Have you ever felt all alone as a writer - on an island of self-doubt? Where can you find the ideas, the support, the comradery of writers everywhere without leaving the house? After all, you are trying to put out some pages every day and you don't have time to find an obscure bar in downtown Houston where poets and other eclectic types hang out wearing fedoras and smoking cigarettes.
Welcome to the internet of things. Online books and online groups have made writers gather together virtually. Fiction writers have their own groups. Romance fiction has their own twitter groups. Science fiction has Instagram groups and hashtags allow us all to follow and search for what interests us. When we read novels and read online we can easily find links to groups and feeds that we may be interested in following.
The other advantage is that we may be able to find popular books and famous authors via some feeds or groups. We can follow them and join the same groups they are in. What better friends could we have as an aspiring writer of fiction than a famous author who has already created great literature? These chat groups and forums are all free, which is another huge benefit, and since they are virtual it does not require us to travel any farther than our own computer or cell phone.
Online reading, online fiction, online novels - these are all great search terms for the beginning of our road to group therapy. Find some groups that have writers, and readers. Post some of your own work and be receptive to the feedback. Our attempt at writing novels is genuine and we are heavily invested in our own ideas - but sometimes a fresh perspective from someone who is not invested at all is a good one to hear. One thing that I have noticed myself is that I do not take every single suggestion that comes along, but it plays in the back of my mind over and over while I am writing. It cannot help but have some effect on my work.
Imagine a room of 1000 writers all offering their opinions, not all will be valid and not all will agree with you on anything. But all one thousand taken as a whole can help us to balance our own ideas.
Now, it is also true that great literature was being produced long before we had focus groups, chat rooms, twitter feeds, and supportive friends. Many great authors struggled and worked to produce their books without an agent or publisher, or even a printing press! Humans have written great works and they will continue to do so - it may even be you who writes the next great novel. So look inside yourself to find your story. Accept advice and get support, but follow your own story your way. Not every book has to follow a formula for success - some books follow no formula, that is what makes this an art.
Go, make some art - write fiction.
Showing posts with label romance fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label romance fiction. Show all posts
Thursday, May 10, 2018
Monday, January 15, 2018
Parts of a Novel
Which part of your novel is the most important? The beginning? The end? The plot? The characters? Well if you are a reader you likely already know the answer is "all of the above". As a fiction reader you want to be entertained by believable characters and a thrilling plot. Popular books require good characters and a beginning that grabs our attention. The ending is not as critical, since it could be delayed over a series of books. But eventually the writer is going to have to consider an ending that satisfies the reader. The longer we wait for an ending, the better it needs to be.
As a side note: just because the world is moving to online books and online reading, where readers can discover free books online does not mean we can ignore the fundamental need for good writing. If you want to read a novel, whether it is online fiction or in a book; you want your time to be well spent.
Romance fiction may not need to rely on a plot as much as a science fiction story, but the reverse could be said for good character development. Each genre has it's strengths and weaknesses, but if we focus on writing a well-rounded story with good characters then we can be sure we will entertain the reader.
The first sentence. Unless you know you have an amazing first line, be assured yours will change by the time the book is complete. Research "fiction first line" on the web and see what I mean. There are some great first lines from amazing novels. A first line grabs attention and makes the reader want to keep reading. Or maybe it is intentionally misleading, or prophetic. Perhaps all you have is a great first line - well that may be enough to get you to create great literature. Write that great first sentence and then see what happens.
Develop the characters. Real people are difficult to describe in words. The author needs to visualize them and know them, know how they will respond to outside influences and emotions. How do we describe our character in the novel? I gave this assignment to some students once and got very two-dimensional descriptions like tall, fat, ugly, nice, mean. It does not good to describe your character as tall. How tall is she? Is she taller than every boy she ever danced with? Was she self-conscious about her height, and this made her shrug a little? How do we know the boy is nice? Do we have evidence of it shown in some action? Making the reader infer qualities rather than telling them makes the difference between a children's book and a real novel.
Literature is an art and creating it makes the author an artist. There is certainly no way to say this is for sure the right way to do things and that is the wrong way. Focus on creating a great first sentence. Have a plot that makes sense an can be followed logically. Create characters that are believable and that our reader can identify with - so that they cheer for the character (or cheer against him is good too). You are on your way to writing a great novel.
As a side note: just because the world is moving to online books and online reading, where readers can discover free books online does not mean we can ignore the fundamental need for good writing. If you want to read a novel, whether it is online fiction or in a book; you want your time to be well spent.
Romance fiction may not need to rely on a plot as much as a science fiction story, but the reverse could be said for good character development. Each genre has it's strengths and weaknesses, but if we focus on writing a well-rounded story with good characters then we can be sure we will entertain the reader.
The first sentence. Unless you know you have an amazing first line, be assured yours will change by the time the book is complete. Research "fiction first line" on the web and see what I mean. There are some great first lines from amazing novels. A first line grabs attention and makes the reader want to keep reading. Or maybe it is intentionally misleading, or prophetic. Perhaps all you have is a great first line - well that may be enough to get you to create great literature. Write that great first sentence and then see what happens.
Develop the characters. Real people are difficult to describe in words. The author needs to visualize them and know them, know how they will respond to outside influences and emotions. How do we describe our character in the novel? I gave this assignment to some students once and got very two-dimensional descriptions like tall, fat, ugly, nice, mean. It does not good to describe your character as tall. How tall is she? Is she taller than every boy she ever danced with? Was she self-conscious about her height, and this made her shrug a little? How do we know the boy is nice? Do we have evidence of it shown in some action? Making the reader infer qualities rather than telling them makes the difference between a children's book and a real novel.
Literature is an art and creating it makes the author an artist. There is certainly no way to say this is for sure the right way to do things and that is the wrong way. Focus on creating a great first sentence. Have a plot that makes sense an can be followed logically. Create characters that are believable and that our reader can identify with - so that they cheer for the character (or cheer against him is good too). You are on your way to writing a great novel.
Tips on Writing Proper English
Fiction writers have a lot of choices to make with every line they write. Whether it is science fiction, romance fiction, or suspense fiction the rules of the English language have to be followed. There are of course some exceptions. We want our characters to be realistic and authentic. Let's take these issues one at a time and try to accomplish some great literature when we write.
Novels require a great deal of thought. Suddenly you come to the word OK and you have to decide whether to write it as O.K. or okay or OK. It certainly may seem to be an insignificant detail but this type of thing can stall the writing process and make a good writer stumble. What is the rule? I will tell you what I think but any popular book may contradict me. I asked this question to three people and got three answers. If it was me writing, I would simply write "okay" in any normal passage in a novel. Now, this may not be true if someone was speaking - I could easily see the use of O.K. in a quick response to a question.
And when we have to write a number, do we write "five" or 5? I always prefer to write the words rather than the numbers - up to a certain point. Personally once we reach one hundred it seems silly to keep using words. But up to that point I always write the words of the numbers rather than the numbers themselves. It's my personal preference. A writing teacher taught me that way in high school and it always stuck with me.
What about mixing reality with fantasy? That seems to be a silly point to consider, since we have to base things in reality if we want the reader to see things as probable. Even Star Wars and Star Trek have kept basic laws of physics based in reality. A new language can be invented and it can be completely fictional and made up. Anything is possible in writing.
How do we create a character that is realistic and believable? I think the key is to have each character clear in the mind of the writer. Even fiction requires consistency. When someone wants to read a novel, they want to be whisked away to an alternate reality and do not want distractions like inconsistent writing to distract them. Get your character clear in mind and make notes of their physical characteristics. What are they like? Honest? Reserved? Outgoing and gregarious? Tall, broad, slim, short, or fat? Facial hair? Slender arms and long legs? What is remarkable about your character? What makes them memorable? What does their voice sound like when they talk, and do people listen to them? How do they dress and comport themselves? Once you make a list of all these details it might do you well to write them down someplace convenient so you can refer to them when you need. Each character will bring a new description and depending on their use, you may need to remember details for later. Develop a character that is memorable and realistic. Think of people you know and what is remarkable about each of them. Use real qualities and personality traits; and exaggerate them as needed.
English is a very specific language and readers of books need to focus on the story and not on the use of language. It will require more work from the author but will be work that is worth the effort.
Novels require a great deal of thought. Suddenly you come to the word OK and you have to decide whether to write it as O.K. or okay or OK. It certainly may seem to be an insignificant detail but this type of thing can stall the writing process and make a good writer stumble. What is the rule? I will tell you what I think but any popular book may contradict me. I asked this question to three people and got three answers. If it was me writing, I would simply write "okay" in any normal passage in a novel. Now, this may not be true if someone was speaking - I could easily see the use of O.K. in a quick response to a question.
And when we have to write a number, do we write "five" or 5? I always prefer to write the words rather than the numbers - up to a certain point. Personally once we reach one hundred it seems silly to keep using words. But up to that point I always write the words of the numbers rather than the numbers themselves. It's my personal preference. A writing teacher taught me that way in high school and it always stuck with me.
What about mixing reality with fantasy? That seems to be a silly point to consider, since we have to base things in reality if we want the reader to see things as probable. Even Star Wars and Star Trek have kept basic laws of physics based in reality. A new language can be invented and it can be completely fictional and made up. Anything is possible in writing.
How do we create a character that is realistic and believable? I think the key is to have each character clear in the mind of the writer. Even fiction requires consistency. When someone wants to read a novel, they want to be whisked away to an alternate reality and do not want distractions like inconsistent writing to distract them. Get your character clear in mind and make notes of their physical characteristics. What are they like? Honest? Reserved? Outgoing and gregarious? Tall, broad, slim, short, or fat? Facial hair? Slender arms and long legs? What is remarkable about your character? What makes them memorable? What does their voice sound like when they talk, and do people listen to them? How do they dress and comport themselves? Once you make a list of all these details it might do you well to write them down someplace convenient so you can refer to them when you need. Each character will bring a new description and depending on their use, you may need to remember details for later. Develop a character that is memorable and realistic. Think of people you know and what is remarkable about each of them. Use real qualities and personality traits; and exaggerate them as needed.
English is a very specific language and readers of books need to focus on the story and not on the use of language. It will require more work from the author but will be work that is worth the effort.
Monday, January 8, 2018
Online Reading
Reading a novel has become increasingly easier with online reading. We are able to access novels and even great literature by means of the internet. This can be especially beneficial to new authors who want to introduce themselves.
Online fiction is very popular and there are a wide variety of subjects to look for. Any of our interests can be met, if we enjoy romance fiction, science fiction, suspense or detective series - all of this can be accessed through reading online.
For those who are trying to get their foot in the door and have their novel published; using an online service to showcase your works is a great way to accomplish this. Putting your novel online opens the world to you. People from all over can have the opportunity to read your work, and some online sites even have reader feedback. This can be helpful if you are new and trying to figure things out. Possibly you are making some grammatical errors that your audience would like fixed. Or you may be struggling with certain plot points and again help can be given through constructive criticism. Or you may receive positive feedback; which will give you the boost you need to continue writing.
Having your work posted online really does distribute your novel to people who may never have the chance to know about you. If your novel is well received the readers will want more and publishing companies may take notice. If your novel is not well received then this can help you to improve. Look at your feedback and make changes without losing your identity. What I mean to say is that you have your plot ideas and your own writing style and should stay true to your work. Yet listening and really analyzing what is commented on can be extremely helpful for first time writers. Best of all: it is free!
Writing communities online are another great avenue to showcase your novel. Generally these sites are filled with fellow authors that have the same passion for writing that you do. This online group can give writing tips, help you when you are stuck and most importantly encourage you to keep writing. Discussions with fellow writers are a great outlet to help get the writing flowing.
There are many websites available to post your novel so take the time and research popular sites. It is best to have your novel where you will get the most traffic. Also consider different countries. Posting your novel around the world can create many fans. Also, consider which group of people will be interested in your genre of writing. Some sites are solely for one genre and if you are a writer in that genre you can quickly get exposure to high numbers of readers.
Displaying your work online can pave the way to boundless opportunities and may even lead to having your work published. It is a great way to introduce yourself to the readers of the world and receive helpful feedback. This is great if you are new to writing and want to test out what people think of your work. So why not give it a try and see the world of online fiction.
Online fiction is very popular and there are a wide variety of subjects to look for. Any of our interests can be met, if we enjoy romance fiction, science fiction, suspense or detective series - all of this can be accessed through reading online.
For those who are trying to get their foot in the door and have their novel published; using an online service to showcase your works is a great way to accomplish this. Putting your novel online opens the world to you. People from all over can have the opportunity to read your work, and some online sites even have reader feedback. This can be helpful if you are new and trying to figure things out. Possibly you are making some grammatical errors that your audience would like fixed. Or you may be struggling with certain plot points and again help can be given through constructive criticism. Or you may receive positive feedback; which will give you the boost you need to continue writing.
Having your work posted online really does distribute your novel to people who may never have the chance to know about you. If your novel is well received the readers will want more and publishing companies may take notice. If your novel is not well received then this can help you to improve. Look at your feedback and make changes without losing your identity. What I mean to say is that you have your plot ideas and your own writing style and should stay true to your work. Yet listening and really analyzing what is commented on can be extremely helpful for first time writers. Best of all: it is free!
Writing communities online are another great avenue to showcase your novel. Generally these sites are filled with fellow authors that have the same passion for writing that you do. This online group can give writing tips, help you when you are stuck and most importantly encourage you to keep writing. Discussions with fellow writers are a great outlet to help get the writing flowing.
There are many websites available to post your novel so take the time and research popular sites. It is best to have your novel where you will get the most traffic. Also consider different countries. Posting your novel around the world can create many fans. Also, consider which group of people will be interested in your genre of writing. Some sites are solely for one genre and if you are a writer in that genre you can quickly get exposure to high numbers of readers.
Displaying your work online can pave the way to boundless opportunities and may even lead to having your work published. It is a great way to introduce yourself to the readers of the world and receive helpful feedback. This is great if you are new to writing and want to test out what people think of your work. So why not give it a try and see the world of online fiction.
What is the best bottle of wine that you can buy?
Is it a bottle that costs $10 or a bottle that costs $1,000? Would it be a French wine, Italian, South African, or from another country? There are so many possible answers to that question because there are so many to choose from. You can try a friend’s recommendation, or you might do research on what different wine experts say and try one of their choices. However, the best answer I heard to this question is that the best wine to buy is the one that you enjoy. That is logical, I am sure you will agree. People differ. Personal tastes differ. What you like, I might not like and vice versa.
The same kind of question can be asked about books. What is your favorite novel? What kind of fiction do you like to read? Do you prefer romance fiction, crime fiction, horror fiction, mystery fiction, fantasy books, or suspense fiction?
The answer might vary depending on how you or I feel at the moment. Yet, whatever genre of book that I might wish to read at any given moment, my preferences often have something in common. I like a novel or a story that stimulates my imagination and that draws me into the scene that the author is creating, while at the same time engaging my emotions and interest.
One author who has that effect on me is the late Georgette Heyer. Some of you might ask: “Georgette Who?” Georgette Heyer! Among other things she wrote romance fiction, crime fiction and historical novels often set in the 1700’s and early 1800’s in England and Europe. Though she may not be too well known to many modern-day lovers of fiction, one book-selling company said that she is one of their top 10 bestselling authors! Not bad for someone who died in 1974!
One reason why I like her books is her use of description. As mentioned, some, in fact, many of her books were set in the early 1800’s or to be more precise, what is known as the Regency period in England. Namely, the decade of 1811-1820 when then king of Great Britain, George III was deemed unfit to rule, and his son, later George IV, ruled as his proxy as the Prince Regent.
This period was about 100 years before Georgette Heyer lived and vastly different from her world and that of her readers; in language, in dress and customs. So to help her readers understand the setting and time period of her novels, she included a lot of detailed information in them. This information was also apparently very accurate as Heyer collected reference works and kept detailed notes on all aspects of Regency life.
Yet, despite the level of detail that she gave in her novels, it is the way she did it that makes me marvel at her as an author. As I read through such of her works as The Grand Sophy, Regency Buck, a collection of short stories Pistols For Two, I am not weighed down by an avalanche of detail, but I am fed just enough information at each moment to make me feel I am part of her scene, while being absorbed in her characters and her wit at storytelling.
If you have not read any of Georgette Heyer’s works, why not give them a try? You can find them well enough online. I may not be a literary expert, but she would be one of my recommendations!
The same kind of question can be asked about books. What is your favorite novel? What kind of fiction do you like to read? Do you prefer romance fiction, crime fiction, horror fiction, mystery fiction, fantasy books, or suspense fiction?
The answer might vary depending on how you or I feel at the moment. Yet, whatever genre of book that I might wish to read at any given moment, my preferences often have something in common. I like a novel or a story that stimulates my imagination and that draws me into the scene that the author is creating, while at the same time engaging my emotions and interest.
One author who has that effect on me is the late Georgette Heyer. Some of you might ask: “Georgette Who?” Georgette Heyer! Among other things she wrote romance fiction, crime fiction and historical novels often set in the 1700’s and early 1800’s in England and Europe. Though she may not be too well known to many modern-day lovers of fiction, one book-selling company said that she is one of their top 10 bestselling authors! Not bad for someone who died in 1974!
One reason why I like her books is her use of description. As mentioned, some, in fact, many of her books were set in the early 1800’s or to be more precise, what is known as the Regency period in England. Namely, the decade of 1811-1820 when then king of Great Britain, George III was deemed unfit to rule, and his son, later George IV, ruled as his proxy as the Prince Regent.
This period was about 100 years before Georgette Heyer lived and vastly different from her world and that of her readers; in language, in dress and customs. So to help her readers understand the setting and time period of her novels, she included a lot of detailed information in them. This information was also apparently very accurate as Heyer collected reference works and kept detailed notes on all aspects of Regency life.
Yet, despite the level of detail that she gave in her novels, it is the way she did it that makes me marvel at her as an author. As I read through such of her works as The Grand Sophy, Regency Buck, a collection of short stories Pistols For Two, I am not weighed down by an avalanche of detail, but I am fed just enough information at each moment to make me feel I am part of her scene, while being absorbed in her characters and her wit at storytelling.
If you have not read any of Georgette Heyer’s works, why not give them a try? You can find them well enough online. I may not be a literary expert, but she would be one of my recommendations!
Friday, December 29, 2017
Publishing a Novel
For most of us who are interested in writing a novel, we dream of the day our work is published. Seeing our words on paper is very fulfilling. However, that is not always an easy step. Many times we can send in a submission and then receive the dreaded rejection letter. So what can we do to keep enduring? Should we make changes to our novel? Or do we start over again?
First it is important to remember that not all publishing companies will be interested in your work. But that does not mean that you should give up. Try to keep a positive outlook and keep trying with different companies. For example, maybe the company is currently looking for romance fiction and science fiction; so your novel simply may not fit into their desired genre. If you feel like everything is a dead end then consider online options. You could post a few chapters on a website catering to new authors and see if you get positive feedback from the comments section. Many people are going to online reading thus opening the way to worldwide viewers and interest. It is common for different countries to have different interests so possibly your story will connect with readers on the other side of the world. In addition, some of those websites allow free books to be posted, and readers can read online for free also. It's good exposure.
If the an agent gives you feedback, can you look at it positively and see if those changes are beneficial to your story. Or is the agent trying to make your work completely off from your original purpose. Maybe you want to write romance fiction and the agent is trying to turn it into erotica fiction. Know your limits, and as a writer; know what you want from your own story. Criticism can be hard to take but it can also be very helpful. If we don't take our writing too seriously we can become better writers by listening to advice. If the agent just didn't like your work then really that is personal taste and doesn't reflect that you are not qualified or that your novel is no good.
If you have shared your work with a qualified person and they give you input - don't be too sensitive because these suggestions can make your novel better. There are programs or workshops that help writers develop their stories and give advice to make your novel better as well. These groups can really help you hone your novel and once you have made needed changes submitting it to a publishing company can be very rewarding when they see that you took the time to make your novel better.
What if you feel like you can't move forward and make the needed changes or you at a loss for what to change? Do you scrap the entire novel? That could be a little extreme especially if you have worked hard hours, days, months even years to write it. Possibly you need to table the novel for a moment and take a breather. Give yourself some time to think about other things. Coming back to it with a fresh outlook can truly be beneficial.
First it is important to remember that not all publishing companies will be interested in your work. But that does not mean that you should give up. Try to keep a positive outlook and keep trying with different companies. For example, maybe the company is currently looking for romance fiction and science fiction; so your novel simply may not fit into their desired genre. If you feel like everything is a dead end then consider online options. You could post a few chapters on a website catering to new authors and see if you get positive feedback from the comments section. Many people are going to online reading thus opening the way to worldwide viewers and interest. It is common for different countries to have different interests so possibly your story will connect with readers on the other side of the world. In addition, some of those websites allow free books to be posted, and readers can read online for free also. It's good exposure.
If the an agent gives you feedback, can you look at it positively and see if those changes are beneficial to your story. Or is the agent trying to make your work completely off from your original purpose. Maybe you want to write romance fiction and the agent is trying to turn it into erotica fiction. Know your limits, and as a writer; know what you want from your own story. Criticism can be hard to take but it can also be very helpful. If we don't take our writing too seriously we can become better writers by listening to advice. If the agent just didn't like your work then really that is personal taste and doesn't reflect that you are not qualified or that your novel is no good.
If you have shared your work with a qualified person and they give you input - don't be too sensitive because these suggestions can make your novel better. There are programs or workshops that help writers develop their stories and give advice to make your novel better as well. These groups can really help you hone your novel and once you have made needed changes submitting it to a publishing company can be very rewarding when they see that you took the time to make your novel better.
What if you feel like you can't move forward and make the needed changes or you at a loss for what to change? Do you scrap the entire novel? That could be a little extreme especially if you have worked hard hours, days, months even years to write it. Possibly you need to table the novel for a moment and take a breather. Give yourself some time to think about other things. Coming back to it with a fresh outlook can truly be beneficial.
Free Books
That gets people's attention - we all like to get free stuff. But lately things have changed and we are suspicious of the word free. When someone tells us we can have something free, we assume there are strings attached. Nothing is free. novels
Well I am here to tell you today that free stuff does exist, and it's all thanks to the internet. We get access to maps for free thanks to Google, and there is lots of free advice available on so many websites - why not free books? With the advent of e-readers, and now websites that post books for free, readers can find lots of interesting things to read at no cost at all.
What kinds of literature are you interested in? If science fiction is your thing, do a search and look for online books in that genre. Maybe you want to find popular books to read, do a search for book lists of popular books; find out what is hot right now. Romance fiction has so many possibilities that you may have to limit your searches to a specific type of romance - there is plenty of free reading to be done.
But this raises another question - can I read online or will I have to download an app? There are many websites available now that allow you to simply read online. No download, no software issues. If you have data access then you can read online for free. It really is a wonderful age we live in.
How do these websites make money, nothing is free. My answer to that is simple. Who cares! They obviously have advertising on the screen and they have their own ways to make money but as long as I can read for free I am fine with whatever they want to do.
Another bonus I have found is that the authors available to choose from are unknown. I like to find my favorite author as much as the next guy, but to read something written by an amateur author is something kind of special..Popular books are fine, but imagine finding a book nobody has heard of, and few have actually read. It's exciting to me because I am also an aspiring author and to think that I could post my work online and have it discovered is great. I don't mean "discovered" like Steven Speilberg will read it and want to make a movie from it; I mean "discovered" like enjoyed by someone. I write to entertain and that does not have to mean 5 million people. It could be just one.
So do a search and find a novel that you want to read. Find something new and exciting. Not every story has been told yet, there is still a lot of imagination out there. Don't go to a bookstore and find something that has been edited and copyrighted and published. Go online and find a free book to read. Discover some new talent and be inspired yourself.
The future is now, and there are millions of free books online to read. Online fiction could become your new favorite thing.
Well I am here to tell you today that free stuff does exist, and it's all thanks to the internet. We get access to maps for free thanks to Google, and there is lots of free advice available on so many websites - why not free books? With the advent of e-readers, and now websites that post books for free, readers can find lots of interesting things to read at no cost at all.
What kinds of literature are you interested in? If science fiction is your thing, do a search and look for online books in that genre. Maybe you want to find popular books to read, do a search for book lists of popular books; find out what is hot right now. Romance fiction has so many possibilities that you may have to limit your searches to a specific type of romance - there is plenty of free reading to be done.
But this raises another question - can I read online or will I have to download an app? There are many websites available now that allow you to simply read online. No download, no software issues. If you have data access then you can read online for free. It really is a wonderful age we live in.
How do these websites make money, nothing is free. My answer to that is simple. Who cares! They obviously have advertising on the screen and they have their own ways to make money but as long as I can read for free I am fine with whatever they want to do.
Another bonus I have found is that the authors available to choose from are unknown. I like to find my favorite author as much as the next guy, but to read something written by an amateur author is something kind of special..Popular books are fine, but imagine finding a book nobody has heard of, and few have actually read. It's exciting to me because I am also an aspiring author and to think that I could post my work online and have it discovered is great. I don't mean "discovered" like Steven Speilberg will read it and want to make a movie from it; I mean "discovered" like enjoyed by someone. I write to entertain and that does not have to mean 5 million people. It could be just one.
So do a search and find a novel that you want to read. Find something new and exciting. Not every story has been told yet, there is still a lot of imagination out there. Don't go to a bookstore and find something that has been edited and copyrighted and published. Go online and find a free book to read. Discover some new talent and be inspired yourself.
The future is now, and there are millions of free books online to read. Online fiction could become your new favorite thing.
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Writing Drama
Creating a novel that will captivate our audience takes imagination and drama. Whether we are writing science fiction, romance fiction or suspense fiction; giving our novel some drama can make for more enjoyable reading. Popular books have conflicts that create drama. A conflict is having two or more forces in opposition. When we create a conflict that is enticing, our readers will want to keep reading our novel.
Consider great literature from the past and you can see how creating drama in our novel is vital. Scarlet Pimpernel is a great example of intrigue using conflict. Sir Percy and Marguerite, Marguerite and Chauvelin and those in conflict with the Scarlet Pimpernel. All of the twists and turns make for very exciting reading.
As we read these novels and see the depth of conflict we have better drama. So creating drama in our novels is important and is not to be taken lightly. If we have developed good characters and put them in intriguing situations that fill our readers with anticipation they will definitely want to keep reading.
It would be a good idea to become familiar with the topic you are writing about so you can create believable drama. So take the time to do research. If you are writing about a particular building, take the time to go to it - that would be great, but if that is not possible, take the time to research things online or at your local library. Online you should be able to see pictures and the surrounding so you can capture your audiences imagination. They should be able to feel like they are in that space.
We may have a story line in mind that is interesting but to make it dramatic we need to engage your reader. Take time to think about how the character will react to a situation - maybe it will be completely different than most readers would suspect. Or take the topic and delve deeper so that interesting becomes fascinating to our readers, this means adding details, details, and more details. We want to remember that if we are writing a suspense fiction our readers should be nail biting and sitting on the edge of their seats with anticipation. With romance fiction having our two love interests face a trial together or between each other gives depth. Have you ever noticed that love stories rarely involve a pair falling in love and living happily ever after? This is a perfect opportunity for drama. Another woman?! How could he? A past mistake, or indiscretion? Maybe she forgot to mention that she hides a criminal past. What drama will unfold? Drama requires conflict. And it is never too late in the book for more drama. Perhaps you feel like the last chapter is the time for a happily ever after - but maybe the last chapter leaves more questions than answers. This type of drama keeps readers coming back for more.
Adding forceful characters and giving them great conflicts gives better drama to our novels. Ultimately this will impel our readers to keep reading and hopefully develop a fan base that can not wait for our next novel to come out. I think you have more than one work of fiction to work on now, let's get on with the drama!
Consider great literature from the past and you can see how creating drama in our novel is vital. Scarlet Pimpernel is a great example of intrigue using conflict. Sir Percy and Marguerite, Marguerite and Chauvelin and those in conflict with the Scarlet Pimpernel. All of the twists and turns make for very exciting reading.
As we read these novels and see the depth of conflict we have better drama. So creating drama in our novels is important and is not to be taken lightly. If we have developed good characters and put them in intriguing situations that fill our readers with anticipation they will definitely want to keep reading.
It would be a good idea to become familiar with the topic you are writing about so you can create believable drama. So take the time to do research. If you are writing about a particular building, take the time to go to it - that would be great, but if that is not possible, take the time to research things online or at your local library. Online you should be able to see pictures and the surrounding so you can capture your audiences imagination. They should be able to feel like they are in that space.
We may have a story line in mind that is interesting but to make it dramatic we need to engage your reader. Take time to think about how the character will react to a situation - maybe it will be completely different than most readers would suspect. Or take the topic and delve deeper so that interesting becomes fascinating to our readers, this means adding details, details, and more details. We want to remember that if we are writing a suspense fiction our readers should be nail biting and sitting on the edge of their seats with anticipation. With romance fiction having our two love interests face a trial together or between each other gives depth. Have you ever noticed that love stories rarely involve a pair falling in love and living happily ever after? This is a perfect opportunity for drama. Another woman?! How could he? A past mistake, or indiscretion? Maybe she forgot to mention that she hides a criminal past. What drama will unfold? Drama requires conflict. And it is never too late in the book for more drama. Perhaps you feel like the last chapter is the time for a happily ever after - but maybe the last chapter leaves more questions than answers. This type of drama keeps readers coming back for more.
Adding forceful characters and giving them great conflicts gives better drama to our novels. Ultimately this will impel our readers to keep reading and hopefully develop a fan base that can not wait for our next novel to come out. I think you have more than one work of fiction to work on now, let's get on with the drama!
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Research
Doing research is an important part in writing any interesting novel, even if it is fiction. It is vital that the story be researched so that people reading the novel get a feeling of where they are and what the surroundings are like - setting.
Research is the careful search of information about a particular matter. It is necessary to take time to read about a subject you want to write about. It also involves interviewing people who may have a great knowledge or have studied in a certain field to help you get an expert opinion. When writing fiction we may argue that details and facts are not important; yet if we want the reader to feel like our story is believable, then getting our facts straight is important. Especially if we are writing about a specific period of time. It would be beneficial to research what people wore for clothing, what their transportation would have been or the housing types and amenities (ie: electricity, running water, etc).
If we consider what we want to achieve in our novel our research can help us to get to the conclusion with a nice flow. It may be necessary to explain further details to make a matter clear. Even if you think that the basic facts give sufficient explanation, expanding on certain details may be beneficial for convincing your readers. This is true if you are writing a science fiction novel for example. Some laws of science are better understood if given a little more explanation. The story may be fiction, but laws of gravity and matter normally have to be consistent. And when we are creating names it is good to keep a record of what each item does, so that as you write you don't add or take away from your plot.
When our readers see that we have taken the time to write about clear details this will keep them invested and they will want to keep reading. To help us with keeping our details straight, it can be helpful to do drawings of what you think a room would look like. Then as you write you can look at your drawing and bring it life with your words. To make sure that the room is accurate to the time you are writing, do a little searching online or at your local library. Would they have had electricity? No, then dark shadows from candlelight can add a nice edge to your novel. Details about fabric can also help your readers to imagine the clothing people would wear, the linens on a bed or the heaviness of curtains. Read some romance fiction and focus on these details as you read - many writers of this genre are excellent descriptive writers.
The more details you find in your research the more prepared you will be. You do not need to add every detail to your novel yet doing this in depth research will make sure you have got it right. You will not be second guessing but can write with focus, and your novel should flow wonderfully. Great literature is created every day, maybe you will create the next great novel. Do your research and read other works. Lots of free fiction is available online, pay attention to how other writers write.
Doing great research can make a huge difference.
Research is the careful search of information about a particular matter. It is necessary to take time to read about a subject you want to write about. It also involves interviewing people who may have a great knowledge or have studied in a certain field to help you get an expert opinion. When writing fiction we may argue that details and facts are not important; yet if we want the reader to feel like our story is believable, then getting our facts straight is important. Especially if we are writing about a specific period of time. It would be beneficial to research what people wore for clothing, what their transportation would have been or the housing types and amenities (ie: electricity, running water, etc).
If we consider what we want to achieve in our novel our research can help us to get to the conclusion with a nice flow. It may be necessary to explain further details to make a matter clear. Even if you think that the basic facts give sufficient explanation, expanding on certain details may be beneficial for convincing your readers. This is true if you are writing a science fiction novel for example. Some laws of science are better understood if given a little more explanation. The story may be fiction, but laws of gravity and matter normally have to be consistent. And when we are creating names it is good to keep a record of what each item does, so that as you write you don't add or take away from your plot.
When our readers see that we have taken the time to write about clear details this will keep them invested and they will want to keep reading. To help us with keeping our details straight, it can be helpful to do drawings of what you think a room would look like. Then as you write you can look at your drawing and bring it life with your words. To make sure that the room is accurate to the time you are writing, do a little searching online or at your local library. Would they have had electricity? No, then dark shadows from candlelight can add a nice edge to your novel. Details about fabric can also help your readers to imagine the clothing people would wear, the linens on a bed or the heaviness of curtains. Read some romance fiction and focus on these details as you read - many writers of this genre are excellent descriptive writers.
The more details you find in your research the more prepared you will be. You do not need to add every detail to your novel yet doing this in depth research will make sure you have got it right. You will not be second guessing but can write with focus, and your novel should flow wonderfully. Great literature is created every day, maybe you will create the next great novel. Do your research and read other works. Lots of free fiction is available online, pay attention to how other writers write.
Doing great research can make a huge difference.
Sunday, September 3, 2017
Most Popular Species in Fictional Novels
If you are free online fiction lover, it would be not difficult for you to find out that some genres are relatedly popular among all fictional works, for example, romance, mystery/crime, or fantasy. In fact, just take a look at all forms of literature, you will see that there is an interesting topic might be useful for new writers: species that characters in a novel belong to.
One of the most fascinating incentive for fiction writers are the power they could use to set free bold and unrestrained idea free, when they can create some characters that do not exist in real world. Some genres are frequently used throughout the history of literature. You can develop your stories based on these species, or, you certainly can create a brand-new one at your will. Just see how many wonderful creatures J. K. Rowling has shown you.
The funny thing is that, generally speaking, you can divide these species of characters into three categories.
The Dead: A lot of characters could be related to death, including vampire, zombie and ghost.
As in European folklore, vampire is a kind of immortal creature feeding on blood, and its name firstly appeared in 1734. However, it is not until 19th century when it evolves into the impression on people with a pale countenance. It undoubtedly a main role in literature, horror fiction and even romance fiction for certain kind of morbid fascination. Here are some online books telling stories of vampire: How To Be A Vampire by Alexandra Yang, and, The Vampire King’s Young Mate by Wickedwith.
Zombie is quite a hit keyword during these years, especially in horror film. It is described as an undead walking body of a human or animal corpse. It could be traced back to a poet in the year of 1819 as “zombi”. We are possibly most familiar with this reanimated species in the title of Resident Evil, covering video games, novels and action movies.
Ghost is a name rather popular in lots of culture background, including Asia, Africa and Europe. It is always in different regions’ folklore. The haunt, or the spirit of dead person is the origin of a horror or a sad story in novels. You can try the short story of A Moonlit Ghost Story by Lawinbabe Hawker, or The Elven Queen by Ariel-Aristophel.
Nonhuman Shape and Shape-shifting:Werewolf, merpeople and centaurs are all imaginary creatures with a shape combing human and animal or having shape-shifting power.
When you are talking about werewolf, a typical scene with a howling wolf under the moonlight might possibly come to your mind. Since medieval period, there have been some sayings about werewolf, in which normal human will transform into a wolf for reason. Maybe it is on purpose, cursed or infected. Werewolf0917’s online novles, including The Second Chance, The Forbidden Love and Some Don't Love Back are all about the adventure of werewolf.
Merpeople, or, mermaid (merman for male) illustrate the dreamy aqua world. But still, they might be terrifying or even aggressive like siren in Greek myth. Enjoying their reputation in Near East, Europe, Africa and Asia, mermaid has been appeared in lots of well-known fictions and fairy tales.
Another species you can also related to mythology is centaur. Centaurs are believed to social inhabitant in forests or mountains, and they are good fighters in literature and arts.
Divine and Magic: Although elves and angel are somewhat cliché, it is not saying that you can’t breathe new life into these keywords.
Frequently featuring in fantasy fictions and movies, immortal elves always enchanted people with their elegant appearance, surprising magical power of skillful archery and agile moves. You can discover them in The Elven Queen by Ariel-Aristophel.
Originated from Bible, angels could be characters in romance fiction or fantasy story, such as Nithya’s My Mysterious Angel and Xeng Moua’s Angel of Light
Everyone should know about Harry Potter, or Gandolf. Yes, they are both wizards, the species that we can save the time to give you any explanation. Though they are human being, they come with magical power as legends and fairy tales had told us. Black Water, Black Magic, a science fiction by Erica Striker, would be interesting online novel for you to know magic.
You will never produce a complete list that covering all kinds of species or creatures in imagination. That’s what readers exactly hunger for more interesting things to come. As a writer, you can make full use of the above, or totally forget all about them and go in your own way.
All the books mentioned above can be read on www.ficfun.com, a free book provider.
One of the most fascinating incentive for fiction writers are the power they could use to set free bold and unrestrained idea free, when they can create some characters that do not exist in real world. Some genres are frequently used throughout the history of literature. You can develop your stories based on these species, or, you certainly can create a brand-new one at your will. Just see how many wonderful creatures J. K. Rowling has shown you.
The funny thing is that, generally speaking, you can divide these species of characters into three categories.
The Dead: A lot of characters could be related to death, including vampire, zombie and ghost.
As in European folklore, vampire is a kind of immortal creature feeding on blood, and its name firstly appeared in 1734. However, it is not until 19th century when it evolves into the impression on people with a pale countenance. It undoubtedly a main role in literature, horror fiction and even romance fiction for certain kind of morbid fascination. Here are some online books telling stories of vampire: How To Be A Vampire by Alexandra Yang, and, The Vampire King’s Young Mate by Wickedwith.
Zombie is quite a hit keyword during these years, especially in horror film. It is described as an undead walking body of a human or animal corpse. It could be traced back to a poet in the year of 1819 as “zombi”. We are possibly most familiar with this reanimated species in the title of Resident Evil, covering video games, novels and action movies.
Ghost is a name rather popular in lots of culture background, including Asia, Africa and Europe. It is always in different regions’ folklore. The haunt, or the spirit of dead person is the origin of a horror or a sad story in novels. You can try the short story of A Moonlit Ghost Story by Lawinbabe Hawker, or The Elven Queen by Ariel-Aristophel.
Nonhuman Shape and Shape-shifting:Werewolf, merpeople and centaurs are all imaginary creatures with a shape combing human and animal or having shape-shifting power.
When you are talking about werewolf, a typical scene with a howling wolf under the moonlight might possibly come to your mind. Since medieval period, there have been some sayings about werewolf, in which normal human will transform into a wolf for reason. Maybe it is on purpose, cursed or infected. Werewolf0917’s online novles, including The Second Chance, The Forbidden Love and Some Don't Love Back are all about the adventure of werewolf.
Merpeople, or, mermaid (merman for male) illustrate the dreamy aqua world. But still, they might be terrifying or even aggressive like siren in Greek myth. Enjoying their reputation in Near East, Europe, Africa and Asia, mermaid has been appeared in lots of well-known fictions and fairy tales.
Another species you can also related to mythology is centaur. Centaurs are believed to social inhabitant in forests or mountains, and they are good fighters in literature and arts.
Divine and Magic: Although elves and angel are somewhat cliché, it is not saying that you can’t breathe new life into these keywords.
Frequently featuring in fantasy fictions and movies, immortal elves always enchanted people with their elegant appearance, surprising magical power of skillful archery and agile moves. You can discover them in The Elven Queen by Ariel-Aristophel.
Originated from Bible, angels could be characters in romance fiction or fantasy story, such as Nithya’s My Mysterious Angel and Xeng Moua’s Angel of Light
Everyone should know about Harry Potter, or Gandolf. Yes, they are both wizards, the species that we can save the time to give you any explanation. Though they are human being, they come with magical power as legends and fairy tales had told us. Black Water, Black Magic, a science fiction by Erica Striker, would be interesting online novel for you to know magic.
You will never produce a complete list that covering all kinds of species or creatures in imagination. That’s what readers exactly hunger for more interesting things to come. As a writer, you can make full use of the above, or totally forget all about them and go in your own way.
All the books mentioned above can be read on www.ficfun.com, a free book provider.
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