Chapters are the all-important building blocks of a novel. But how exactly should a first-time novelist develop and structure them in a manuscript? And what makes for a successful chapter, anyway? We asked veteran authors to share their best advice.
Which writing style is right for you?
Add to Favorites“There is nothing insignificant in the world. It all depends on the point of view.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe What is fiction … Read More “Knowing how – and when – to use multiple POV characters in a manuscript”
Authors share their best tips on finding the ideal protagonist for your story.
If you’re considering switching from a novel to a memoir (or vice versa), what should you know before you begin? We asked five writers with published memoirs as well as novels for their expert advice.
‘Show, don’t tell’ is great advice…in theory. In practice, it’s not that simple. We asked six acclaimed authors for their best advice on finding the right balance between the two elements in fiction.
Banish those walking clichés from your work for good with these tips.
How to successfully navigate the last chapter of your work.
How authors can best harness inspirational “sparks” and turn them into full-fledged works of fiction.
A no-fear guide to revising your novel.
Seasoned writers explain what speculative fiction is, and literary agents share how you can get it published.
How writing poems can enhance your fiction – and vice versa.
Learn the differences between the three basic kinds of irony, verbal, dramatic, and situation, and how to incorporate them in your writing.
Authors share their tips and advice for discovering the essence of your story or novel.
Top authors advise how to make your fiction work improve tenfold, and provide steps to making it happen.
What does an ideal writing life look like? We asked successful authors to share their essential goals, habits, and routines.
Five authors suggest novels you should add to your summer reading list to help improve your writing.
Authors provide tips for how to find and create voice in your writing that will resonate with readers.
Smaller presses, with an eye toward excellence and craft, may hold the key to publication. But you’ll need patience and persistence to unlock the doors, say these successful editors and publishers.
Figurative language in fiction results in deeper meanings and poetic beauty, and puts your words to work.
How modern writers seamlessly blend fantasy with reality.
We took a trip down memoir-y lane and asked: What makes a memoir truly great? What’s the best way to sell one? And – gulp – is this megapopular market finally oversaturated? Memoirists, agents, and publishers speak out.
The blessings and perils of writing autobiographical fiction.
Aspiring memoirists should take note from the New York Times best-selling author.
Is “playing god” the right POV for your story?
Flash fiction has never been hotter. Here’s our guide for how to write it – and where to sell it.
Novelist Christine Sneed shares advice for making every page a work of poetry.
Writers and editors weigh in.
In fiction and nonfiction alike, this Pulitzer Prize winner aims to shed fresh light on war, race, culture, and, ultimately, our humanity.
Five writers share processes for developing frameworks that allow stories to stand on their own.
Should you take a chance with the most challenging POV?
Research is just as essential in contemporary novels as it is in historical ones.
For Tim O’Brien, the Vietnam War has remained a crucible in his fiction, but the power of imagination and memory, and ‘our elusive interior worlds,’ loom large too.
“Allow yourself to write badly in the beginning. That’s good tried and true advice. And then let it evolve as you rewrite.”
How do you want to approach the comedy in your fiction?
Although she has lived in New York City for most of her life, Elizabeth Strout looks to her home state of Maine for stories. Turns out, you can get there from here.
“Each narrative you tell has to discover itself completely anew.”
In her debut novel, Vaddey Ratner looks to her personal memories about fleeing the Khmer Rouge and to creative spirit as an artist to honor the lives of the fallen.
The novelist talks about developing character, crafting stories and the passion necessary for both.
