
Janet Burroway’s 3 Principles Of Effective Narrative Setting
In this post, we look at how a story works in a place through Janet Burroway’s 3 principles of effective narrative setting.

How To Write An Epic First Page
Do you want to write an epic first page for your story? In this post, we tell you how to do it – with five

Epilogues, Afterwords, & Appendices – What’s The Difference?
What’s the difference between epilogues, afterwords, and appendices? We explain what they are, when to use them, and tips for writing them. We also include

Can You Write 52 Scenes In 52 Weeks?
Can you write 52 Scenes in 52 Weeks? Our sister website, Deadlines for Writers, has the perfect writing challenge for you.

Writers Talk 1 | Neil Gaiman
Welcome to our new podcast series, Writers Talk. In our first podcast our writers talk about the British author, Neil Gaiman.

Hard Or Soft Worldbuilding: What Every Writer Needs To Know
What’s the difference between hard worldbuilding and soft worldbuilding? We explain both types of worldbuilding, give examples, and help you decide which approach is best

15 Adjectives To Delete To Strengthen Your Writing Immediately
Do you use too many adjectives in your writing? We look at 15 adjectives to delete or replace that will strengthen your writing immediately.

5 Common Traits Of A Successful Memoir
If you’re writing your life story, use this short checklist to find out if you’ve included the 5 common traits of a successful memoir.

Traditional Publishing – Part Three
This week, Mia Botha continues her interviews with staff members at Pan Macmillan South Africa, who answer our questions on traditional publishing.

10 Types Of Sentences You Won’t See In Good Writing
Are you looking for ways to write better sentences? In this post, we look at 10 types of sentences you won’t see in good writing.

How To Write A Cozy Mystery
Cozy Mysteries are a sub-genre of detective fiction. You’ll like them if you like crime fiction without the blood and gore involved. Let’s look at

How Many Suspects Do You Need In A Crime Novel?
When we read or write crime novels, we want to find out who the baddie is. This means we need suspects from which to choose.

Writing Competitions To Inspire You
We share a selection of writing competitions to inspire you. Contests offer great opportunities for both beginner and experienced writers.

How To Write Epic Beginnings
We know that readers don’t carry on reading if you write a poor beginning. Read this post to find out how to write epic beginnings.

A Quick Start Guide To Writing Crime Fiction
In this post, we explore how to write crime – with examples. We’ve created a quick start guide to writing crime fiction.

Harlan Coben On Writing Suspense
We’re writing about the bestselling thriller author, Harlan Coben. In this post, we feature Harlan Coben on writing suspense.

A Quick Start Guide To Writing Dialogue
In this post, we explore what dialogue should do and how to write it – with examples. We’ve created a quick start guide to writing

The 5 Most Common Themes In Literature
Ever wondered why some themes come up again and again? In this post, we’ll look at 5 of the most common themes in literature and

The Moment Of Change In Fiction
In this blog, we explore how a clear moment of change can strengthen a character’s arc and give your plot a distinct turning point. The

Writing Is An Act Of Courage
Is writing an act of courage? How do you face this challenge and deal with the fear of writing? We answer these questions and share