As novelists, our job is to create a story that captivates readers from the get-go. Literary devices such as metaphor, irony, backstory, et al, can help readers better understand, feel, or see a greater meaning to a piece of writing. But with many literary devices to choose from, how do you best use them? Subtly. […]
Read MoreYou love to write and have been told you have a way with words. So you’ve decided to give writing a try—creative writing. The problem is, you’re finding it tougher than you thought it would be. You have a great story idea, but you’re not sure how to turn it into something people will read. […]
Read MoreWhat is Third-Person Point of View? Do you wonder, as so many budding writers do, how to master Point of View? Third-person point of view is most common in storytelling—and with good reason. While first-person may be the easiest POV for readers to understand, because that makes it easier to avoid head hopping, third-person is […]
Read MoreIf you’re like most people, the last time you discussed Literary Themes was in high school English class. Perhaps you discussed the Theme of death in one of Edgar Allen Poe’s many short stories, or picked apart the use of shame in The Scarlet Letter. Or maybe, like many, you were lost when finding the […]
Read MoreHow do you become a better athlete, musician, scholar—or anything? You know. Practice. You run drills, play scales, review flashcards, whatever it takes. So how do you become a better writer? Speaking only for myself, I feel I get better by exercising my writing muscles. In other words, I write. Many of my colleagues swear […]
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