Publishing Workshop
Getting a manuscript published is often as difficult – and can take as long – as writing the book itself. Not every book becomes a publishing sensation like Spud, the novel by John van der Ruit that has sold 200 000 and rising. “About 1% of the people who talk of writing a book will … Read more
The secret to great writing and dates to diarise
The secret to great writing Ernest Hemingway insisted that there is no secret to writing. “There is nothing to writing,” he wrote. “All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” Google the question – What is the secret to good writing? – and you’ll get a million answers. They range from the … Read more
Characters – beyond the cardboard cut-out
Characters don’t exist in isolation. They are the sum of their history, experiences and personality. Here are some tips on howto develop characters more fully.
Are you ready to get published?
Crink is an author’s digital publishing space, where writers can publish their work, sell their content in any format and market their title by interacting with their reading public. The author is individually branded and in control of their publishing venture.
Romance, Lesbian vs Straight
Both straight and gay Romance writing is about love. Both involve the intensity that we long for in our humdrum lives. They make us believe – that great love is possible, and that Romance is alive and well.
Book research is like make-up
Research is like good make-up. It should make you look better, without drawing attention to itself.
As a writer, you have to do far more research than you’ll every use in your book. But once you’ve done it, you’re tempted to show it off. Resist the temptation.
Show, Don’t Tell
The concept of “showing” rather than “telling” is pretty much accepted. But in numerous writing workshops, it’s become clear that people may accept the concept, but they’re often unsure how to to put it into practice.
It never harms to think more visually and the more you learn to use detail effectively, the more powerful your writing will be.
Writing dynamic dialogue
Quick hints that will lift a plain or dreary dialogue and give it dynamism.
Dialogue is real speech – only better
Everyone recognises good dialogue when they see it. But few people can write it. So here’s a quick guide to really good dialogue:
Writer’s Block – Managing those pesky writer’s blues
I don’t believe in writer’s block.
Every day I ever sat down to write, I thought I wouldn’t be able to do it. I always sit down sweaty-palmed, wondering if I’ll be able to get a word on paper.
That’s why I believe writer’s block is another way of saying “fear”. And it’s just another excuse for not pushing through it.
