Monthly Archives: October 2017

In school, we’re often taught to write with a very academic-oriented voice, one that is grammatically correct, structurally logical, and in a tone that is easy to follow but not overly conversational. While that’s perfect for writing term papers, when this translates to our fiction, it can be anathema. What typically happens is that the protagonist’sContinue reading “Give your character a distinctive voice”

If writing that a character is shrugging – which is useful when showing he is uncertain or indifferent, depending on the situation – there’s no need to say he is shrugging his shoulders. That would be redundant as shrugging by definition is to raise one’s shoulder’s slightly. It’s sort of like writing, “I’ll meet you at 9 a.m. in the morning.” There’sContinue reading “Don’t shrug off this bad writing habit”

“Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very;’ your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.” – Mark Twain “The best way is to read it all every day from the start, correcting as you go along, then go on from where you stopped the day before. When itContinue reading “Five Great Quotations about Editing”

Focus on the present by taking note of what you do as writing. Note the feel of the pencil in your hand or hear the taps of the keys as you type. Concentrate on the words you add, as if hearing them spoken aloud. Zone out everything around you. ______________ My name is Rob Bignell. I’m anContinue reading “Writing Inspiration: Focus on the Present”

One variation of developing a story is to present a crucial event’s consequences rather than directly telling or showing it. Using this approach is called shadow staging, a term coined by Cambridge SF Workshop creator Steve Popkes. An excellent example of shadow staging is the novel and motion picture “Sophie’s Choice,” by William Styron (Warning: plot spoilers ahead).Continue reading “Reorient Your Story’s Plot by Shadow Staging”

One way to think of a story’s plot is in three parts – the set-up, the build-up and the pay-off. The set-up is like the inciting incident. In addition to introducing the main character and the setting, the set-up also establishes the main conflict that our protagonist must overcome. There must be something at stake forContinue reading “Think of Plot as Set-up, Build-up, Pay-off”

Good stories center on the clashing of characters’ goals and motivations. Sometimes a character’s goals and motivations arise from seeking something so badly that he no longer cares if he must influence or control someone unscrupulously. Here are four writing prompts for stories that center on manipulation. Man vs. natureAn expedition is marooned in a remoteContinue reading “Four Writing Prompts: Manipulation”

Here’s some valuable information for authors: the difference between capital and capitol. Capital has a number of definitions, but the one most confused with capitol is when referring to a city that is a governmental or administrative center, as in The capital of Georgia is Atlanta. It also can refer to a city of prominence in some industry or field, as in Detroit isContinue reading “Make a good investment: Capital vs. capitol”

“Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault. Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope. They are the elect to whom beautiful things mean only Beauty. There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book.Continue reading “Five Great Quotations about Books”