The 8 Worst New Novelist Mistakes
1. Too many adverbs Overuse of adverbs will scream amateur louder than anything else. Many creative writing tutors say any use at all is overuse. In case you don't know,...
What Makes a Good Novel Opening Sentence?
A good first line does not a good novel make, but a bad opening could kill a great novel before it's had a chance. So what makes a good first...
Tips on Writing a Great Synopsis of Your Novel
Apparently, most novelists groan and moan and hang their heads when it comes to writing a synopsis (a summary of the novel in only a few paragraphs). They don’t feel...
Telling the Story From Major Character’s Points of View
In most cases, you will be telling your story from the point of views of your characters. Some novels stay with a single character viewpoint for the whole story, others...
Self-Publishing Considerations
Over the past few decades the landscape of publishing has changed to almost be unrecognisable. The dawn of the digital age has made publishing more accessible than ever before, with...
Why You Should Join a Writing Group
I spent quite a few years writing before I plucked up the courage to join a writing group – but as soon as I did, I became an extreme convert...
Developing Locations and Settings
Some authors prefer to describe the surroundings of their characters in broad brushstrokes and allow the reader’s imagination to fill in the rest. Others prefer to go into nauseating detail...