writing techniques
Editing techniques for long-form writing
Are you about to begin editing a novel or script? I often find editing long-form writing daunting. It can be tricky to keep sight of the overall structure, and do close-up editing at the same time. Then you’ve got to wrangle character arcs, plot twists, and scene shapes… it’s a miracle that writers ever manage…
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Writing productivity – the power of ‘just start’
If you’ve ever struggled with writing productivity, here’s a powerful tip. “Just start!” works for all areas of life, and writing fiction and non-fiction. It has proved valuable to me time and again. I don’t believe in writer’s block, but I do struggle with distraction and noise, and need to pull focus. So here are…
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Writing technique – how to use camera shots in fiction WIDE
Want to learn a powerful writing and editing technique for your fiction? Try using camera shots! Movie thinking can help focus your writing, improve your editing, and hone your visual imagination. Part 1 of this series covers the wide shot. This is an excerpt from Dramatic Techniques for Creative Writers (see below). Learn about wide…
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Writing style: 10 tips for writing authentic voices
When writing authentic character voices, how accurate do you make the dialogue? Especially with non-mainstream accents?! Blog reader B.V. Cooper sent this question in connection with the Southern US country accents in his non-fiction book. His characters are based on actual people with accent variations that include “poor grammar, incorrect pronunciation etc. Does this detract…
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How to develop your writing voice
Your unique writing voice is your best asset as an author, but how do you develop it? It’s widely agreed that a vivid, compelling writing voice sets you apart. Publishers and creative writing tutors say a fresh voice makes them sit up. They’re far more likely to read on. But a vivid writing voice is…
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Creative writing techniques that really work
Creative writing techniques are hard to pin down, as writers are all so different. But which are useful to the beginner? Here are 5 practical techniques that my creative writing students have found most helpful. 1. Beginning, middle, end This is a well-worn writing mantra, but what does it really mean? Every piece of writing…
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How to use objects in your fiction writing 1
Are you making the most of the physical objects in your fiction? Dramatic techniques used in scriptwriting often use objects to physicalise conflict, create tension, externalise emotions and relationships, and bring talky scenes to life. At the editing stage, they can also help to transform a lifeless scene. Read on to discover how pianos, trees…
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Writing technique – how to make fiction characters visible
Invisible fiction characters are great fun. From the Invisible Man to Bilbo Baggins to Harry Potter, characters who vanish from view are a much-loved touchstone of fantasy writing. But sometimes, fictional characters aren’t meant to be invisible. And yet the reader can’t see them. Some characters are unintentionally invisible, because the writer hasn’t made them clear…
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Writing technique – signposting issues in fiction
Signposting issues in writing are a common difference between work by beginning writers and that of expert self-editors. Often, new authors are so excited by their fiction world that they forget to paint clear pictures for the reader. Reader who get confused will drift away. Usually, this happens because the writer tries to cover too…
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Creative writing – muse or method?
The creative writing muse is mysterious. If you want to write for a living, you can’t leave it up to a capricious supernatural creature who may not deliver the goods! You need powerful strategies so that you can write productively, quickly and effectively, and not burn out. I’ve worked professionally as a journalist, scriptwriter and…
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