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    Writing courses, free resources and webinars, and developmental editing Writing courses, free resources and webinars, and developmental editing
    • Home
    • About
      • About
      • Facilitators
      • Testimonials
      • Contact
      • How to enrol
    • Courses
      • Events calendar
      • Venice Writing Retreat
      • Creative Writing Course
      • Stow-on-the-Wold Writing Weekend
      • A memoir weekend and a writing retreat in the Karoo
    • Shop
    • Free resources
      • Free offerings for writers
      • Downloadable writing resources
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    Tag Archives for: "how to write a good novel"
     Writing Secrets: Explore, don’t expound
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    By Jo-Anne Richards
    In Jo-Anne Richard's blog, Tips for Writers
    Posted May 20, 2020

    Writing Secrets: Explore, don’t expound

    You don’t need to feel strongly about a theme or subject to write about it. In fact, I think it’s a disadvantage. I dislike theme-heavy fiction. I find it heavy-handed […]

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    Place: Stories play out in all sorts of location Place: Stories play out in all sorts of locations. You might think of those venues as a stage, where characters collide, declare their love or spit their vitriol. The stage itself seems to play little role in those narratives. It's the unnoticed backdrop to the action. Occasionally, though, writers draw locations into their stories, using them to accomplish a range of other goals. Over the next two weeks we’re going to explore, ever so lightly, what you can do with the locations in which your story takes place, whether it’s a hospital ward, or the Egyptian pyramids. We’re in Venice, which stands exceptionally high in the pantheon of notable literary locations. Its fading beauty, which combines grandeur and seediness; magnificence and the whiff not just of the some time stagnant seawater sluicing through its canals, but of some much deeper corruption, a decay that eats not just into the bricks and stones of the city, but also the souls of those who have misgoverned her. So, you might say: you’re in Venice, it’s easy to use Venice as a backdrop. It’s Venice, for goodness sake! I’m in Dayton, Ohio, or Bedford in the UK, or Nimes in France or Stanford in South Africa. It’s not quite Venice, is it? Well, there are two things you could do: 1. You could pencil in these dates – October 1 to 15 2025 – and join us in Venice next year (and see for yourself) And if you book before we wrap up this year’s retreat, we’ll charge you this year’s prices for next year’s delights. 2. Or/and, you can use the Venetian-inspired tips we’ll be posting every day for the next two weeks and turn them to good effect on your places, wherever they may be. 👉 Hit that follow button and join us on this creative adventure: #14VeniceWritingTips . . . #StorytellingTips #WritersRetreat #VeniceWritersRetreat #WriteInVenice #StorySettings #Venezia
    #venicewritingretreat #writingcommunity #venicewritingretreat #writingcommunity
    ✍️The art of restraint in writing isn't about ✍️The art of restraint in writing isn't about holding back – it's about letting your readers in. Don't tell us your character is angry. Show us the white of his knuckles as he grips the steering wheel. Don't announce that she's nervous. Let's see her tucking a stray hair behind her ear for the third time in as many minutes. And, don't spell out the subtext. Trust your readers to connect the dots. They're smarter than you think, and they'll thank you for the challenge. Remember, the most powerful stories are often told in the spaces between the words. So next time you're tempted to explain, take a breath, and ask yourself: What's the subtler way to say this? #WritingTips #ShowDontTell #Subtext #WritingCraft
    📚✍️ Indie Author Spotlight with Jennifer Wi 📚✍️ Indie Author Spotlight with Jennifer Withers who has just published her second book, Gloam 🎉 In our latest blog, @jenwitherswriter shares: * Why she chose the indie publishing route * Her top tools for self-publishing success * How she balances writing and marketing 💡 Pro tip from Jennifer: "Writing books is a business for me now, and indie publishing is teaching me to run my own business." Want more insights on the indie author journey? 👉 Click the link in our bio to read the full Q&A #IndieAuthor #SelfPublishing #WritingCommunity #AuthorTips #Gloam
    📝✍️ Writers, ready for a creative challenge 📝✍️ Writers, ready for a creative challenge? Try this: Genre Swap Exercise Pick a short scene from your current work-in-progress. Now, rewrite it in a completely different genre! For example, turn a crime scene into a romantic moment, or vice versa. This exercise will stretch your writing muscles and might even spark new ideas for your story. Plus, it's a fun way to explore different writing styles! Share your genre swap results in the comments. We'd love to see how you transformed your scene! 👇 . . . #WritingExercise #GenreSwap #CreativeWriting #WritingCommunity #WritersChallenges #AmWriting #WritingPrompt #StorytellingTips #WritersLife #AuthorMindset
    Stepping out of your comfort zone as a writer can Stepping out of your comfort zone as a writer can be daunting, especially when faced with a new genre or format that seems beyond your current skills. Richard has been exploring the importance of stretching your writing muscles and embracing new challenges to grow as a writer. Here are some tips that will help you along the way: Embrace the unfamiliar: Don’t shy away from ideas that seem too big or complex. Use them as opportunities to expand your writing horizons. Start small: If a new genre intimidates you, begin with shorter pieces in that style before attempting a full-length work. Keep it private: Remember, you don’t have to share your experimental writing until you feel confident you’re ready. Use this privacy as a safe space to explore and grow. . . . #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #WritersLife #WritingTips #CreativeWriting #WritersChallenges #AuthorMindset #WritingInspiration #WritingJourney #WritersGrowth
    "I get a lot of my inspiration from both movies an "I get a lot of my inspiration from both movies and video games." - Jennifer Withers, author of "Gloam" 🎮📚 In our latest author showcase, indie author @jenwitherswriter takes us behind the scenes of her new book "Gloam." From unexpected inspirations to personal loss, Jennifer's writing journey is as intruiging as her fiction. Swipe to see her top 3 tips for authors! 👉 And click on the Author Q&A link in the bio to read the full interview. #AuthorSpotlight #IndieAuthor #WritingCommunity #Gloam #WritingTips
    How fabulous! How fabulous!
    Richard grapples with the balance between rich, de Richard grapples with the balance between rich, detailed descriptions and concise, impactful prose in this week's blog and our subscriber only Monday Writing Motivation. Want to try your hand at painting vivid pictures with fewer brushstrokes? Check out this writing exercise: The Power of One Sentence 1. Think of a setting for a scene in your current work-in-progress (or imagine a new one). 2. Write a detailed paragraph describing this setting, including as many sensory details as possible. 3. Now, challenge yourself to distil the essence of this setting into a single, powerful sentence. 4. Compare the two versions. Which one feels more impactful? Which one better serves the purpose of your scene? Let us know how you get on. Post your response or your thoughts in the comments. . . . #WritingPrompt #WritingChallenge #WritingTips #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #CreativeWriting #WritingInspiration #WritingExercise #DescriptiveWriting #WritersCraft #WritingTechniques #MondayWritingMotivation
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    NEWS & TIPS
    • The power of ‘show, don’t tell’
      The power of ‘show, don’t tell’
    • How lucky we are to be writers
      How lucky we are to be writers
    • Author Q and A – Jennifer Withers – Gloam
      Author Q and A – Jennifer Withers – Gloam
    • The Art of Restraint in Writing
      The Art of Restraint in Writing
    • Author Q and A: Jennifer Withers – Gloam
      Author Q and A: Jennifer Withers – Gloam
    • How to tackle new writing challenges
      How to tackle new writing challenges
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