Making Magic Systems Better, Lesson 2
View previous lesson In the last lesson, I pointed out that most magic systems tend to be rather stale, that they don’t create a sense
David Farland
May 10, 2021
David Farland: Story Doctor Writing Tips
Recent Writing Tips
Making Better Magic Systems, Lesson 1
The most popular books and movies of all time all have one thing in common: They transport audiences better than other books and movies in their genre.
David Farland
May 7, 2021
On Editing Your Novel
Over twenty-five years ago I began editing professionally. I began by doing volunteer work as an editor for literary magazines, but my first job was
David Farland
May 3, 2021
David Farland’s Writing Tips: Building Your Mailing List
Every writer today needs to begin creating a mailing list—a list of fans who are eager to learn about the author’s upcoming releases. These lists
David Farland
April 30, 2021
Appealing to the Senses, Part 3
Click here for part 1 and here for part 2. For the last couple of articles I’ve been talking about how to make your story
David Farland
April 27, 2021
Appealing to the Senses, Part 2
Recently I wrote about appealing to the senses and stated that humans have more than just the five sensory inputs that you learned in school.
David Farland
April 23, 2021
Put Your Imaginarium to Good Use
Where do you go to dream? Do you have a place? This physical space is what I call and imaginarium. Some people do it in
David Farland
April 22, 2021
Appealing to the Senses, part 1
Envision a reader picking up your novel. As she begins to read, she hopes to be transported into a story, one that is rich and detailed, one that takes her away from her own place and time. Now, as she reads, she may be sitting in her living room, while a turkey bakes in the oven, and a fan rotates overhead. She may have been worrying about her sister’s sick dog, and perhaps a sore throat.
David Farland
April 21, 2021
Don’t Stress Out!
One form of writer’s block comes from being stressed. This is almost always a temporary condition, and there are ways to work around it, but
David Farland
April 20, 2021
Into the Swamp
Very often I like to think of the writing worlds as a swamp. A big swamp infested with crocodiles and quicksand and rattlesnakes, and deep
David Farland
April 19, 2021
Time to Get Serious
A lot of people “play” at writing. We tend to think of it as a hobby or a pastime. But I sometimes wonder how much
David Farland
April 16, 2021
Is My Novel Too Long?
I got this question once about writing large novels. We may all ask a variation of it, is my novel too long? How precise can
David Farland
April 15, 2021
Persistence Is Key
There is a myth among the general public that the greatest writers are born with uncanny innate talents that average folks dare not aspire to.
David Farland
April 14, 2021
Turning Points
Whenever you have a story that seems too predictable, look for ways to add turning points. If a character is trying to figure out how to get from point A to point B, figure out how to force him to go to point C first. If he thinks that he understands someone else’s motivations or goals—say those of a lover or killer—surprise the reader with a twist that casts the story in a new light.
David Farland
April 13, 2021
Writing Hyper Realism
So how do you write a “hyper-real” scene?
There are several keys.
Select unconventional images to propel the scene forward.
Appeal to powerful emotions such as love, fear, anger, guilt, and so on.
Be careful to apply your poetic sensibilities to every line.
Make sure that you appeal to all of the senses.
David Farland
April 12, 2021
