What makes us keep reading a book? How many times have you been half way through a chapter, decided to read until the end, but been unable to put the book down when the chapter finished, because it left you desperate to know what happened next? Or how often have you stayed up until silly-o'clock… Continue reading Writing Hints and Tips – Cliffhangers – a Guide to Creating Suspense
Tag: Writing craft
Writing Hints and Tips – How to Write a Great Hook
What draws you into a book and makes you want to read beyond the first page? Then what makes you keep on reading? Have you ever been up half the night because you couldn't put the book down? Next week, I'll write about cliffhangers... The Hook The first line of a book (or at least… Continue reading Writing Hints and Tips – How to Write a Great Hook
Writing Hints and Tips – Write What You Know
A lot of novice writers receive the advice 'write what you know' and feel very restricted by it. We've not all had the benefit of travelling to exciting places, working in thrilling jobs or getting involved in unusual events. We are all alive though and have experience in some way. Some of our experiences are… Continue reading Writing Hints and Tips – Write What You Know
Writing Hints and Tips – Dialogue
Does your dialogue feel realistic? Are your characters' voices distinctive? If not, you can improve on this. Check out these tips: Listen to speech patterns whilst out and about - on the bus, in the shops, on TV. When writing, get inside the head of your characters. Don't overdo accents. A touch of dialect is… Continue reading Writing Hints and Tips – Dialogue
Writing Hints and Tips – Know Your Characters
How well do you know your characters? Do they behave consistently throughout the story? How much depth do they have? Could you predict how they would act in certain situations? Do they fly off the page and take control of the story, sending it in unexpected directions? Below are a few ideas to help you… Continue reading Writing Hints and Tips – Know Your Characters