So You Want to Write a Book, Part 1: Ready, Set, GO!
By Leah Rhyne
In the second installment of So You Want To Write a Book, we talk about the actual mechanics of getting started. Where will you write? How will you format? What else should you do?
Storyville: Putting Your Life in Your Fiction
Some helpful tips for working your life into your fiction.
Storyville: Dynamic Settings
Setting is one of the most important aspects of your story; don't overlook it.
Writing Powerful Descriptions
Why the best descriptions are the ones that are easily understood, yet leave a lasting impression on readers’ minds.
Nuts and Bolts: Hiding a Gun
In:
Objects
Sometimes called "plants and payoffs" in the language of screenwriters, Hiding a Gun is an essential skill to the writer's arsenal that university writing courses almost never touch upon. Learn to identify and use multiple forms, including the Big Question, the Physical Process, and the Clock.
Nuts and Bolts: Using Your Objects
In:
Objects
An object, in fiction, can serve multiple purposes--from Memory Cue, to Gesture Prop, to Buried Gun, to simple Through-Line Image. Learn to make the most of physical objects.
Objects
In:
Objects
In the best stories, key objects morph to serve several different functions, reappearing throughout while picking up additional resonance. Learn to use a limited number of objects to maximum effect.
Names Versus Pronouns
How can you replace tired third-person pronouns with proper names without monotonous repetition? In this essay, Chuck challenges you to develop a whole range of names for each character and object in your fiction.
