In this second article in the Writing Competitions – Want to Win series, I am going to discuss repetition in story ideas. It happens more often than you might think and while it’s absolutely fine to reinvent an idea, it should only be considered a starting point.
Leave a CommentTag: Fiction
Conflict in Setting…..awareness and observation of life can help you to avoid certain fictional pitfalls….
Leave a CommentEven the most enthusiastic and passionate of writers can murder their chances of being successful in their novel writing efforts if not careful and over the years…
Leave a CommentCharacterisation – you prepare to start writing and then, you have to face up to the feeling, you have lost belief in your characters and worse, you don’t even really like them that much.
Leave a CommentSomeone asked me the other day why I write. It’s not a simple answer, it’s complex because it is such an integral part of me. When I tried to explain that I couldn’t halt the sway of characters or ideas that popped into my mind, that I lived and breathed my role …
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I learned the joys of research, settling into a comfy chair and curling up with a never ending stream of good books. I began to analyse what worked and what didn’t. I learned a lot.
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For a long time guys got all the glory in fantasy, action, and adventure books, but recently female characters (and writers) have been fighting their way to the forefront of these genres. This is a terrific trend-so long as we’re not doing it by simply slapping heels on our heroes, renaming them heroines, and calling it a day.
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Not everybody aspires to write the great American novel. In fact, many writers are content to thoughtful and engaging short stories, whether for broad consumption or simply as a means of channeling creative energy into the written word. Writing short stories may not make you a millionaire, but you have the opportunity to gain a loyal readership and perhaps find greater glory in another medium. When you consider that a short story about cowboys by Annie Proulx, published originally in The New Yorker, was adapted into an Oscar-winning film, you’ll find the possibilities of interpreting your story are many. So, too, are opportunities for getting them read.
Leave a CommentThere is something universally magical about the hours of 1 a.m to 4 a.m. All of a sudden, thoughts and ideas begin to make better sense. The words seem to flow better. That creative concept all of a sudden seems clearer
Leave a CommentWant to get your manuscript completed? Procrastination can get in the way of finishing your book. This article provides four tips on avoiding procrastination and get you back to writing!
Leave a CommentHe sat motionless staring into space.
“Are you ok?” Julie asked, brushing a strand of hair from his face.
“Can we meet at the park?” he enquired tapping his fingers on the table
“Of course” replied Julie, tilting her head backwards.
Julie took a deep breath, taking in the rich aroma of the coffee that filled the air.
Leave a CommentDoes writing a sex scene have you feeling a little intimidated? Here’s your solution–a step by step guide that will help you to get your story on the page quickly and easily.
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Horror writers can jump start their horror writing careers if they are well armed with the know-how of this especially-loved but repulse provoking genre. The trick lies in eliciting feelings of disgust, fear, horror and abhorrence from the readers.
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For nine years I worked for an online publicity firm for authors. The company was one of the first, if not the first, dedicated solely to online publicity.
Leave a CommentThis kind of thing happens a lot. Rushing to make our point, we summarize and condense the life out of our stories.
Leave a CommentI’ll admit to a teensy weeny smidgen of envy towards J K Rowling. No – not the massive fame and fortune side of things. I envy her ability to conjure up a person’s character with a name: Hasn’t she just nailed it? Take Harry for starters:
Leave a CommentThe fact that she had remembered him at all amazed him. Elspeth, the foster mother who he had clung to when he had to move to a different family, he remembered burying his head in the folds of her apron and promising to be good if he could stay. Deep down, he had known that she could barely bring herself to wave him goodbye,
1 CommentThe rat! The absolute rat! Laura fumed. How could he? She had never felt so humiliated in her whole life. Fighting back the tears, Laura felt a surge of anger so strong that she knew if Luke Adams was stood in front of her now, she would punch him right on the nose. Emerging from the offices of Holby and Grantham
Leave a Comment“Are you the Doctor? “ The voice was wobbly and laden with confusion.
I handed her the cup of tea, carefully making sure that her trembling fingers had gripped the cup firmly. “No, are you expecting one?”
Leave a CommentThe Perfects have risen from the earth to save the planet from total destruction.
It is 12/12/2012; the end of the Mayan calendar. The world leaders, through their greed and lust for power, have triggered their arsenal of nuclear weapons.
Fancy winning any short story contests of your choice? Winning those top prizes are not out of reach, you just need to approach your contest submission in a practical and applied way. Creative Competitor Editor Annette Young…
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