Plotting Your Book: Always Start Your Story in the MiddleAn old but essential writing adage is “Start your story in the middle.” That is, rather than give background information about how the story’s main conflict came to be, instead start it by dropping the reader right into the hornet’s nest. READ MORE Writing Advice: Mastering PointContinue reading “Always Start Your Story in the Middle – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Mar. 4, 2025”
Author Archives: Rob Bignell
Great Writing Quotes by Author William S. Burroughs
You do an awful lot of bad writing in order to do any good writing. Incredibly bad. I think it would be very interesting to make a collection of some of the worst writing by good writers. In my writing I am acting as a map maker, an explorer of psychic areas, a cosmonaut ofContinue reading “Great Writing Quotes by Author William S. Burroughs”
How to Introduce Your Story’s Protagonist – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Feb. 25, 2025
Plotting Your Book: How to Introduce Your Story’s ProtagonistAmong the many musts of a story’s opening page is introducing the protagonist. This “greeting” should provide just enough information that the reader feels the protagonist is interesting to follow. Since you have only a few lines to do this in, what to leave in and leave outContinue reading “How to Introduce Your Story’s Protagonist – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Feb. 25, 2025”
Great Writing Quotes by Author Lisa See
Read a thousand books, and your words will flow like a river. Poetry is on earth to make you serene, not corrupt your mind, thoughts, or emotions I write a thousand words a day. The greatest calling of all is to have a literary life. ______________ My name is Rob Bignell. I’m an affordable, professional editorContinue reading “Great Writing Quotes by Author Lisa See”
Start Your Story with Solid Narrative Hook – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Feb. 18, 2025
Plotting Your Book: Start Your Story with Solid Narrative HookOne sign of a good opener is that it makes the reader want to continue with the story. Using a fishing metaphor, a good opener “hooks” the reader. READ MORE Writing Tips: How to Create Your Story’s SettingAll too often, writers give their story’s setting short shrift.Continue reading “Start Your Story with Solid Narrative Hook – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Feb. 18, 2025”
Great Writing Quotes by Author Emile Zola
From the moment I start a new novel, life’s just one endless torture. The first few chapters may go fairly well and I may feel there’s still a chance to prove my worth, but that feeling soon disappears and every day I feel less and less satisfied. One forges one’s style on the terrible anvilContinue reading “Great Writing Quotes by Author Emile Zola”
Create a Riveting Opener for Your Story – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Feb. 11, 2025
Plotting Your Book: Create a Riveting Opener for Your StoryA vital part of your story is the opening lines, also known as the inciting incident. In this section of your story, we learn who the main character is, the central problem facing him and a little about the setting. READ MORE Make Sure the First PageContinue reading “Create a Riveting Opener for Your Story – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Feb. 11, 2025”
Great Writing Quotes by Author Harper Lee
Any writer worth his salt writes to please himself…It’s a self-exploratory operation that is endless. An exorcism of not necessarily his demon, but of his divine discontent. People who write for reward by way of recognition or monetary gain don’t know what they’re doing. They’re in the category of those who write; they are notContinue reading “Great Writing Quotes by Author Harper Lee”
Questions to Ask Yourself when Plotting a Story – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Feb. 4, 2025
Plotting Your Book: Questions to Ask Yourself when Plotting a StoryWhen developing a plot for your story, there are several key questions you ought to ask yourself. Here are four of them. READ MORE How to Devise Your Story’s PlotWhen writers come up with a great story idea but don’t know how to develop it, usuallyContinue reading “Questions to Ask Yourself when Plotting a Story – Inventing Reality’s Newsletter for Feb. 4, 2025”
Great Writing Quotes by Author Erich Maria Remarque
Modesty and conscientiousness receive their reward only in novels. In life they are exploited and then shoved aside. We have so much to say, and we shall never say it. This book is to be neither an accusation nor a confession, and least of all an adventure, for death is not an adventure to thoseContinue reading “Great Writing Quotes by Author Erich Maria Remarque”