man with magnifying glass

About Mystery Writing

September 24th, 2011 GuestPost

Writing for the mystery genre can be fun, but there’s a lot of preliminary work that goes into it before you can sit down and begin.

One of the most important aspects of mystery writing is the plot. This genre is very plot driven and it’s important to flesh out a good strong plot before beginning. This includes creating several plot points leading readers on different paths. Don’t give out too much information too soon in your story. Equally important is knowing how your story will end. By outlining your plot and establishing your ending up front, you’ll know how to structure the other elements of your story.

A mystery incorporates the following elements: a problem or conflict, a villain, a detective or hero, clues/red herrings, and suspense. Also, the time and setting are important elements as well. Time and setting can augment suspense and mood of the story.
read more

woman-with-a-thought-bubble

Have Fun By Brainstorming Your Writing Ideas

September 18th, 2011 Arwen Taylor

Tap Into Your Limitless Imagination

Whether you write novels, short stories, articles, or how-to books, you will always need a supply of fresh ideas. Brainstorming sessions can yield amazing results! Develop dozens of new non-fiction topics and find fresh approaches to old topics. Dream up new fiction characters. Create unique situations and new settings for scenes. But be forewarned–ideas will flood your mind so fast you’ll have trouble writing them all down!

Brainstorming was originally created for groups, working together to find solutions to specific problems. Authors can utilize solitary brainstorming techniques. This mental exercise is a fun and easy way to begin generating hundreds of great new ideas.
read more

Conflict in Fiction Writing

Conflict in Fiction Writing

September 18th, 2011 GuestPost

Conflict exists everywhere: in a family, in a work place, and among people and groups. Conflict is also at the core of any work of fiction. Without conflict there is no drama. Writers may create as elaborate settings and characters as they possibly can, but if characters find no conflict to work with, the story will not go beyond character portrayals or setting descriptions.

For conflict to exist, action is essential. Every action results from another action before it.

If conflict is put under a microscope, its basic structure would be like a compound biological cell made up of action and its opposing action. Thinking toward the origin of the action and the origin of the opposing action is important, because this examination results in a strong backstory; however, the writer must remember that going too far back into the origin may bore the reader.

Since the opposing action is the instigator of a conflict, the easiest way to create conflict is to think of opposites, especially because serious conflict springs from characters as in: messy vs. clean and tidy; moral vs. immoral; faithful vs. fickle; kind vs. cruel.
read more

heroorvillain

Creative Writing Prompts: Heroes and Villains

August 31st, 2011 Arwen Taylor

Everyone is atwitter over the upcoming third movie in the Batman series rest Batman: The Dark Knight Rises. I must admit I am anxious to see it as well. This new incarnation of the Batman series is fascinating to me because it takes us back to beginning and shows us how this particular superhero was born. It is doubly fascinating because Batman does not have any super powers. He’s just an ordinary man with a lot of money, cool toys, and a strong will.

With these writing prompts, we are going to explore the realm of heroes and villains. Because where there is one, there is always the other. With these creative writing prompts, the goal is to develop a hero or a villain based on a starter incident. For Batman, it was the death of his parents that put him on the path toward heroism.

1. A convenience store owner gets robbed.
2. A woman witnesses the rich stealing from the poor.
3. A bride or groom is left at the alter. Their potential partner marries another person the same day.
4. A meteor falls on a child’s house. They grow up having superhuman powers.
5. The sibling of an innocent man watches as he is executed.

Ray Bradbury on Writing Persistently

August 30th, 2011 Arwen Taylor

Ray Bradbury shares tidbits on his life prior to fame. Like most writers, he experienced rejection after rejection for years. Then, finally he experiences success when he published his first story called The Lake.

Page 2 of 41234

  • Featured Video

Designed by: WordPress Themes | Customized by: Delish iBusiness
More Delish Sites: Internet Business Blog | Casual Games Reviews | Information Resource