Author Archives: Rob Bignell

Craft of Writing: Switch out BookismsEver notice when reading a story that sometimes an odd word appears when “said” would do? For example, “Well, I’ve never!” she blustered. If so, you’ve just come across a bookism. A term coined by science fiction writer James Patrick Kelly, a bookism is a long word that means “said.” READContinue reading “Switch out Bookisms – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Aug. 18, 2026”

Craft of Writing: Prevent Countersinking from Dragging Down Your StoryOne way for an author to slow a story is to employ “countersinking.” A term coined by science fiction writer Lewis Shiner, countersinking involves making explicit the very actions that the story implies. An example is: “We need to hide,” she said, asking him to seek cover. READContinue reading “Prevent Countersinking from Dragging Down Your Story – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Aug. 11, 2026”

Craft of Writing: Pen Engaging DialogueNo doubt your story will include dialogue in which characters speak to one another. Unfortunately, too many beginning writers drag their story into a furrow of tedium by poorly handling dialogue. The problem is that their characters’ dialogue mirrors actual conversations too closely. READ MORE Everything You Need to Know toContinue reading “Pen Engaging Dialogue – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Aug. 4, 2026”

Craft of Writing: Use Plain English, PleaseEver read a sentence in a story and excogitate why the author couldn’t just use plain English? The author is guilty of polysyllabism, or using a long word for effect even though a shorter word is better. For example, the first sentence of this entry would have been writtenContinue reading “Use Plain English, Please – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for July 28, 2026”