Fiction Writing | Suite101.com

One Writer's Journey
Review of Christopher Vogler's A WRITER'S JOURNEY, a detailed guide to using the classic Hero's Journey as a model for plotting fiction and screenplays.
christopher vogler • writer's journey • fiction writing • fiction • writing

Storyline Interactive: A Guided Tour of the Fiction Writing Process
Review of Storyline Interactive free software for fiction writers. Outlines the program's features and gives some examples.
fiction writing • fiction • writing • writer • software

The Idea's The Thing--Getting and Working with Novel Ideas
Learn how to generate ideas and what to do with them once you've got them.
novel • ideas • fiction • writing • idea

Market Report No. 4: The Big Guns
A look at professional science fiction magazines where you can publish your fiction.
science fiction • writing science fiction • science • fiction • write

A Community of Writers: Fiction Resources on the Web
Fiction is such a huge topic, encompassing everything from literary novels to what my mother- in-law (who works in a bookstore) calls "lovey-doveys."
fiction • writing • resources • how to write • where to find help for writers

Contest Winners and Crime Clues
Take a look at the winning essay in our recent contest. Maybe it will get your creative juices flowing. Then play an amateur detective on a new site.
detective fiction • detective • contest • contest winner • fiction

Create Distinct Characters
Characters with diversity and personality quirks are more interesting and less confusing for the reader.
creating characters • character quirks • character personalities • character names • character background

GET A GOAL!
Review of Debra Dixon's GMC: Goal, Motivation & Conflict, an excellent resource for fiction writers
debra dixon • gmc • goal motivation conflict • fiction • fiction writing

GETTING THE IDEAS FLOWING
Getting an idea, and techniques for aiding the flow of ideas.
generating ideas • plotting • visualization • fiction writing

Joining Short Story Contests
Creative writing teachers, contest judges and editors are quick to spot certain warning signs that immediately peg an author as an amateur.
contests • writing contests • writing • craft of writing • beginning writers

Josip Novakovich Offers a Workshop in a Book
Review of Josip Novakovich's Fiction Writer's Workshop , a how-to book with a lot of differences.
fiction • writing • review

Madness and the Eternal Player-Character
Reflections on the stereotyped PC of IF and computer games, and one strategy for getting around some of his most annoying traits.
madness • computer games • fiction • writing • homer

More Southern State Arts Grants
Emerging and experienced fiction writers in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Louisiana can receive grant funding through state arts councils.
writers grants • alabama • mississippi • florida • louisiana

Northwest State Arts Grants
Writer's grants are available from state arts councils for fiction writers in Oregon, Washington and Idaho.
arts grants • grants for writers • writer’s grants • idaho • oregon

Now what do I do?
This article will help the new writer discover how to bulid their clip file using non-paying markets.
non-paying • writer • markets • poetry • literary

Portray People with Disabilities
Popular media isn't up to providing realistic characters who are disabled, so how can you, as a writer of fiction, do any better? Simple. Just write them as people.
disabilities • fiction • writing • characters • popular media

Reserve Backstory in Fiction
Reveal characters and situations through backstory, a little at a time, instead of telling it all at once. Beloved, One True Thing and CBS's Jericho provide examples.
backstory • writing fiction • writing novels • jericho • anna quindlen

Showing vs. Telling
A refresher course on "showing" versus "telling". How to recognize dull narrative in our fiction and replace it with exciting, interesting alternatives.
fiction • writing technique • creative • showing • telling

Stepsisters and Goblins
This third installment of an interview with Jim Hines covers forthcoming books and favorite fantasy authors.
jim hines • fantasy • science fiction • writing • goblin hero

The Plots Aren't Unlimited
Review of the book, Plots Unlimited, a resource for fiction writers who need help with plotting.
plot • plots unlimited • book review • fiction • fiction writing

Why Join a Critique Group?
Critique groups are an invaluable tool for any writer. Why should you join a critique group? What can you learn? What do you have to offer?
critique group • criticism • writers group • fiction writing • writing feedback

Writer's Software Companion
Review of Writer's Software Companion, a tool for fiction writers that aids in plotting, characterization and problem-solving.
review • software review • writing software • writers software • writer's software companion

Writing Speculative Fiction
So you want to write Speculative Fiction? Don't call it Sci-Fi. Know who you're writing for, and what to write about.
genre • science fiction • writing • publishing • speculative

You Don't Want to Be Her Hero
Fantasy author Elaine Isaak's book THE EUNUCH'S HEIR takes up a generation after her first novel, THE SINGER'S CROWN.
fantasy • elaine isaak • interview • world-building • fiction

Young Adult Novel Guidelines
Is your book a middle-grade or young adult novel? What themes are appropriate? Can you use cuss words? Here are some tips to write for this age group.
young adult novels • ya novels • childrens books • writing ya fiction • writing teen fiction

Editing for Themes and Structure
A good edit can make a huge difference to your story for kids. This article, the first of three, looks at editing for themes and structure.
creative writing tips • writing tips • online creative writing • creative writing advice • tips for writing

Great Beginnings Part 1
How to begin your science fiction story. A look at some different types of beginnings and how you can use the same approach in your own writing.
science fiction • writing • write • writer • science

Book Review: Story by Robert McKee
Review of Story, by Robert McKee. While this is a screenwriting book, it is a great (but dense) work on plot, and a recommended read for all novelists.
story • robert mckee • writing • fiction • plot

Character Voice Writing Exercises
How do you develop an authentic voice for your point of view character? Here are some creative writing exercises to help.
point of view • character writing exercise • viewpoint character voice • creative writing exercise • narrative voice

Editing Fiction: Manuscript Prep
Writing fiction is just like any other process: it takes time, work, and lot of fine-tuning. Developing a solid editing process will help make good fiction great.
editing fiction • fiction • editing help • second draft • how to edit fiction

Editing Your Novel for Content
Wouldn't it be wonderful if manuscripts sold the minute they were printed out and sent off to a publisher? More often than not, publishing is a long process.
writing • craft of writing • fiction fiction writing • novel writing • creative writing

Fast Writing
National Novel Writing Month and Book in a Week programs push writers fast. How do they work? Can writers produce anything good when the focus is quantity, not quality?
nanowrimo • book in a week • book in a day • national novel writing month • fast writing

Fiction Elements -- What is the Darkest Moment?
The darkest moment in a story is when the character has finally run up against a brick wall. There appears to be no solution, no resolution and no way out
darkest moment • drama • writing fiction • writing scenes • building conflict

Finding Ideas for Picture Books
Finding ideas for picture books can seem daunting. Hans Christian Anderson Award winner, Margaret Mahy found inspiration in a motel swimming pool.
award winning children's books • margaret mahy • margaret mahy books • theme ideas • books picture

H.G. Wells Sees It Through
Charles Keller II, of the American Chapter of the H.G. Wells Society, shares the life behind the man in this skillfully crafted article so thoughtfully contributed to The Fourth Estate site. <img src="http://www.suite101.com/files/topics/11243/files/time" align=right></a> We can derive from this article filled with accounts of H.G. Wells life experiences that among his many other talents he was also a staunch and early participant in The Fourth Estate.
h.g. wells • the time machine • authors • writers • literary writing

Interview With Author M. Christian
Author M. Christian, an established and highly praised writer, talks about his acclaimed works and his career to date, offering aspiring writers his sage advice also.
m.christian interview • author tips • gay fiction • gay horror • writer interview

Middle Grade Novel Guidelines
Middle grade fiction is a huge market today, but where do you start? How long should it be? Language restrictions? Here are key points on writing a middle grade novel.
middle grade novels • writing middle grade fiction • writing children’s books • children’s fiction • middle grade ages

Natalie Goldberg Offers Organic Approach to Writing
Reviews of Natalie Goldberg's THUNDER AND LIGHTNING and her audiotape WRITING THE LANDSCAPE OF YOUR MIND. These are two excellent tools for developing your skills as a writer.
natalie goldberg • thunder and lightning • writing the landscape of your mind • creative writing • fiction writing

Review of The Writer's Journey
Christopher Vogler's how-to structure plots and create believable characters. Step by step guidelines to develop bestselling stories using the enduring wisdom of myths.
plot structure • character development • create realistic characters • character arc • joseph campbell

Start a Local Critique Group
Guidelines on starting a critique group: organization, finding members, submission policies, etc.
critique groups • writers groups • fiction writing • beginning writers • genre writing

The Revelation of Gender
Author Nancy Jane Moore talks about feminism and writing, social activism and writing, and her current projects.
nancy jane moore • aqueduct press • changeling • fiction • science fiction

What is Creative Nonfiction?
Creative nonfiction is a hard-to-define genre. Also known as narrative nonfiction, personal journalism, and memoir, it is increasingly popular and amazingly diverse.
creative nonfiction • narrative nonfiction • personal journalism • literary devices • fiction techniques

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