Blog
Why books get rejected by literary agents (and what to do about it)
Received another literary agent rejection? Here, we look at common manuscript and query letter problems. And how to improve your next submission.
What is free indirect discourse? And how can it improve your writing?
Free indirect discourse is a subtle but powerful storytelling technique. Discover free indirect discourse tips and examples to transform your fiction writing.
12 Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishers Accepting Submissions in 2024
In this post I've compiled a list of science fiction and fantasy publishers accepting unsolicited and unagented manuscript submissions in 2024.
10 Examples and Excerpts of First Person Point of View in Fiction
10 examples (and excerpts) of fiction books which use the first person narrative/point of view.
What is the climax of a story? (+ tips for writing a climactic scene)
Every story needs a dramatic climax. But why is it important? And when should it occur? Here’s everything you need to know about writing the climax of a story.
5 ways you’re creating narrative distance (and weakening your story)
Too much narrative distance makes it hard for readers to engage with your story. Here are 5 ways you could be creating narrative distance without meaning to.
What is narrative distance? And how do you control it?
Narrative distance has a profound effect on readers. But are you using it correctly? Here we look at narrative distance tips and examples to inspire your writing.
High Fantasy vs Low Fantasy: Differences and Examples
Fantasy fiction can be categorised as either low or high. But what is the difference between high fantasy and low fantasy?
How to show happiness in writing (with 5 examples from fiction)
Characters with something to smile about? Then learn how to show happiness in your writing – and connect better with your readers – with these ideas and examples.
How to show sadness in writing (with 5 examples from fiction)
Authors are always encouraged to show, not tell. But how do you show sadness in your writing? Start by getting some inspiration from these tips and examples.
Show, Don’t Tell: The Golden Rule of Fiction Writing (+ Examples)
This post is all about the Golden rule of writing: show, don’t tell. Put simply, show, don’t tell just means describe, don’t explain. It’s a way to convey a story and its characters through action and sensory detail, rather than narrator exposition.
Do you need to hire a book editor before submitting to an agent or publisher?
This post delves into the kind of editing you can expect during the traditional publishing process and which situations might warrant hiring a book editor pre-submission.
The 6 Key Elements of Any Fiction Story
There are six key elements of any fiction story: plot, character, setting, point of view, theme and style. This post gives an overview of each one, including tips for how to improve these elements in your own story.
How to Write a Romantic Subplot (and Why You Should Consider One for Your Story)
Writing a romantic subplot in your story - worth the hassle or best left alone? This post explores why you might consider incorporating a romantic sublot into your story, as well as tips for how to and examples of romantic subplots done well.
How to Write a Good Synopsis: 6 Key Things to Note
Struggling to summarise your book in one page? This post delves into how to write a good synopsis of your story, and why it's crucial that you do.
7 Popular Fantasy Tropes in Fiction (and Examples of Them Done Well)
Here are some examples of the most popular fantasy tropes in fiction, as well as tips for incorporating well-loved tropes into your own writing.
What is an Inciting Incident?
The inciting incident in a story is an unexpected event that upsets the character’s status quo and leads them on a journey towards new challenges and experiences.
The Mentor Archetype in Fiction (What it is, How to write one + Examples)
The mentor is an archetype that comes up time and time again in fiction. I thought I'd share some examples of mentors done well and how you can create one in your story.
How to Nail Dialogue Punctuation: Some Rules and Guidance
Knowing how to punctuate dialogue is fundamental to writing good dialogue. This post offers some guidance and outlines some basic dialogue punctuation rules you should know when writing dialogue in your story.
8 Tips for Writing Good Dialogue
One of the most searched questions in fiction writing is this: how can I write good dialogue in a story? Here are 8 tips for writing dialogue that will help you improve your story tenfold.