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    Writing courses, free resources and webinars, and developmental editing Writing courses, free resources and webinars, and developmental editing
    • Home
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      • About
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      • Events calendar
      • Stow-on-the-Wold Writing Weekend
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    Archives

    Tag Archives for: "writing characters"
     Monday Motivation: How empathy helps you create better characters
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    By Richard Beynon
    In Monday Motivation, Richard Beynon's blog
    Posted April 8, 2019

    Monday Motivation: How empathy helps you create better characters

    Writing fiction requires that you deliberately trigger out-of-body experiences. You create characters whose consciousness you attempt to inhabit, so that you might the better be able to describe, [...]

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     Writing Secrets: Characters who hijack the story
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    By Jo-Anne Richards
    In All About Writing
    Posted February 6, 2019

    Writing Secrets: Characters who hijack the story

    Should you allow your characters to run off with the story? I was asked this again recently while teaching a Summer School course on fiction writing at a local university. […]

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     Writing Secrets: What does your character do in his spare time?
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    By Jo-Anne Richards
    In Jo-Anne Richard's blog, Tips for Writers
    Posted October 31, 2018

    Writing Secrets: What does your character do in his spare time?

    What books does your character read, if any? We all know, or we should, that one of the most crucial parts of writing fiction involves developing your characters. Build them, […]

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     Monday Motivation: The many masks that writers wear
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    By Richard Beynon
    In Monday Motivation, Richard Beynon's blog
    Posted October 22, 2018

    Monday Motivation: The many masks that writers wear

    For 40 years the New York artist Cindy Sherman has been photographing herself in a huge variety of disguises, playing a remarkable number of dramatic roles, pretending to be, oh, […]

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     Monday Motivation: The Writer, the Hero, and his Journey
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    By Richard Beynon
    In Monday Motivation, Richard Beynon's blog
    Posted June 25, 2018

    Monday Motivation: The Writer, the Hero, and his Journey

    Let me make a quite unremarkable observation that writing a story is, in its own right, a Hero’s Journey. Join me as I trace the Writer’s Journey over the course […]

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     Monday Motivation: Buttresses and rickety walls
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    By Richard Beynon
    In Monday Motivation, Richard Beynon's blog
    Posted June 11, 2018

    Monday Motivation: Buttresses and rickety walls

    It’s called “argument by authority” and all the best rhetoricians frown on it. A bad argument, they say, is not improved by quoting an authoritative voice in support of it. […]

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     Monday Motivation: Why is conflict an essential ingredient of drama?
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    By Richard Beynon
    In Monday Motivation, Richard Beynon's blog
    Posted March 5, 2018

    Monday Motivation: Why is conflict an essential ingredient of drama?

    I’ve been wondering why conflict is that absolutely essential element of drama that we’ve always argued it is. We’ve said that conflict creates uncertainty, uncertainty creates suspense – will he [...]

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     Writing Secrets: Believe in it – at least, if you expect us to
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    By Jo-Anne Richards
    In Jo-Anne Richard's blog, Tips for Writers
    Posted November 29, 2017

    Writing Secrets: Believe in it – at least, if you expect us to

    We’ve had someone on our mentoring programme who has been struggling for months with a story, which just hasn’t been coming together. The main character didn’t ring true. We couldn’t […]

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     Monday Motivation: Characters need context
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    By Richard Beynon
    In Monday Motivation
    Posted October 16, 2017

    Monday Motivation: Characters need context

    I had a chat with a television production designer recently. This is the person who’s responsible for the look of a production, which includes the set design, and the dressing […]

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     Writing Secrets: The name game
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    By Jo-Anne Richards
    In All About Writing
    Posted March 8, 2017

    Writing Secrets: The name game

    How has your name affected your life? I used to have a photographer friend who believed you could judge people on their names. “Their parents named them and then socialised […]

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     Writing Secrets: Your character can’t be a wuss
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    By All About Writing
    In Tips for Writers
    Posted February 22, 2017

    Writing Secrets: Your character can’t be a wuss

    Characters need to be active participants in their own fate. This might sound like obvious advice but I’ve been reading a number of manuscripts recently in which events simply overtake […]

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    Ever wondered how to judge the quality of your own Ever wondered how to judge the quality of your own writing? ✍️

A recent memorial service for a man deeply passionate about words sparked an insight: T.S. Eliot had it figured out. In his view, exceptional writing is akin to a harmonious dance — each word thoughtfully chosen, neither too bold nor too timid, working together to achieve both clarity and beauty.

Think of your words as dancers on a stage, each contributing to a perfectly choreographed routine. Reaching this level of coherence and resonance is possible for all of us. What’s required is a clear aim and a commitment to refining our skills.

Curious to improve your writing? Explore the elements that make up truly resonant prose in our new blog post. 👉 Click the link in our bio.
    Stuck in the written maze? 📝 We've all been th Stuck in the written maze? 📝

We've all been there: the blank screen, the pulsing cursor, and the weight of unexpressed ideas. It's frustrating, draining, but not insurmountable. 

There's a peculiar agony in facing a blank page. Each second that ticks by feels like a chasm widening between us and our inspiration, a maddening dance of the persistent cursor mocking our still fingers. It's an emotion we all know too well: the anxiety of halted creativity, the tug-of-war with words that refuse to come forth, and the feeling of being trapped in our own minds.

But here's a comforting thought: every writer, from novices to seasoned authors, has been ensnared by this invisible monster at some point. It's a rite of passage, a test of our commitment and passion. And whilst it feels like an impenetrable fog, remember that it is transient. It comes, and it will go.

#CreativeWriting #WritersOfInstagram #WritingCommunity #WritersCorner #Storyteller #WritingPrompt #AmWriting #WritingTips #WritersLife #WordSmith #WriterCommunity #WritingInspiration #WriteEveryDay #CreativeMind #Storytelling #AuthorLife #PenToPaper #Imagination #WritingProcess #AuthorInspiration #WriteYourHeartOut #WordsOnPaper
    Every story begins with a single line, but not all Every story begins with a single line, but not all opening sentences are created equal. 📖

Your first words are a doorway, inviting readers into a world you've crafted. But it's more than just an invitation; it's a promise, a glimpse into the heart of your tale.

An impactful opening line can be the difference between a book that's set aside and one that's devoured in a single sitting. It establishes expectations, builds anticipation, and forms the reader's first—and often lasting—impression. With so much riding on those initial words, mastering the art of the opening line becomes paramount.

Let's explore the tools and techniques that can turn your story's beginning into a magnetic force. 💌

#CreativeWriting #WritersOfInstagram #WritingCommunity #WritersCorner #Storyteller #WritingPrompt #AmWriting #WritingTips #WritersLife #WordSmith #WriterCommunity #WritingInspiration #WriteEveryDay #CreativeMind #Storytelling #AuthorLife #PenToPaper #Imagination #WritingProcess #AuthorInspiration #WriteYourHeartOut #WordsOnPaper #ArtOfWriting #WritingGoals
    There are parallels aplenty between writing and sw There are parallels aplenty between writing and swimming – a dance of words and waves. At a 24-hour relay for Level Water, these two passions converged seamlessly. Discover more about the experience through Richard's perspective in this week’s Monday Writing Motivation. 👉 Click the link in our bio!

#Writers #Authors #InspiringAuthors #WritingMotivation #CreativeWriting #WriteInspired #MotivatedToWrite #WriteWithPurpose #igwritingcommunity #igwritersclub #authorgram #writersofig
    Every writer is shaped by the words they read, som Every writer is shaped by the words they read, sometimes in ways so subtle they're almost invisible. 💭

Whether it's channelling Hemingway's assurance or diving deep into 18th-century novels for authenticity, what we read influences our stories. But it's not just about deliberate choices. Think about the power of words we encounter by chance—the ones that resonate with memories, emotions, and forgotten moments. While we may not always harness these undertones consciously, appreciating their depth can add layers to our writing. After all, words have both public and deeply personal meanings. 

Explore the magic of words further by reading our latest blog. 👉 https://ow.ly/aK4f50PKLsL

#AspiringAuthors #WriterCommunity #AuthorsOfInstagram #WritingJourney #AmWriting #WritersLife #WritingInspiration #AuthorGoals #WritingCommunity #Wordsmiths #AuthorLife #WritingProgress #BookishCommunity #AuthorMindset #JustWrite #WriterMotivation #WriteEveryday #MotivatedWriter #WriteOn #WritersBlockNoMore
    Grit, water, and words. 💭 From breaking down a Grit, water, and words. 💭

From breaking down a vast lake into segments to piecing a novel into chapters, in today's Monday Writing Motivation, Richard shares a powerful lesson: It's the journey, the smaller steps, and the unwavering spirit that lead us to triumphs. 

Ready to dive in head-first? 👉 Click the link in our bio!
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    NEWSLETTERS
    • A reminder: never let go of your writing dreams
      A reminder: never let go of your writing dreams
      September 21, 2023
    • Winners of the June/July Flash Fiction Challenge
      Winners of the June/July Flash Fiction Challenge
      September 13, 2023
    • Coming up in August: free writing webinar and more…
      Coming up in August: free writing webinar and more…
      August 10, 2023
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