Author Archives: Rob Bignell

The day has finally arrived: Your first book reading and signing! No doubt your stomach is aflutter, not just with excitement but with a little apprehension. What if you mess up in the reading? What if you can’t think of what to say when someone answers a question? What if the crowd finds you boringContinue reading “Tips to Ensure a Successful Book Reading/Signing”

Once you’ve asked someone to write a review for your book, you might be peppered with a few questions: How long should it be? What do you want me to say? When do you need it by? Consider handing them a copy of the instructions below, particularly if they’re writing a customer review that appears onContinue reading “Some Guidelines for Reviewing a Book”

Suffering from writer’s block or need to add some spunk to your writing? The problem may be that you need to change up your routine. To that end, try this tip: Journaling often best unveils truths about oneself when it answers a thought-provoking question. If you’re uncertain what to write about, try these questions to kick startContinue reading “Writing Prompt: Thought-Provoking Question”

If only some writers would make this mix-up go away – a long, long way away. Farther involves physical distance. For example, Chicago is farther away from Los Angeles than Denver is. Further is all about distance in time or as an abstraction. To wit: The further in time we move from the Vietnam War, the fewer the number ofContinue reading “A new Perspective: Farther vs. Further”

Every story has an angle or perspective from which it is told. This perspective is called point of view. Notice how the following scene is from an outsider’s perspective, as if the narrator were looking down upon the action from a viewpoint that is able to see all: Even before the sun rose, Evod and NevarContinue reading “Heighten Tension with Consistent Point of View”

“Mere literary talent is common; what is rare is endurance, the continuing desire to work hard at writing.” – Donald Hall “By writing at the instant the very heartbeat of life is caught.” – Walt Whitman “But the ultimate lesson is just sit down and write. That’s all.” – Wole Soyinka “Beware of advice — evenContinue reading “5 Great Quotations for Aspiring Authors”

As developing your story, maintaining a sense of tension is vital. Without dramatic tension – a feeling of uncertainty in the reader about how the main character will solve (or even if he will resolve) the central problem – the story will be flat and vanilla. Creating tension involves controlling the story’s pace. Pace is theContinue reading “Use Pacing to Maintain Sense of Tension in Story”

“There is only one way to defeat the enemy, and that is to write as well as one can. The best argument is an undeniably good book.” – Saul Bellow “If the weak hand, that has recorded this tale, has, by its scenes, beguiled the mourner of one hour of sorrow, or, by its moral, taught himContinue reading “Five Great Quotations about Theme in Novels”