Description is an important part of writing. It’s what allows the reader to see what you see. It enables them to imagine the setting and the characters. Done well, description will bring a narrative to life, making it a vivid and immersive experience. Done poorly, it can leave a good story to fall flat on … More Passive Vs. Active Descriptions
The relationships between your characters can be a powerful tool for reminding your readers what the core themes and objectives are in your story. They act as a reinforcement, getting into the subconscious of the reader and subtly guiding them down the right track. Without this link between relationships and themes it is possible for the … More Character Relationships and Themes
This is a template I use for designing my characters. It’s great for protagonists, but also for ancillary characters. If you can’t fill in any of the below sections for your sidekick, ask yourself why they need to be there? This template is not designed to tell you a character’s hair colour, eye colour, shoe … More Character Themes Template
Cliches come in many shapes and sizes – some small, some large. They can be character types, overused and often repetitive lines (if I read one more, “she let go of a breath she didn’t know she was holding” I swear I will murder someone), full plot outlines and so many more I can’t even … More Cliches and Why You Should Avoid Them
Have you ever made it halfway through a book, only to be distracted by something and walk away, never to pick that book up again? One of the key causes of this is a straight, flat, plotline. A narrative that continues at a fixed pace, in a predictable manner, and whilst it may be enjoyable … More Rollercoaster Plotting
Step 1: Want to write a novel. Step 2: Write a novel. Granted that, for each person, the specifics of step 2 will vary slightly. Some are planners, some are pantsers, some are compulsive researchers, some are inspiration hoarders; this we know. But all of it is irrelevant if you don’t really want to sit … More How to Write a Novel
This article was created for NaNoPlotMo, a writers group on DeviantArt, aimed at helping writers prep for NaNoWriMo. The character arc is like the bridge that spans the river of your plot. The wider the river, the longer the bridge. And likewise, the longer the river, the more bridges there will likely be. But what … More Creating Character Arc
Mimi Resourceful stood aboard the Nimbus and called halt. The turbines went into reverse as the sky in front of it tore open. The abyss spat out black lines, unfurling into text. “A tear in the fabric of fictionality.” Mimi stared into the void. The words ‘Amorphous’, ‘Pulchritudinous’, and ‘Anagnorisis’ galloped past. She gripped the … More Orange is the New Black
The Minister for Transportation scanned the documents handed to him by his secretary, eyes growing wider the further he read. “Why, these horses are costing us a fortune,” he exclaimed. The Minister for Curly Wigs nodded in agreement, ringlets bouncing jovially. “We told you, Minister. Horses are costing us big time in food, grooming, and … More Cost Efficiency Mandated
The still air carried on it no scent other than that of the soil and the rotting leaves. The distant rumble of thunder echoed across the dark sky, chasing after flashes that were too fleeting to do more than glimpse at. As the first few heavy drops began to fall, like spears from the stars, … More The Tyger
C. A. Harland 