Browsing all articles in Writing.
A Cast of Roles
Through the course of a novel, the author will create and introduce a wide array of different characters to the reader. Often they might do it on automatic, smoothly introducing a new character that fits the scene without any conscious decision or over-thinking, letting the writing flow. Other times an author will muddle over background […]
Syncing Scrivener Files Between Computers Using Dropbox
One of the simple joys of writing is the fact that it can be done anywhere. All you need is pen and paper. Some writers prefer the structure of a fixed location – a writing shed or office – whilst others like to mix it up and break the routine, perhaps visiting a coffee shop […]
Making A Connection
Most people think of reading as a purely intellectual pursuit, but the best books are the ones that inspire emotion in the reader. While you can appreciate a novel on an intellectual basis, the ones you remember are the ones that made you feel something; a tragedy that evokes a sense of sadness and loss, […]
Another Point (of View) – Part Two: Third Person
Last time, as you recall, or maybe you don’t, we looked at narration in the first-person. It has, as a writing style, many good points and some pitfalls. Well, third-person is no different in terms of advantages and disadvantages. It is different in relation to tone, information and connection. If you want to write a […]
Worldbuilding: Don’t Neglect The Landscape
You have your story, your plot, your characters, sub-texts and themes. On a piece, or several, of paper you have sketched out a map, worked out the travel distances and know how long it will take the heroes to cover that distance. You’ve spent a bit of time making sure you know the types of […]
Character Group Dynamics
One of the most important tasks of a writer is to get the reader to engage with their characters, but almost as important is how your characters engage with each other. Their interactions are what make up the narrative and drama of the book, bringing the story to life. How can your hero show off […]
What I Learned as a Tabletop Gamer
In news that will shock precisely no one that has spoken to me for any amount of time, I am a massive nerd. Like, huge. I am the kind of nerd who is genuinely surprised when people don’t enjoy hour long one-sided conversations (re: rants) about political systems of Middle Earth or subtleties hidden within […]
Everyone’s Got A Point (of View) – Part One: First Person
I’ve never liked violence. Doesn’t mean I’m not good at it, I’m just not fond of it. But survival’s become something of a habit and if that means getting in the first punch, kick, or whack with whatever object comes to hand, I’m all for it. – Corin Hayes And after that shameless self-promotion let’s […]
Using Scrivener To Store Your Research & Notes
If you enjoy writing, it’s quite possible that you’ve heard of Scrivener. The writing software, available for both Mac and PC, is a firm favourite for both published and unpublished writers alike. However, many are unaware of its numerous features and how it is much more than just yet-another-word-processor. It’s only when they learn that […]
New Models for Magicians
In many fantasy stories, magicians often follow one or two traditional models. Many are often portrayed as guides or teachers that assist the protagonist. Often this mentor is described as an old man, with a long, white beard. They wear robes and carry walking staffs. Merlin and Gandalf cast long shadows over the genre. Alternatively, […]
Worldbuilding: The Nihilistic Architect and the Negligent Gardener
George RR Martin’s now famous analogy of the architect and the gardener distilled the craft of novel-writing into two distinct creative approaches. I would suggest that this is a particularly useful analogy when thinking specifically about worldbuilding – the manner in which writers go about creating a fictional universe for their story to live within. […]
Writing Multi-Layered Narratives
Ideas Are Easy There’s a joke about writers: never ask them where they get their ideas from. The question might be met with a roll of the eyes, and the answers you get are often tongue-in-cheek (a PO Box in Poughkeepsie is a classic). The reason for this is pretty straightforward – it’s exactly the […]
