Five Legal Issues All Writers Need To Be Aware Of
In:
Research
Have you wondered whether your work is protected by copyright? Or whether you can write a story based on people you know? This article delves into five legal issues frequently encountered by writers.
Storyville: What is Literary Fiction?
In:
Research
How do you define literary fiction?
Is it the Fourth or the 4th of July?: Formatting Numbers in Your Writing
In:
Grammar
You may not know it, but there are many rules that govern when you should spell out a number and when you should use the numerals. Here are a few of them.
Write Like a Girl (or Guy)
Let's talk about sex, baby... How do you write characters of the opposite sex who don't sound like a man doing a poor imitation of a woman, or vice versa? What are the real differences in how we talk?It's Made Of SCIENCE: Writing Characters That Are Smarter Than You
You might consider yourself intelligent, perhaps even enlightened, but nobody can know everything. How can you write characters that know more than you do?Storyville: 15 Unconventional Story Methods
Here are 15 unconventional methods of telling a story. Why not stretch yourself?Dystropia: Examining the Trope of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl
By Troy Farah
In:
Cliche
A column in which we explore the various misgivings and strengths of girls that are Manic, Pixie and Dreamy.
Storyville: Dramatic Structure and Freytag's Triangle
In:
Structure
Is your dramatic structure intact? Study Freytag's Triangle to see if it is.
7 Things Dungeons & Dragons Taught Me About Storytelling
In:
Plot
A nerdy confessional where I go back through some tabletop RPG experiences that taught me valuable storytelling truths.
Storyville: What is Neo-Noir Fiction?
In:
Voice
Neo-noir fiction is literally defined as "new-black," but what exactly does that mean?
Storyville: How Do You Know When Your Story is Done?
In:
Research
It's hard to tell when a story is done. Here are some tips for figuring it out.
Storyville: 3 Essential Books You Should Read in Every Major Genre
In:
Research
Here are three essential books you should read in every major genre.
...and ACTION!: The Who, What, When, and Why of Verb Conjugation
In:
Grammar
Verbs are action words. That seems simple enough, so why are there so many different variables when it comes to conjugating them?
6 Ways You're Botching Your Dialogue
In:
Dialogue
Want to improve your dialogue skills? This article looks at the mistakes writers commonly make.
Storyville: Tips on Putting Together a Short Story Collection
In:
Research
Are you ready to put together a short story collection? Here are some tips to help you make it shine.
Storyville: 8 Tips For Growing Your Brand
In:
Research
Here are some quick tips for growing your brand and enhancing your image.
Rejection: A Critical Device
Got a story that keeps getting turned down for publication? Here's how you can use industry rejection as a critical tool to improve your work.Do or Dialect: 6 Tips for Building a Believable Voice
Six tips on creating a sense of a character's voice and dialect without resorting to painful phonetic representations.Storyville: Ten Ways to Evaluate Fiction Markets
In:
Research
Here are ten ways to evaluate fiction markets, so you can place your stories with confidence.
Put a Cap on It: Learning the Rules of Capitalization
In:
Grammar
Do You feel Compelled to Capitalize every other Word? If so, you are an OverCapitalizer. There is help—read on...
The Best Writers Break the Rules
By Erik Wecks
In:
Structure
Young writers shouldn't be afraid to challenge the conventions of storytelling if they have a plot-driven reason for doing so.
Storyville: Why Write Short Stories At All?
In:
Research
Why should you even bother with stories, novels are where it's at, right? No--walk before you can run.
Life-Changers and Soul-Crushers: 3 Books I Feel Blessed to Have Read & 3 I Wish I Could Obliterate from My Memory
In:
Plot
Let the debates begin! Three books that made me want to be a better writer and better person, and three books that made me want to gouge my eyes out.