Writing: Tips/Techniques/References
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Epithets: Fandom's Designated Hitters
An epithet, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is "a characterizing word or phrase accompanying or occurring in place of the name of a person or thing". Epithets are one of the biggest weak spots in fanfic; they show up in droves in every fandom, diluting story after story. They include descriptions of:
Many people seem to be afraid to repeat the word "said" in dialogue tags -- the phrases that explain who's talking, and in what manner.
Said Is Not a Four-Letter Word
Science and Technical References for Writers - books, journals, software programs
I t is easy to find layman's information, coffee-table books, and popular references that are useful for school projects--bookstores and local libraries are full of them. In general, recommendations for those types of books are not listed here.
Work on your plot and prepare your story outline before you begin writing. Need help with these preliminary steps? Visit How to Write a Story: Part I
How to Write a Story: Creative Story Ideas, Tips to Help You Write Your Own Book
on October 12th, 2010 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill and last modified on October 12, 2010 We’ve all read advice about the first chapter—how and where to begin a story; what makes for strong openings, depending on the genre; what not to include in the first paragraph or page of chapter one; what to include in a novel’s opening. We understand that a good opening chapter sets the tone and introduces lead characters and gets the plot rolling.
Where Should a Second Chapter Start? | The Editor's Blog
Writing short stories means beginning as close to the conclusion as possible, and grabbing the reader in the very first moments. Conserve characters and scenes, typically by focusing on just one conflict .
Short Stories: 10 Tips for Creative Writers (Kennedy and Jerz) (Dennis G. Jerz, Seton Hill University)
The 7 worst ways to start your novel - Pro Writing Tips
Aspiring novelists are always intimidated by the classics, especially when it comes to writing the opening of the novel.
How to Write a Good Story Beginning | The Editor's Blog
Have you made your invitation inviting? That is, is it tempting or attractive or irresistible?
How to Hook Your Readers | The Editor's Blog
on June 14th, 2010 by Fiction Editor Beth Hill and last modified on November 8, 2010I don’t have the answers. I’ve got some ideas.
How do you keep your readers reading? - Pro Writing Tips
Part I of the Writers Workshop: Expanded Power Revision Checklist I first presented the content of this article at a writers workshop.
Expanded Power Revision Checklist - Writing.Com
You won’t need to write a boring, uninformative and unpersuasive sentence like “Texting while driving is bad” if you can instead SHOW your point, through well-chosen details (such as statistics, specific examples, or personal stories) that SHOW in a persuasive way. If you are writing a set of instructions or a professional e-mail , you don’t want to tease the reader by SHOWING indirectly. To convey complex technical details, TELL (“insert tab A into slot B”) and be done with it.
Show, Don't (Just) Tell (Dennis G. Jerz, Seton Hill University)
Good storytelling deals as much with how a story is told as it does with what a story is. The dramatic moments and insight into the characters and their conflicts all come from information gathered about those characters.