Tag Archives: soul

I Do Not Try To Steer My Characters

Are you a spontaneous writer? Or do you plan your novel and characters from before? Do you plan your scenes and plots and incidents in advance? Do you know what your characters will do and think every time they are … Continue reading

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No Need To Be

“But I hate things all fiction… there should always be some foundation of fact for the most airy fabric — and pure invention is but the talent of a liar.” Lord Byron Fiction: Creative writing, literature, invented story, imaginary tale, … Continue reading

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I Only Wrote The Truth

Style: method, approach, way, manner, fashion, technique, mode. Style is only the clarity of thought and idea. Writing well is a result of clear thinking. To quote Aristotle: “To write well, express yourself like the common people but think like … Continue reading

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Read In Order To Live

“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” Charles William Eliot Like most of you, I am not only a bookworm, but I also am … Continue reading

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Anything You Damn Well Want

For the past month I have been blogging about the different tools and techniques for successful writing. Some of us are lucky and have the genius and talent to have all the aspects right from the start. But for others … Continue reading

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I Could Weep Sometimes

“I’ve never in my life written anything more difficult than these conversations full of trivialities. This scene at the inn may take me three months for all I know. I could weep sometimes, I feel so helpless….” Gustave Flaubert In … Continue reading

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The Scariest Moment

“The scariest moment is always just before you start. After that, things can only get better.” Stephen King Do you have daily problems with your writing? Are you afraid that your sentences don’t read right, that your paragraph doesn’t sound … Continue reading

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There’s A Lot Of Scenery But

Setting: Location, surroundings, scenery, situation, background, set, locale, site, venue, backdrop. (These are the synonyms listed in the thesaurus.) Setting is where your story takes place, its locale. But as Sinclair Lewis said: “When I want to learn about the … Continue reading

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A Far-Seeing Place

“My name is Stephen King. I’m writing the first draft of this part at my desk. There are things on my mind. Some are worries, some are good things, but right now all that stuff is up top. I’m in … Continue reading

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It’s A Farce

Do you think writing schools can teach you how to write? Barbara Bradford Taylor said: “Writing cannot be taught, it can be learned.” “Now that’s a bad comment,” wrote Craig Thomas. “I think the passion for language cannot be born, … Continue reading

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