6 Tips For Writing A Great Romance
Mastering the Art of Writing Irresistible Romance Romance is one of the largest selling genres of all time. Yet, it often gets overlooked or seen as substandard or an easy genre to write in. This way of thinking isn’t only damaging, but it’s simply untrue. As I’ve studied the art of writing a great romance, I’ve learned some great […]
Weighing Story Ideas
When you’re thinking about writing a story, you will come up with hundreds of ideas. A novel is never based on a single idea. Even a short story can’t work that way. I’ve heard people say, “I’m going to write a story about a guy who wakes up and finds a vampire sucking on his neck.
David Farland’s Hourglass of Evil
Unveiling the Hourglass of Evil: A Powerful Writing for Captivating Storytelling Tool unveiling crack of doom and data storytelling tools captivating storytelling Very often, when you’re preparing to plot a novel and feel bereft of ideas, you can look at other books and find interesting approaches and techniques for storytelling that might be of help. […]
Considering Crucibles in Writing
Crucibles in writing force characters together, which can strengthen your story’s conflicts. In everyday life, a crucible is a container used to hold metal or liquid as it boils. For example, to melt gold, one takes a heavy bowl made from steel and sets it in a fire. The steel, which can withstand higher temperatures […]
What Does Your Accomplishment Stories?
As a judge, I’ve just finished my second pass through the Writers of the Future contest accomplishment stories for the first quarter, and several times I have been reminded of something: Your story needs to accomplish a lot. Let me explain. Very often I get good stories that are told pretty well. With beginning authors, […]
5 Helps to Get Your Writing Session Started
Get your writing session started, even when you don’t feel like writing, with these five approaches. Sometimes you’re not in the mood to write, but you know that you should. Maybe you’ve set a goal and hope to reach it, or you’re on a deadline. Here are a few strategies that you can use to […]
Dream up Strong Story Ideas
Strong story ideas make strong stories. Is the idea for your story worth writing about? As a storyteller, I make my living as a tour guide of sorts, escorting my audience through vivid dreams. As a guide, I create the setting, with its landscape, history and its wonders. I may suggest entire cultures with imaginary […]
A Checklist for Writing Your Story
Use this checklist for writing your story, and you will write even stronger stories. David Farland was a best-selling author and contest judge for the world’s largest short story competition. When I used to write for competitions, I would make lists of ways that judges might look at my work in order to grade it. […]
Why Editors Reject Your Story?
As many of you know, I judge stories for the Writers of the Future contest. Today I want to talk about those stories that get an Honorable Mention. On my computer, I have a story up. I’ve read the first two pages, and although I’m a little soft on the opening paragraph, the rest of […]
Building a Better Battering Ram
Last night, a new writer who is preparing his first novel asked, “When do I begin approaching agents?” I get that question at least once a week, and my answer is always the same: “When your novel is done. And by that I mean, well done!” I think that it is human nature to be […]
