How many times have you read a book then later as trying to find some statement or paragraph in it said under your breath, “What page was that on?” Eventually you probably just give in and look up the page number in the index or table of contents. Good thing the author included page numbers!Continue reading “How to Handle Page Numbers, Running Headers”
Author Archives: Rob Bignell
Four Writing Prompts: Tracked Down
Good stories center on the clashing of characters’ goals and motivations. Sometimes a character’s goals and motivations arise when tracking another or when being tracked. Here are four writing prompts for stories that center on the plot of being tracked down. Man vs. natureYour main character is hired to capture some creature – a dangerous escapedContinue reading “Four Writing Prompts: Tracked Down”
Take the Right Step: Backward vs. Backwards
Mess these two words up, and you may be hitting the back space key. That all depends on what side of the Atlantic you’re on, though. If in America, use backward, no “s”. If in Britain, use backwards. Unless you’re using “backward” as an adjective, then use backward as in “The people of the north countryContinue reading “Take the Right Step: Backward vs. Backwards”
Turn Passive Passages into Active Writing
So you’ve written a scene packed with action, ripe with conflict, and filled with tension – but every time you read it, the writing feels flat. The problem may be that you’re writing in passive rather than active voice. Active voice is when the subject of the sentence does (or acts upon) something. In the followingContinue reading “Turn Passive Passages into Active Writing”
Five Great Quotations about Fictional Characters
“When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people not characters. A character is a caricature.” – Ernest Hemingway “If you will practice being fictional for a while, you will understand that fictional characters are sometimes more real than people with bodies and heartbeats.” – Richard Bach “I wanted to invent myself as aContinue reading “Five Great Quotations about Fictional Characters”
How to Finally Finish Your Languishing Novel
Many writers have unfinished novels and short stories sitting on their hard drives or as printouts in a desk drawer. Often coming up with a story idea isn’t a problem, but finding the time or knowing how to finish the work is. There are several approaches any writer can use to finish their story:• Set a deadlineContinue reading “How to Finally Finish Your Languishing Novel”
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Create Media Kit to Promote Your Book
To effectively market your book, you’ll need a media kit. This is a collection of materials that you send to newspapers, radio and television stations, magazines, bloggers and just about anyone else who might in some way mention your book. Sometimes it’s referred to as a press kit. A media kit provides reporters, bloggers and reviewersContinue reading “Create Media Kit to Promote Your Book”
How to Come Up with a Great Pen Name
Should you decide that you want to use a pen name, the question then arises as to what you pseudonym should be. You’ll probably want to brainstorm several names then think about which one sounds best before going with it. After all, this name will be on your book’s cover, Amazon.com page, and a dozen (ifContinue reading “How to Come Up with a Great Pen Name”
Four Writing Prompts: Finding Identity
Good stories center on the clashing of characters’ goals and motivations. Sometimes a character’s goals and motivations center around finding his identity. Here are four writing prompts for stories that involve the motivation of finding one’s identity. Man vs. natureYour main character is stuck in a perilous environment in which he comes to question all heContinue reading “Four Writing Prompts: Finding Identity”