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Hundreds of Helpful Articles

Hundreds of Helpful Articles

We have created hundreds of articles on topics all authors face in today’s literary landscape. Get help and advice on Writing, Marketing, Publishing, Social Networking, and more. Each article has a Comments section so you can read advice from other authors and leave your own.

What Motivates Your Character?

Captain Ahab is determined to exact revenge on a whale that bit off his leg. Fantastic Mr. Fox steals food from three ruthless farmers to save his family and friends. Yossarian walks backward to make certain that no one will sneak up on him from...

On Letting Family and Friends Read Your Work

No matter how solitary the writing profession can be, every writer needs moral support. That support is an extrinsic motivation that they need to keep going, an assurance that the world will be waiting to read the story that they have been putting their blood,...

Your Characters' Identifying Traits

Memorable characters have identifying characteristics that make them unique, and these identifying traits must be sustained throughout the story. Think of the snarky Severus Snape, the resentful Holden Caulfield, the vengeful Captain Ahab, and the repressed Dr. Henry Jekyll. Your character’s traits can be modified by...

Applying Moral Pressure on Characters

Major characters, the protagonist and the antagonist, are at the opposite poles of the plot that creates tension and conflict. The protagonist is expected to be heroic or admired. However, if he needs to earn the love of readers, he will have to perform a...

The Art of Personification

The sun can smile rather than shine, and a breeze can sigh rather than blow. Personification, giving inanimate things human characteristics, provokes a reader’s imagination and awakens his senses. Giving objects human attributes can wake a reader up to the unique within the ordinary. Everyday things...

When to Show and When to Tell

Although “show, don’t tell” has become a cardinal rule in the writing community, feelings remain divided. Is it really more challenging to describe than to simply put the right adjective? Does showing instead of telling encourage writers to exercise their brain muscles in evoking sensory...

Avoiding Stereotypes in Writing

Years ago, stereotyping in fiction was very common, and readers accepted them without question. Stereotypes, therefore, are nothing new. An emperor in his empire, a lawyer in a courtroom, a detective in a crime scene, a prostitute in the streets—every known character and profession has...

Why You Need to Dream of Greatness

Writers as artists are often perceived as an eccentric lot. They view things from a more imaginative perspective and their inner lives are far from average. This eccentricity is what helps them keep going, especially when the going gets tough. Writers who tackle full-length novels do...

The Purpose of Environmental Details

Environmental details are not shown merely for local color or effect. It has other relevant purposes such as a) establishing the relevance of the time period; b) giving a concrete setting where characters can perform their existential roles; c) allowing the writer to create a world...

Words That Aren’t Words – Or Are They?

You think a word sounds good and you want it in your story. But is it really a word? Does it matter? It is, after all, your story. But, then again, if the made-up word you want to use only makes sense to you, then...