Tag Archives: writing tips

February 14

Novelist Chris Orcutt Shares Insight With Writers

Chirs Orcutt, author of the Dakota Stevens Mystery Series, shares his insight on writing, inspiration, and selecting what to write about. Please check out his amazing article at our sister site, Arbiter News.   Read: “Paying Attention as a Fiction Writer”

January 02

Grammar Tip: Writing Numbers

Rule: Single digit, whole numbers should be spelled out. Numbers greater than nine should be written in numeral form.  I have four siblings. She gave me 10 pieces of candy

April 28

The Power of Small Things, guest post by Elizabeth Jennings, author of THE BUTTON COLLECTOR

Elizabeth Jennings, author of THE BUTTON COLLECTOR Years ago, I began writing a novel based on a family’s collection of discarded buttons because I liked the idea of small, tangible items telling stories that weave together to form a larger truth. At the time, I had no idea how many button aficionados exist in this […]

January 26

10 Ways to Beat Writer’s Block

  All writers experience writers’s block.  What is important is getting through it.  Some techniques will work for you, while others may not.  It is important to find what you are successful with and continuing to develop that technique or exercise.  Try each once or twice, then repeat the ones that gave you the best […]

October 28

Writing a Novel Using the Snowflake Method

There are several versions of the Snowflake Method to writing a novel.  My personal favorite is Randy Ingermanson’s version on his website, AdvancedFictionWriting.com.  I strongly suggest reading Ingermanson’s page on the Snowflake Method if you are about to put it into practice.  I based my version largely on Ingermanson’s, but being a visual learner and […]

September 29

10 Great Writing Prompts

This is a sample of some of the writing prompts available at lasesanaonwriting.wordpress.com Writing Prompt # 001 Picture prompt: Start a story or scene from a description of the picture above. Writing Prompt # 002 Art prompt: Write a story about what is going in the painting. Go back and write the story from the […]

September 27

“A Few Words About Short Stories,” Augusto Monterroso

“A Few Words About Short Stories,” Augusto Monterroso Born in Teguscigalpa, Honduras, Augusto Monterroso (1921- 2003) is mainly known as a Guatemalan writer.  In his early life in Guatemala city, where his family relocated in 1936, Monterroso began to publish his short stories and was one of the founders of El Espectador with several other […]

16 Rules for writing by Jorge Luis Borges

16 Rules for writing by Jorge Luis Borges In one of their many collaborative endeavors, Jorge Luis Borges and Adolfo Bioy Casares planned to write a story with Silvina Ocampo set in France.  The story never came to be, but what does survive from those days is Borges’ ironic list of 16 pieces of advice […]

Using Colorful Adjectives When Writing Fiction or Non-Fiction

Using Colorful Adjectives When Writing Fiction or Non-Fiction  By using more descriptive words for colors, you will paint a more accurate picture for your readers.  Instead of saying the sea was “blue,” you can say it was cerulean with streaks of slate. YELLOW RED BLUE PURPLE GREEN BROWN Gold Crimson Midnight Violet Olive Chocolate Citrine Magenta Navy Lavender Moss […]

Use more precise adjectives in your writing

      Use more precise adjectives in your writing  In writing, you can more accurate adjectives than “pretty” or “ugly” to describe people and things.  Use these adjectives to better paint a picture for your readers.   Pretty Ugly Large Small  Intensity         Strong Gorgeous Repulsive Huge Minute   Splendid Hideous […]