Four Freewriting Tools Every Novelist Should Use
by Bill Henderson @ Write a Better Novel charactersfreewritingideasAny novelist, any fiction writer, lives under the constant threat of being shut down by one form or another of writer’s block. It’s just a given of the trade. New writers encounter it as an existential crisis. It’s frightening, because it seems to be a cosmic message that we’ve made a huge mistake. We thought we had what it takes, but suddenly, it seems, we don’t. Experienced writers have looked into the eye of the beast and realized it’s just that, a beast, and like any beast, can be successfully grappled with and defeated. In my opinion, anyone can blow writers block out of the water by knowing when and how to use several variations of freewriting. I call them tools because they do what good tools are supposed to do: they make it easier, and in some cases possible, for anyone to build, repair, and speed their work.
How Do You Know When The Words Need to Go?
by Joanna @ Confident Writing editingHow do you know when some of your words need to go? When there are bits of prose which – however sparkling – deserve to end up on the cutting room floor?
Dialogue in Fiction – What it Can’t Do
by Bill Henderson @ Write a Better Novel dialogue“I got dis crowbar heah, whattya want me tuh dew wid it?”
Can you identify the regional dialect of the speaker? Three guesses. New Yawk? Blue Ridge Mountains? Piedmont South? The answer won’t help you much. It could be any or all.
Write, write, rewrite
by George Angus @ Tumblemoose draftseditingrewritingWhen I write something new, I always press the “publish” button too soon. It doesn’t matter what it is I’m writing. It could be a new blog post, a comment or maybe even an email. Here’s a doozy of an example:
Writing 911! 5 Tips to Breathe New Life into Your Writing
by Karen Swim @ Confident Writing ideasinspirationWhether you write as part of your profession, or as a hobby there may come a time when your writing feels flat and lifeless. You put the words on the page and they seem dead on arrival.
You are all out of ideas and procrastinating because you are bored and certain your readers will be too. For those “must do” writing tasks, you may get it done and the mechanics are all there but the magic is decidedly missing. Don’t worry, you can rescue your writing from the valley of dry bones with these 5 tips guaranteed to breathe new life into your writing.
Finding your writer’s voice
by George Angus @ Tumblemoose inspirationtipswriters flowSome writers are lucky. That’s what I’ve decided. From the very first keystrokes that they ever put to paper the words just flow and make sense. Others struggle and it seems like the words never take on a natural flow for them. Sometimes the difficulty in making words flow is so severe, it causes a terminal case of writer’s block.
What is High Concept? And Does That Mean My Little Character-Driven Script is Conceptually Low?
by Laura Cross @ About a Screenplay charactersstorytellingThe term ‘high-concept’ may fall in and out of favor, but it remains the standard for what Hollywood looks for in a film premise. ‘High-concept’ basically means the concept is the highest appeal. It is easily understood and creates immediate excitement. If a film executive hears your idea and asks you what it’s about or has no emotional reaction, then your script is not high-concept.
Have You Got What it Takes to be a Writer?
by Laura Fabiani @ NouveauWriter motivationWriting is hard work, and it requires time, devotion and diligence. It requires patience and humility (especially when your editor questions your plot development). But here is a little secret. If you truly aspire to be a writer, you can be. Here are two things you need to do: change your attitude and make the time to write. Sounds simple? It’s not, but it certainly can be done.
How Twitter can help you improve, market and publish your creative writing
by Iain Broome @ Write for Your Life marketingtwitterThis post encourages creative writers to harness the power of Twitter and use it to meet other writers, make publishing contacts and promote their writing.
How to Find the Time to Write
by James @ Men with Pens inspirationtime managementHow to find the time to be a freelance writer is something many people ask, especially those who would like to develop a sideline career. If you’d like to be a writer, but you also have a full-time job and a family, finding time to be a freelance writer might seem an impossible dream. Here are some ideas to find the time you need to write…
Tips for Overcoming Writer’s Block
by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen @ Quips and Tips writers blockThese tips for overcoming writer’s block are from experienced freelance writers, novelists, and writing coaches. Did you know that some writers don’t believe in writer’s block or finding “The Muse”? Other writers not only believe in it, they need effective ways to overcome it! Whether or not you buy into the “writer’s block” theory – you’ll find practical tips for staying productive as a writer here.
What do you keep in your writer’s tool belt?
by Manuela Boyle @ Write for Your Life toolsI never thought I’d say this, but I envy plumbers. They have a set of tools they need to do their job well, all shiny and useful, and they often wear them on their person, as if to say ‘I’m a plumber, I’m kitted out, and ready for work’. If I could buy a writer’s tool belt, I would. It would probably be utilitarian in look and feel, made from thick red canvas, and have my initials embroidered on it in gold thread. In it, I’d keep the tools of my trade. Which, of course, will vary from writer to writer, but I’m sure you’ll see some tools on the list that I’m about to share with you that you recognise.
This little piggy went to market
by George Angus @ Tumblemoose series: write a killer book proposalIn part 2 of this series I discussed which components were important to include as part of your nonfiction book proposal. Two of the key components I mentioned were Competitive Title Analysis and the all important Market Analysis.
How to write the killer book proposal
by George Angus @ Tumblemoose series: write a killer book proposalIn the first part of this series I made the point that the strategy for publication of a nonfiction book is pretty different from your standard Great American Novel strategy. This really should not be any big revelation, after all we are talking about two different products. I also talked about how selling your [...]
Sell your book, then go ahead and write it
by George Angus @ Tumblemoose series: write a killer book proposalUh-oh. What is that crazy Tumblemoose guy up to now? He’s puttin’ stuff backwards again. I guess I can’t blame you for being a bit gun-shy. I know I’ve got a habit of turning things upside down in order to fit into my own warped little world. Let me clarify a couple of things. First, the title is accurate. Second, I’m referring primarily to your nonfiction book here, but some of the gems may apply to the Great American Novel you are currently penning.
Writing Strong Endings
by Ana @ The Writer Today endingstipsJust as the beginning of a story is important, so is the ending. Once you get the reader hooked on your story, then your ending should be the clincher in which the reader says: “Wow, this was a great book. I can’t wait to read the next one!”.
What’s In A Name? The Truth About Sticks and Stones
by Hannah Gilead @ NouveauWriter characterstipsGovernment agencies have been known to refuse parents’ requests to give their children eccentric names. The jury is out when it comes to the real psychological damage such names may inflict on the self-esteem and future success of these kids. But when it comes to naming literary characters, is there such a thing as a bad name? Will the wrong name hurt your story? And where can you turn for inspiring ideas?
3 Can’t-Fail Steps For Writing Without Intimidation
by Dave Navarro @ Men with Pens inspirationmotivationIf you’ve ever held back from writing because at some level you’re feeling intimidated, you’re not alone. Thousands, if not millions of writers hear the same voice in their heads:
How Dreaming at Night Inspires Famous Writers
by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen @ The Adventurous Writer ideasinspirationSome successful writers believe that dreaming at night is the heart and soul of good writing – while others can’t remember their dreams at all! Here’s a roundup of how dreams inspire some famous writers…and a dreamy question for you, fellow scribes.
Writing First Draft? Forget Looking Good. Make Messes
by Bill Henderson @ Write a Better Novel draftsfreewritingmethodsMost of my adult life I’ve used an original NordicTrack cross country ski machine. I love it, but I remember how ungainly and uncoordinated it made me feel on first try. It reminded me of learning to ride a bicycle; I practically fell off a couple of times until I got the knack.
There was a nice new “Pro” model at my health club, but I never saw anyone on it, even when the other machines were jammed with users. One day I asked one of the trainers why. “Because they don’t want to look bad.” He had a point. The membership was young, and trendy singles filled the place after five, strutting their stuff to the opposite gender.
Write a Novel While Working for a Living
by Bill Henderson @ Write A Better Novel life balanceHey, novelists, might as well face it. Reality for most of us, whether we’re published or not, is keeping those balls in the air. It’s “working for a living”–meaning teaching, technical writing, tending bar, whatever–that will put food on the table. Unfortunately, maintaining the writing life as “Priority Number One” will always be a daily, monthly, yearly struggle. If you’re able to make novel writing pay the bills, bless you & keep up the good work. For the rest of us, here’s a montage of fragments from comments I received on my last post “A Novelist’s Dilemma – To Teach or Not to Teach”.