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    Writing courses, free resources and webinars, and developmental editing Writing courses, free resources and webinars, and developmental editing
    • Home
    • Mentoring
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      • Venice Writing Retreat
      • Stow-on-the-Wold Writing Weekend
      • Karoo Writing Retreat | Memoir & Fiction Getaway in South Africa
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      • Downloadable writing resources
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    Archives

    Tag Archives for: "story structure"
     Why Your Opening Scene Might Be Killing Your Story
    By Richard Beynon
    In Monday Motivation, Richard Beynon's blog
    Posted August 21, 2025

    Why Your Opening Scene Might Be Killing Your Story

    Discover why most story openings fail and learn 3 proven techniques to write compelling first scenes that hook readers. Includes practical writing exercise and expert analysis from a working [...]

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     Unlock Gripping Stories: The Power of What Your Character Wants
    By Jo-Anne Richards
    In Jo-Anne Richard's blog, Newsletters
    Posted May 7, 2025

    Unlock Gripping Stories: The Power of What Your Character Wants

    Unlock gripping stories by understanding the power of what your character wants! Jo-Anne Richards shares essential writing craft tips for fiction & memoir to create compelling characters and [...]

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     Monday Motivation: The glue that holds story together
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    By Richard Beynon
    In Monday Motivation, Richard Beynon's blog
    Posted July 16, 2018

    Monday Motivation: The glue that holds story together

    I want to talk today about the remarkable properties of glue when it comes to assembling story. You remember what E.M. Foster said about the difference between story and life? The king died and [...]

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    Keep your friends close - and your neighbours clos Keep your friends close - and your neighbours closer. This week on the water - we shared printed copies of the free ebook “Murder as a Matter of Taste” with our neighbours who provide inspiration for the James Clatterbridge series. If you’d like an ebook - sign up via LINK IN BIO or visit www.allaboutwritingcourses.com/richard-beynon #RJBeynon #JamesClatterbridge #allaboutwriting
    This week, Richard dives into the very heart of th This week, Richard dives into the very heart of the writing challenge: “Every character you write is a character you are not. I mean that quite literally. Yes, I know many of us base our early protagonists on ourselves... Using yourself as your model for characters is quite natural. But the moment your protagonist ceases to be a direct copy of yourself – the moment you give her a different childhood, a different set of insecurities, a different way of entering a room – you are already doing the thing that some writers treat as a special and dangerous challenge. You are already inventing. You are already entering into the consciousness of another... The challenge of writing characters who are not you is not an exception to the craft of fiction. It is the craft of fiction. It is what you are always doing, every time you sit down. The question is not whether you can do it. The question is how you do it honestly.” Read more in this week’s newsletter and if you don’t yet subscribe - visit our link in bio. #WritingCraft #WritingTips #AllAboutWriting #WritersOfInstagram #AmWriting #WritingMotivation #FictionWriting #WritingCommunity #CreativeWriting #WritingAdvice
    We’re thrilled that Bedford here in the UK is la We’re thrilled that Bedford here in the UK is launching a literary festival, Write by the River, in September. Richard’s contribution to help make it a success is a short writing workshop. If you live within striking distance of Bedford, then sign up for a free two hour workshop, The Power of Place.​ Link in bio. #writebytheriver #writingworkshop @writebytheriver
    How do you write a memoir – from the first journ How do you write a memoir – from the first journal entry to the finished book on a shelf? Watch the REPLAY of The Story Behind: Unbridling now up on our blog. Listen via the Link in our Bio. Sheryl and Sandy James, the mother and daughter behind the memoir Unbridling, joined Karina Szczurek and Kerry Hammerton of Indeed Books for a conversation about journaling, writing through difficult emotions, navigating the people in your story who are still living, and what it really takes to move from manuscript to published book. It was a generous, collaborative discussion, and participants came away with both practical publishing advice and a renewed sense of permission to tell their own stories honestly. Keep your eyes peeled for our next Free Webinar or sign up for our newsletter to stay in touch. www.allaboutwritingcourses.com #allaboutwriting #Iamwriting #webinar #writingresource
    This week, Richard asks writers to “copy the her This week, Richard asks writers to “copy the heron” - to “observe: watch, listen, make notes. Then consider all the ways in which what you’ve observed might be shaped to form a story, or be absorbed by a story to serve a dramatic need.” Grab a mug of tea or a coffee, or a glass of wine if so inclined, and read more in your inbox this week and if you don't subscribe already sign up now via the link in bio, and if you do, share it with a friend. #WritingCraft #WritingTips #AllAboutWriting #WritersOfInstagram #AmWriting #WritingMotivation #FictionWriting #WritingCommunity #CreativeWriting #WritingAdvice
    We have your weekend read all sorted! FREE JAMES We have your weekend read all sorted! FREE JAMES CLATTERBRIDGE NOVELLA Richard is thrilled to announce that a free digital copy of his novella, Murder as a Matter of Taste is now available. This forms part of the James Clatterbridge Series. Book one, Murder as a Working Hypothesis, is open for pre-orders. There are worse places to live than Abbey Marina. The boats bob, the geese honk at all hours, and the neighbours know each other’s business rather too well – which is generally a comfort, and occasionally a problem. It becomes a problem the evening James Clatterbridge – horror writer, houseboat dweller, and regular customer of the marina’s fish and chip van – finds Molly Whitcombe dead beside her fryer. Sign up via LINK IN BIO or visit www.allaboutwritingcourses.com/richard-beynon #jamesclatterbridgeseries #rjbeynon #allaboutwriting #authorspotlight
    This week, Richard asks, "What does your protagoni This week, Richard asks, "What does your protagonist want?” Not what happens to them. Not what you want – which might be to explore themes of enduring human significance. No. What does the person at the centre of your story want – specifically, urgently, to the point where they would do something really unwise to get it? Grab a mug of tea or a coffee, or a glass of wine if so inclined, and dive into this week’s Monday Motivation because it will have you looking at wants, needs, and in between. Not signed up? Click on our link in bio and then the "Sign up to receive our Monday Writing Motivations" - you'll be able to sign up AND read this past week's writing advice. #WritingCraft #WritingTips #AllAboutWriting #WritersOfInstagram #AmWriting #WritingMotivation #FictionWriting #WritingCommunity #CreativeWriting #WritingAdvice
    ✍️FREE WEBINAR: The Story behind Unbridling - ✍️FREE WEBINAR: The Story behind Unbridling - Writing, Publishing and a Paralympic Bronze Medal✍️ We invite you to a free webinar with Sheryl and Sandy James, alongside Kerry Hammerton and Karina M. Szczurek of @indeedbooks for a conversation about writing and publishing Unbridling. We'll explore what it means to shape a lived experience into a book: how two voices and two sets of memories became one narrative, and what the journey from journal to published manuscript looks like. Live Zoom Event Monday 15 June 2026 17:00 to 18:00 UK time 18:00 to 19:00 South Africa Time 💫💫Register for FREE via link in bio💫💫 #writingwebinar #writingcommunity #writingtips
    Course spotlight: 30 Day Self-Guided Bootcamp: 📚Get writing fit to write your novel or memoir. 📚 ‘Richard and Jo-Anne take you through 30 days of notes on writing with exercises, summarising 30 years of their valuable writing and teaching experience. A thorough course, full of important insights.’ – Jane Vink You’ll receive written feedback on your final personal assignment. Sign up and start immediately. www.allaboutwritingcourses.com #writingcourses #writingbootcamp #writingtools #allaboutwriting
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    NEWS & TIPS
    • What eight drafts and a long wait taught me about the writing process
      What eight drafts and a long wait taught me about the writing process
    • Writing a Thriller or Crime Series: Key Insights from Tony Park and Bonnie Espie
      Writing a Thriller or Crime Series: Key Insights from Tony Park and Bonnie Espie
    • From Journal to Published Memoir: Writing Tips from Sheryl and Sandy James and Indeed Books
      From Journal to Published Memoir: Writing Tips from Sheryl and Sandy James and Indeed Books
    • The Creative Writing Skills That Make the Most Difference: Key Insights from Jo-Anne Richards and Richard Beynon
      The Creative Writing Skills That Make the Most Difference: Key Insights from Jo-Anne Richards and Richard Beynon
    • You Can Finish Your Manuscript: Lessons from Two Writers Who Did
      You Can Finish Your Manuscript: Lessons from Two Writers Who Did
    • How to Write a Short Story: Key Insights from Joanne Hichens, David Mann and Kamva Majo
      How to Write a Short Story: Key Insights from Joanne Hichens, David Mann and Kamva Majo
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