Fiction Articles

Writing » Fiction | By Steve Dempster @ Saturday, 28th April 2007 @ 10:34 PM

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 book you're writing. A novel may encompass any period of time, from an hour or two to many centuries. Yet this span of time, no matter how great, is finite; it has a beginning and an end that coincide with the start and finish of your book. Yet we... more...

Writing » Fiction | By Steve Dempster @ Monday, 16th April 2007 @ 1:05 PM

According to recent surveys, over 70% of people questioned said they would like to write a book. This article touches on three key points that just might help them - and you - do just that! First key point: willpower. Although 70% of people questioned may well have said they would like to write a book, figures aren't available for the number who actually did anything about it. It's an unfortunate truth that wanting to do something and actually doing it are very often a long way ... more...

Writing » Fiction | By Richard La Ruina @ Wednesday, 4th April 2007 @ 7:05 PM

Best-selling book The Game was written by writer and the (self-titled) greatest Pick-Up Artist in the world, Neil Strauss. The Game charts the author's rise as he delved into the sub-community of Internet-based seducers and Lotharios facing up to his own fears and anxieties about interacting with women- even if only to ask directions on the street- to bedding adult film stars and Hollywood celebrities. The Game featured the most prominent Pick-Up Artists and Seducers from across the ... more...

Writing » Fiction | By Steve Dempster @ Monday, 2nd April 2007 @ 1:53 PM

Despite all the competition, most new and aspiring authors want to write a novel. This article take s a quick look at some points to consider before you put pen to paper! In the past I have written a good many articles extolling the virtues of writing that time-honoured writing form - the short story. Yet it seems that virtually everyone who has ever entertained the slightest yearning to be a writer wants to write a book - otherwise known as a novel. Novel writing is for some write... more...

Writing » Fiction | By David Silva @ Monday, 26th March 2007 @ 5:09 PM

There is a path to fiction writing success that is quick and sure, even obvious. It's a path that's simple to explain. In fact, I'm going to explain it in this short article. And when I'm finished, most of you who read this will nod and say to yourselves, "I knew that." Then you'll move on without giving it another thought. And you won't do it. And that will be a shame. As with any profession, writing good fiction requires a learning curve. It ... more...

Writing » Fiction | By Steve Dempster @ Friday, 23rd March 2007 @ 9:30 AM

For many aspiring writers, the novel is the chosen path to publication. Yet with so few achieving this goal, why not consider some other pathways to success? This article lists three reasons why not to write a novel and gives some alternatives! 1. Novels take a long time to write. On average, a novelist will spend a year on researching and writing their novel. Don't forget that this is full-time work too! Any novel is a major undertaking in writing terms and for a new writer ... more...

Writing » Fiction | By Steve Dempster @ Monday, 26th February 2007 @ 12:56 PM

To get an agent or not? This decision is a crucial one in your writing career so in this article we'll examine some of the 'fors' and 'againsts' of agents for fiction writers. There is no doubt that getting a good agent can have a significant impact on your literary career. There is also no doubt that a bad agent can have an impact too - but not the kind you want. Any agent that you may contact must feel 'right' for you in the first place or the chances ... more...

Writing » Fiction | By Kathryn Lively @ Thursday, 22nd February 2007 @ 7:12 PM

One of the challenges an editor must face is polishing the work of an author without erasing too much of that author's style. If you follow a particular novelist, you might notice over time particular quirks to dialog and narrative that shape the author's unique voice, little things inspired to endear readers over time. It may be a method of relaying a specific dialect, a favorite phrase used in more than one book, or even a mechanic style one doesn't often see in certain genres.<... more...

Writing » Fiction | By Chris Kennelly @ Thursday, 22nd February 2007 @ 11:31 AM

Life is a book. No saying can hold more truth than that one short quote. Life is indeed a book waiting to be written. Ideas for the best novels and stories often come from the authors past experiences, what they observe, or what they hear from people around them. Stories often start with an idea that gets stuck in your brain after hearing or seeing something of interest to you and expanding it with other ideas you might have stored in your memory. These ideas may also be figments of your imagina... more...

Writing » Fiction | By Steve Dempster @ Thursday, 22nd February 2007 @ 12:34 AM

The desire to have a book with your name on the cover seems universal - yet how many would-be writers really know if they have what it takes to succeed? Here are ten points that every beginner should consider. Writing a book - and getting it published - is an ambition that is not hard to understand. Breaking into the ranks of published writers means that others, experts in the business, have decided that your talent is worth investing in. A book is a permanent thing: years from now you ca... more...

Writing » Fiction | By Kathryn Lively @ Tuesday, 20th February 2007 @ 6:38 PM

Writers are creatures of habit. Unfortunately, many of these habits are not good ones. True, we would expect our friends and significant others to show some understanding when we don't come to the dinner table on schedule because we're right in the middle of an exciting dialogue exchange that has to be finished. If we don't remove ourselves from our desks or laptop hidey-holes for the occasional bath or teeth-brushing, you know we'll promise to make good once the first royalt... more...

Writing » Fiction | By Kathryn Lively @ Tuesday, 20th February 2007 @ 6:37 PM

With regards to the question of simultaneous submissions, I fear I may not be able to offer a set answer. As a publisher, I am not enamored by the thought of an author sending me a manuscript that is currently floating among several other slush piles. However, as an author, I am tempted to cast a wide net for my book and hope somebody bites. The thought of waiting for one publisher to pass on a book before sending it to another editor can be daunting for authors, particularly if a favored publis... more...

Writing » Fiction | By Steve Dempster @ Saturday, 17th February 2007 @ 11:48 PM

The main or lead character in any story is a lynchpin and has very definite qualities. Miss one of these and your story may well grind to a halt! This article takes a look at three crucial aspects of the main character. The main character in any work of fiction is the one around which the entire story revolves. He or she must possess certain values or abilities if your story is to work, yet many aspiring writers miss one or more of these vital points and become frustrated when their story... more...

Writing » Fiction | By Steve Dempster @ Thursday, 15th February 2007 @ 3:59 AM

The short story market often demands tight word counts from the writer. Here are some tips on how to keep that word count under control! Short stories written specifically for inclusion in weekly or monthly magazines are a lucrative source of income for any writer. The pay rate per word is often high and the returns are good for the length of time devoted to any one story. Yet this market has its own disciplines and one cardinal rule that aspiring writers must obey is the word coun... more...

Writing » Fiction | By Steve Dempster @ Wednesday, 20th December 2006 @ 1:12 PM

When writing for women's magazines it's important to know the themes that work - and those that don't. Here we take a look at popular magazine themes. First off, here's a question. What kind of stories do you think are printed in women's magazines? If you don't read them, chances are that you'll say 'romance'. Well, you would only be half-right. Romance still figures highly within their pages but these days it's not the traditional stuff.<... more...

Writing » Fiction | By Steve Dempster @ Tuesday, 19th December 2006 @ 9:30 PM

Your story, be it novel, short story or novelette, is finished. Or is it? Before you send it to a publisher, check firstly that your story makes sense! Maybe you read my article about The Final Draft. Well, before you reach that stage there's this one to go through. It can be hard and you need to be tough with yourself, castings an editor's eye - not that of a writer - over your work. So what is there to look for when editing and how do you go about it? The first thing to... more...

Writing » Fiction | By Kathryn Lively @ Tuesday, 19th December 2006 @ 9:23 PM

Before I was asked to step in as publisher for the romance imprint of a small press, I spent a considerable amount of time reviewing submissions for publication. Today, of course, I do even more of that, but now there is more at stake. As a reader, I provided honest opinions on potential works for our house, and helped the publisher to determine which works suited our needs. Of those works, we pared the lot down further by determining which works did not require practical re-writes to fi... more...

Writing » Fiction | By Steve Dempster @ Tuesday, 19th December 2006 @ 5:48 PM

In fiction writing, events occur in strict chronological order. If you would like to know what this means, please read on! In previous articles I've used my fictional tongue-in-cheek character Detective Jake Bullett to help me along. Jake's tough and gets into a lot of scrapes where things happen quickly. Let's see what a sample could be like: 'Jake lashed out and the gunman fell over, taking Jake with him. At the same time Sally screamed 'Look out, Jake!&#... more...

Writing » Fiction | By Dustin Cannon @ Tuesday, 12th December 2006 @ 7:54 PM

Peter Rabbit was a figment of the imagination of the very creative Beatrix Potter. The author was born in 1866 in Victorian Kensington London. Her home was large and sumptuous, her family rich. She was raised with several servants, a shy girl who wiled away many hours of every day by herself. Beatrix Potter learned many artistic things from her governess. She taught the writer about music, art, reading and writing. Her only other regular company was her full time nurse. Beatrix Potter ha... more...

Writing » Fiction | By Steve Dempster @ Friday, 8th December 2006 @ 9:18 PM

There are some simple rules to remember when writing form a character's viewpoint, yet many forget them. Here's a rundown of some to remember . . . No matter what language you speak, regional accents and dialect always give away your origin - unless of course you have had voice coaching. In the UK accent differences can be very subtle - for example, I can tell if someone is from my home town or a town just ten miles away. You can probably do this too. When 'buildin... more...