots found in romance novels. The heroine doesn't know how attractive she is. She meets a rich businessman who whisks her off her feet. It takes them a while to trust each other.

If you've ever wanted to write a script or a play, here's your chance to get started.

Genre fiction can be defined as stories that deal with the speculative or the imaginary. Traditionally, this encompasses genres like fantasy, science fiction, and horror. If you are interested in getting into this type of writing, then look no further.

Cool settings can add a lot to any story. This article is just the thing you're looking for if trying to come up with some. I won't tell if you also use it for travel destination ideas.

This article deals with plots and how to develop one in fiction—whether for a short story or novel. Called "plotting" for beginners, we discuss the form of a plot, how to map a plot, and how to prepare the plot for writing.

What does writing in the third person mean, and why is it so useful?

Many writers find it helpful to get honest feedback. Writers' groups are ideal for this purpose. Here are some guidelines to make it a positive experience for both giver and receiver.

Can humor writing be taught, or is "funniness'" an inborn trait? Can you learn how to write humor? There might be something to learn if we examine what makes us laugh.

Magic uses all kinds of ingredients for making potions and performing spells. As a writer, it's good to have lots of options so your writing won't be the same as other stories.

Want to make your book stand out from the crowd? Avoid these overly used, cliche, tired tropes when approaching YA fiction and you're sure to be recognized positively.

Using slang is a great way to make people take notice, but only if you know what your talking about and you use it at the appropriate time.

Try these tips so that your characters do not all sound the same in your story or novel.

The more unique or unusual ways you can describe colors, the better your writing will be. Don't be one of those writers that just mails a color description in.

Writing is a solitary, and often lonely endeavor, but it doesn't have to be. With technology enabling us to reach across the globe, writers can connect with others for comradery, inspiration, feedback and advice. If you are a writer, consider joining these great online writing communities.

Short stories are making a comeback! But what makes a good short story?

Having a hard time staying awake at night? Searching for inspiration to create your own horror story from scratch? Let me introduce you the online manifestation of the horror genre—creepypasta.

This article includes step-by-step exercises to help develop deep characters for your novel.

There's an ongoing debate over the validity of Fanfiction. Some cry out that it is, at its core, wrong beyond belief. Others will say there is nothing wrong with Fanfiction. The truth of the matter is that people will have something to say one way or another. Best idea? Make it useful.

Take a look at the pangram and learn its significance in the history of graphic arts. Word play helps spelling and vocabulary skills and improves creative writing. Try it!

If you're trying to come up with a memorable character for a story then giving them a good last name should be a top priority. An interesting last name paired with a sound first name can work wonders.

A brief look at whether the writing motivation site, 4thewords.com, is worth the subscription cost.

This article will demonstrate how significant details can spice up otherwise dull characters, settings, and dialogue and save readers from literary limbo.

Gothic fiction isn't just fun to read; it's fun to write. But what if you get the dreaded writer's block? Check out these ideas and a bit of background on Gothic fiction to get your short story writing back on track.

This article explores the most important elements of creative writing like what literary devices are and why they are essential.

Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry used to describe emotions in relation to nature. They are short and powerful. Here are some of my haiku poems about cold weather and winter.

The article provides information about eleven flash fiction competitions that are free to enter most of which have cash prizes. Additional submission information and resources for the listed sites are offered.

A widely popular examination of five essential elements for strong short stories and the explanations of why each matters so much.

Flash fiction is a relatively new creative writing form. This article describes the form, provides examples and writing prompts, and links to flash fiction contests and publishers.

Step-by-step directions on how to construct an interactive story with multiple endings. Video examples and my own chapter flow chart included. Pick-a-path books are not just for children anymore!

This article lists 20 inspirational quotes for writers. Some are by famous authors and some are by lesser-known ones, but they all have the effect of making you feel excited and motivated to write again!

If you want to make a unique character for your story, then give them a unique character trait or mannerism.

Are your fictional characters falling flat? There might be some crucial elements that you're missing . . .

A literacy narrative is a personal account of learning how to read or write. Explore the significance of books and the written word in your life with this writing exercise.

Writing a fantasy novel and feel the itch to map your world? In this guide, I outline important considerations for developing a fantasy map, as well as some methods you can use to make yours a reality.

Sometimes all it takes to beat writer’s block is a spark of inspiration. I’ve compiled more than 40 such sparks in this article. Here, you’ll find a variety of romance, mystery, action, and comedy prompts to get your creative juices flowing.

Backstory is the technical term for the background of your novel's characters: how did they get here, and why do they behave the way they do? It takes skill to incorporate it seamlessly into your story

Writing about your character's body language is essential to an engaging story. But, here are some things you shouldn't do as you write about body language.

Flash fiction or microfiction is a genre involving very short stories. Despite their brevity, the stories can convey a lot of information and be very effective.

This article lists 10 of the best creative writing prompts out there to help feed your imagination and get you writing. Whether you need to write a story for school or whether you write for pleasure, there's a prompt or exercise here for you!

A well-written historical novel will have many hours of research behind it. How to conduct such research and points to consider when creating a story within a historical context.

Character death is an emotional experience for both your character and your reader. With a few tips, you can write a death scene that will stay with your readers for life.

This Hub examines the fundamentals of what it takes to write your first novel. The author/teacher wrote this article after being asked hundreds of times: "Do I need a college degree to write a novel?"

In fantasy world building and writing, the term "race" is loosely used to describe a sentient or sapient life form with a similar degree of intelligence and awareness as that of a human.

It's difficult to stay under the 1,000 word limit commonly adhered to with flash fiction. Here are 6 steps that will guide you to writing a tight, solid story for publishing or competition.

Flash fiction is a way of telling a story in just a few words.A short story grabs the reader's attention and leaves them wanting more. Have a go at writing one.

Finding inspiration to write can be tough, especially if writer's block has you in its clutches. This article details five methods to defeat your procrastination and get writing again.

Learn how to self-edit and edit your novel or short story alone or with others, or a combination of both.

It's hard to speak in absolutes about this subject, but here are some things to consider when it comes to the subject of realism in fiction.

Emulate the greatest authors in the English language. Improve your creative writing with 5 key concepts taken from literary masterpieces as observed by an English scholar.

Should you write an outline for a novel? Find out the basics on how to outline a novel and find out if it's the best way for you to get started writing your own book.

Psychologists have identified six basic, nearly universal, human emotions. How can you use these for more effective writing?

All throughout history, great writers have teased their readers with gripping first paragraphs. I have tried to illustrate some examples of the ‘hook’ to give you an idea of what your readership may expect and find engaging. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule.

Where did it all begin? It's a question we may never be able to answer, but if you write fantasy, it's your job to create an answer. Inside you'll find tips and examples of how to write your first creation myth.

The key is in the details. We may have the same starting point, but after you consider these 15 writing prompts, you'll find your imagination taking over.

So you've decided to become an author and write your first novel, but where do you begin? There are so many questions and ideas rolling around in your head that you don't know where to start or what to write. Here's some help to get you started.

This article provides a brief overview of lyrical poetry including the history of the lyric poem and a summary of the most common lyrical poetry forms. It also provides options for writing lyric poems along with specific suggestions and quick tips to make the process successful.

Learn about what an extended metaphor is. Here I use my own model of writing about a walk that taught me that sometimes life presents us with a metaphor and teaches us a lesson.

Become the successful writer you know you are! You can get a jump start on your writing practice with 1-minute, 5-minute, 10-minute, and 20-minute exercises. Here are some writing exercises to get you started.

Animal characters can be fun and cute, or they can act as 'social mirrors' and allegories. An exploration of how to include an animal character in your own fiction.

If you want to be a villain, then you better give yourself a good name. Find one here.

A guide to creating heartfelt writing that is relatable to your reader. This guide is particularly useful for aspiring blog, ezine and magazine writers.

One of the best ways to win over audiences and deliver an outstanding speech or seminar is to add light touches of humor here and there. Check out these tips on how to add warmth to your speech.

Discover how to write your own villanelle—a fixed-verse form of poetry that's both challenging and fun!

Every snowflake is different, just like every book that is, or ever will be, written. Here is an overview of the Snowflake Method for writing a novel.

This is an exploration of 'voice' in writing. In this article, we'll discuss writing from the child's perspective and the challenge of writing in the child's voice.

There's writing, and then there's powerful writing. The world's most powerful writers adhere to some principles. Here they are.

The mystery genre has had a long history that has worked well in novels, novellas and short stories. Mystery flash fiction takes discipline to fit all the elements into the confines of 1,000 words.