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Craft and Technique
Characterization – Giving Each Character Unique Mannerisms
As writers, one of the most important aspects of our story writing is to present the reader with real life, three-dimensional characters. One way of...(Keep Reading)
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Writing Inspiration
Writing Prompt by Bella McPherson
A writer is only as good as her ideas. That is why it’s frustrating when writers run out of inspiration. In fact, most put down their pens for...(Keep Reading)
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Publishing
Get Ready For the ISTC, A New Book Identifier
ISTC (International Standard Text Code) is likely to come into use in the book industry worldwide late this year or early 2011. Basically it goes...(Keep Reading)
7 Steps to Developing Real People Who Bring Your Fiction to Life-Part One
Part One: Desire and Fear Creating convincing characters that are believable takes time and discipline. Creating dynamically real individuals without imposing your own thoughts and impressions upon...(Keep Reading)
Book Review-Austenland by Shannon Hale
I made the mistake of picking up Shannon Hale’s first grownup book at 8:30, looking for a few chapters to read before turning in for the night. I shouldn’t have been surprised to find...(Keep Reading)
Found Around the Net
The one nice thing about working my day job is that, when there is down time, I’m able to surf the internet. This is a bittersweet indulgence for me because it reminds me of all the stuff I...(Keep Reading)
Interview With Author of The Anvil-Dean Davies
Dean Davies, Author of The Anvil The Plot Café was fortunate enough to score an interview with Dean Davies, author of action/adventure novel The Anvil. Dean has been working hard on a sequel to...(Keep Reading)
Writing a Great Short Story
posted on: Dec 20, 2008 | section: Story Development
Short stories can be an excellent way to break into the competitive field of fiction publishing. Novel publishers are more willing to look at work written by an author whose work has already appeared in print. Magazines and periodicals love the...(Keep Reading)
Ten Ways to Strengthen Your Reading Habit
posted on: Dec 18, 2008 | section: Readers Table
Most people wish they read more. It is an activity that is both fun and enlightening. It can help us be more knowledgeable and successful. However, it is an activity that many people don’t engage in very much. According to the 1999 National...(Keep Reading)
The Backstory
posted on: Dec 16, 2008 | section: Character Development
If you have decided to write a novel, the story that exists within it extends way beyond the book itself. This ‘backstory’ is what helps give your book depth: here are a few points to keep in mind about the ‘past’ of the...(Keep Reading)
Fund Your Self-Publishing Project by Taking Presales for Your Book
posted on: Dec 14, 2008 | section: Self Publishing
There is no sweeter word to a self-publishing author than presales. Presales provide relief to the many expenses involved in publishing, including printing, marketing, purchasing office materials and dozens of little things here and there....(Keep Reading)
Speed Reading Tips-6 Tips to Improve Your Reading Recall
posted on: Dec 12, 2008 | section: Readers Table
Do you find yourself having to re-read a paragraph you just read? Do you have trouble remembering what you read just yesterday? Here are some easy exercises you can do to put a stop to this time wasting endeavor of information overload. ...(Keep Reading)
Book Review: A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs
posted on: Dec 12, 2008 | section: Book Reviews
In 1912 A Princess of Mars was first published in serial form in a publication called All Story, and the novel has been in print ever since. This was the first novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs who went on to enjoy a prolific career as a pulp writer. A...(Keep Reading)
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