We all know that characters encounter obstacles in stories, but how do we write really good ones? What sets a bad obstacle apart from one that enhances the story and leaves the audience desperate for more? Read on to find out. Perfect obstacles get bigger throughout the story, they reveal Read more…
Writers fear rejection. Unless you are writing on commission, you have probably put tens, if not hundreds, if not thousands of hours into your work in progress. The thought of being turned away by every publisher you submit to is daunting. But being rejected doesn’t have to be a catastrophe. Read more…
So you have written a story and you are excited to get it out into the world. For many writers their first stop is sending the work to a writing agent to try to get representation. The agent can then submit your work to publishers or producers. But do you Read more…
So many of the best and most beloved stories feature a great antagonist which keeps us glued to the edge of our seats. But how do you write a great antagonist? Great antagonists oppose everything that the protagonist or hero fights for. They embody the opposite of everything the protagonist Read more…
We know that our favourite stories share a lot of features in common with each other. It is useful as writers to understand the underlying building blocks that make up most narratives. Yes, almost all narratives have a problem. Most narratives are structured around a central character who encounters a Read more…
Most writers dream of being published, and many will work hard for years and years to see that dream come to life. But should you pay a publisher to publish your work? In most cases, you should not pay a publisher to publish your work. If a publisher is seeking Read more…
There are so many book awards and prizes out in the world, it’s hard to know which ones are reputable, and which ones have been created just to increase sales. There are ten or so major ones which most people would recognise, but in the English speaking world there is Read more…
We all want to write the best fiction we can. Sometimes it can really pay off to learn from writers who have gone before us, so that we don’t have to reinvent the wheel, and so that we can improve our writing as quickly as possible! Writing fiction is hard. Read more…
Novelists have been writing prose since Apuleius penned (quilled?) The Golden Ass in 2nd Century CE Rome. For thousands of years readers and critics have been trying to determine which novels represent the very best of prose. Who is the Best Prose Writer? Contenders for the title of best prose Read more…
OK, so you love to read. You’ve got a sneaking suspicion that you might have a novel inside, and you want to find the best keys to unlock that work. You don’t want to reinvent the wheel, however. You’re smart, and you want to hear what the best writers in Read more…